Grief is the acute pain that accompanies loss. Because it is a reflection of what we love, it can feel all-encompassing. Grief is not limited to the loss of people, but when it follows the loss of a loved one, it may be compounded by feelings of guilt and confusion, especially if the relationship was a difficult one.

Learn More: Grief - Psychology Today

Coping with Grief and Loss Stages of Grief, the Grieving Process, and Learning to Heal

How to deal with the grieving process:

While grieving a loss is an inevitable part of life, there are ways to help cope with the pain, come to terms with your grief, and eventually, find a way to pick up the pieces and move on with your life.

• Acknowledge your pain.

• Accept that grief can trigger many different and unexpected emotions.

• Understand that your grieving process will be unique to you.

• Seek out face-to-face support from people who care about you.

• Support yourself emotionally by taking care of yourself physically.

• Recognize the difference between grief and depression.

The 5 stages of grief are:

1. Denial: “This can’t be happening to me.”

2. Anger: “Why is this happening? Who is to blame?”

3. Bargaining: “Make this not happen, and in return I will ____.”

4. Depression: “I’m too sad to do anything.”

5. Acceptance: “I’m at peace with what happened.”

If you are experiencing any of these emotions following a loss, it may help to know that your reaction is natural and that you’ll heal in time. However, not everyone who grieves goes through all of these stages—and that’s okay. Contrary to popular belief, you do not have to go through each stage in order to heal.