What is Grief?

Grief is a deep emotional response to loss. It is a “non-linear” process, coming out of the blue, washing over us (and at times knocking us over) like waves in the ocean. Elizabeth Kubler Ross wrote about 5 stages of grief which are universal, although no one experiences them in exactly the same way or even in a step by step order, for our grief is as unique as we are. These 5 stages are:

• Denial
• Anger
• Depression
• Bargaining
• Acceptance

It is important to honor our grief as best we can. Accepting our pain, not rushing through our feelings, expressing ourselves when we can and turning to others when we need to are all important to remember while we are grieving. Therapy is a safe place to begin to heal and get the help you need.