stages of grief
Loss processing phases
The stages of grief is a model describing emotional phases people experience after loss: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.
Originally proposed for the terminally ill, it's now applied broadly to any significant loss or difficult change.
The stages aren't necessarily sequential—people move through them differently or revisit them: I think I'm still in the bargaining stage.
- denialRefusal to accept reality
- angerIntense hostile emotion
- bargainingNegotiating mutually acceptable terms
- depressionProlonged low state
- lossBeing without something
mourning · sorrow · heavy heart · healing · tears · numbness · shock · disbelief · anguish · heartbreak · letting go · bereavement · funeral · widow · emptiness · processing · therapy · support group
- griefmourning, bereavement, sorrow, lamentation, sadness
- psychologypsychology, psychologist, therapist, psychiatrist, clinical psychology
stages of griefhoneymoon phase
Initial period of idealization
celebration · falling in love · elation · euphoria · recovery
stages of griefacceptance
Consent to receive
peace of mind · contentment · resolution · closure · serenity
stage, stages, staged, staging, stager, grief, griefs, grieve, grieves