Everyone grieves in a different way; maybe a loved one passed away, a broken relationship, or losing a job. Other life alterations, like chronic ailment or a move to a new home, can also lead to grief. It is an ordinary response when someone is losing a loved one or something that is important. You may feel a variety of emotions and you might experience it for a number of different reasons.
Someone’s emotional state may happen in different stages as you come to terms with your loss. Anyone can’t control the process, but it’s helpful to know the reasons behind your feelings. We have known common stages of grief aka DABDA:
Denial- When losing someone you love, it’s natural to feel shocked or numb. This is a temporary way to deal with the urgency of overwhelming sentiment, ignoring that it has happened. It’s a defense mechanism.
Anger- When reality sets in, you start to feel pain because of loss. It is very frustrating and you feel helpless. All feelings later turn into anger. Questions of “why me” come to mind. People around you might be affected, you may overpower it.
Bargaining- “what if, if only” these are the common thoughts you keep on asking yourself. You dwell on what you could’ve done to avoid the loss.
Depression- This is the sadness you feel as you start to understand why and its effect on your life. You may experience crying, sleepless nights, and probably eating disorders. You are starting to regret what has happened and feel lonely.
Acceptance- The final stage is accepting the reality, though you still feel sad, at this point you can start moving forward with your life.
Everyone goes through these chapters in their life; there are circumstances that might remind you of your loss. It might trigger your emotions but you know deep inside you that you can’t change the past. That’s beyond yours or anyone’s control. Acceptance is the key to help you move forward with so-called life. Some people can go through this journey in a matter of minutes or hours or days or weeks and for some even months or years are not enough. We at Mid Cities Psychiatry are here for you or your loved ones to help you go through this journey as soon as practically possible. You can be assured – we have a commitment to excellence when it comes to the level of care we provide.