Grief and Loss: Introduction
Losing a loved one is one of the most common types of losses that people are familiar with, however there are sooooooo many different types of losses people can experience. It is important to understand that a person can experience a loss that has nothing to do with death so please be considerate and respectful of whatever loss a person is experiencing.
While this list is not all inclusive, some possible types of losses include:
death of a loved one, including pets
loss of one’s rights
loss of one’s identity
immigrating or loss of a home
loss of financial security
getting laid off or fired
the change or ending of a relationship
loss of faith
losing one’s cognitive abilities
experiencing a miscarriage
retiring
loss of one’s physical abilities
experiencing a decline in one’s health
It can be very difficult to talk about grief and loss, despite it being a universal experience. There are many myths about what grief is or is not, so we are here to help to debunk the myths and let you know the facts.
MYTH vs. FACT
Myth: Everyone goes through the same stages of grief.
Myth: Grief and mourning have a clear beginning and end.
Myth: When I am grieving, I should feel sad often.
Myth: The best way to get through a loss is to be alone.
Myth: There is a time period when grief is acceptable. You shouldn't be grieving about something for years.
Myth: If you are grieving something, especially a death, you should cry about it.
Fact: There is no right or wrong way to process a loss. Everyone does not grieve the same way.
THE 5 STAGES OF GRIEF
The original theory on grief was adopted from Kubler-Ross’ idea of coping with illness. Today, most people continue to use this model, outlining that grief occurs in 5 stages: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. The table below provides an overview of these stages.
Examples of each stage:
Denial: “This isn’t going to last long. They will be back.” “The findings must be wrong. I have always been healthy.”
Anger: “You’ll regret leaving me!” “That person sucks anyways. They are always going to be a loser.”
Bargaining: “If I would have visited her, then this wouldn’t have happened.” “If I wouldn’t have worked as much, we would still be together.”
Depression: “What’s the point?” “I am nothing with this job.” “I have nothing left to live for without them.”
Acceptance: “It’s healthier for my well-being that we aren’t together anymore.” “I am happy I got to experience good times at that company even though I am moving on.”
There are many different ways that grief can present in the body and each of us may cope with grief in a different way. Learn more below.
