Grief is a deeply personal journey that follows the loss of someone or something of profound significance in your life. Remarkably, you need not have a direct connection with the person or thing lost for grief to affect you.

Each person's experience of grief is unique, influenced by various factors including our cultural background, gender, age, past encounters with loss, and belief systems. Therefore, it's essential not to compare your grieving process to anyone else's or become overly concerned about its manifestation – because, quite simply, everyone grieves in their own way.

 

The Five Stages of Grief

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In 1969, Swiss American psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross penned

"On Death and Dying," a groundbreaking work that introduced the

concept of the "Five Stages of Grief." These stages represent a

patient-centred model for adjusting to death and loss and include

denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.

Understanding these stages can provide valuable insights into the

grieving process, but it's important to remember that they are not

a one-size-fits-all framework; rather, they offer a framework for

understanding the complex emotions that can arise during the

grieving journey.

 

Why is the 5 Stages of Grief and Loss Model important?

 

This model applies to a wide range of losses, encompassing the conclusion of a relationship, relocation, job loss, or enforced isolation. It sheds light on the emotional journey individuals undertake following a loss.

The model serves to guide individuals in comprehending and manoeuvring through their grieving journey, offering a structured framework for the spectrum of emotions. It underscores the absence of right or wrong emotions, highlighting the distinctive nature of each person's grieving process.