Healing Through Grief in Your Life — Insights From the 5 Stages of Grief

Navigating through life's journeys, we encounter a multitude of experiences. Some bring immense joy, like finding a fulfilling career, forging deep connections with loved ones, and building our own families. Yet, grief eventually finds us all—it is the price we pay for loving deeply and living fully. The feeling of grief is bitter and heart-wrenching; it can be a hard pill to swallow. Grief is a natural response to loss or the end of significant events in our lives. It demands us to process it thoroughly, acknowledging its depth, however, it is also the building block to healing our fractured hearts.  and allowing ourselves to heal.

Overview of the 5 Stages of Grief

The process of grief and mourning is personal, with each individual having a different experience. The psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross has proposed the 5 stages of grief as a common model to depict how we navigate through significant loss (Bolden, 2007). The model also provides a temporary buffer for us to gather our thoughts and feelings before confronting the full impact of the loss, allowing us to process the reality of the situation gradually.

Understanding these stages can offer valuable insights into our own experiences of grief. Consider someone who has received a call early in the morning, informing them that their beloved grandfather has passed away. It is shocking and heartbreaking to hear such bad news. The happy memories have come flooding back to him. Reality hits him hard and everything feels overwhelming. At that moment, the world seems to collapse into itself. By taking a deep breath, he finally settles down, he may start experiencing sadness, which is the natural emotional response to loss or the conclusion of significant events in life. It is a complex and profound feeling that requires us to process and consider it thoroughly. Grief  is a process, and it can come in many forms, but we process it through procedural stages, which slowly but surely help us come to terms with loss.

1. Denial: It is a quintessential reaction to the shocking fact: Individuals would be desperate to deny the reality. “The words didn't seem real at first, he must have been misheard.”; “He is probably having a nightmare”. This stage acts as a buffer and allows us to cope with the initial shock of the loss.
2. Anger: Resentment and frustration step in. This stage is characterised by questioning "Why does he have to face such reality?", “It must be the doctor’s fault! They are not doing their jobs well to cure his grandpa.“ After acknowledging the truth, the shock of the loss can spark anger and frustration toward the situation, the world, or even to the self.
3. Bargaining: Individuals may try to negotiate or make a deal with themselves or God to avoid the inevitable situation. “He would like to sacrifice myself in exchange for his Grandpa’s life!” “If his grandpa can accompany him for 10 more years, he would like to do everything.” He begged. This could involve making promises or trying to find ways to postpone or prevent the loss.
4. Depression: Knowing that his grandpa’s death is irreversible, sadness slips in, and individuals will face reality directly. He experiences the full depth of their emotions such as sadness and despair, which is crucial for healing. Individuals are most vulnerable during these stages as we must straightly confront the cruel reality. Companion and support are needed to help us to get through this stage.
5. Acceptance: Progressing from the depression stage, he can finally face and accept the reality of the loss. It does not mean they are not sad about it, but they have found a way to live with it. “Even if Grandpa is not with him now, his life must go on.” He said firmly. He can now acknowledge that our loved ones are no longer here.

The grieving process can be both physically and emotionally draining, it requires a certain time to adjust and get through the grieving stages, yet it is vital for healing and moving forward. To reduce the stress of coping with grief, here are three suggestions to help reduce the stress of coping with grief.

Suggestions for Coping with Grief Effectively

1. Acknowledge Your Feelings And Find Suitable Emotional Outlets—Sometimes, we may be too eager to get rid of grief, and we may intentionally suppress or even deny such feelings. Remember: It is okay to be not okay. It is important to accept that it is normal to feel a wide range of emotions such as confusion, anger, and sadness (Heath, 2008). Allow yourself to feel these emotions without judgment. More importantly, do not bottle up your feelings: cry if you need to, talk about your feelings with someone you trust, or write in a journal. Grief is a process that takes time. There is no set timeline for healing, so allow yourself to grieve at your own pace.
2. Establish a Routine and Set Small Goals To Get Back To Normal—After chatting with friends and engaging in various activities, it may be a good idea to start getting back to normal when you are ready. We can start by setting small goals such as having a good breakfast or engaging in a morning walk. Focus on achievable tasks each day to give yourself a sense of purpose and accomplishment. After that, having a routine can provide a sense of normalcy and control. Incorporate activities that bring you comfort and joy, even if they are small. We can get back to normal.
3. Stay connected with friends and Seek Social Support—While it's natural to need some alone time, especially when grieving, engaging in social activities with friends is equally important, even if you don't feel like it at first. Connecting with friends and the community can provide much-needed support and a sense of belonging. Don't hesitate to share your feelings and thoughts with others. Additionally, be open to new experiences and opportunities for growth. Discovering new interests, such as pastry-making or yoga, can help you move forward and find joy in life again.

Download the MindForest App to Get Through Grief

Coping with grief often comes with exhaustion and sadness; you can always seek help from your friends and family. Besides your loved one, you can also consider using the MindForest app to help you to navigate through your loss. Mindforest app is your digital haven, which provides convenient tools and strategies to manage and digest these complex feelings.

1. Provision of Psychometric Tracking：

The MindForest app includes psychometric assessments such as the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), which helps users understand and monitor their emotional state. This self-awareness is crucial for identifying specific needs and areas where additional support may be required during grief.

2. Accompaniment of AI and Client-Centered Support

The ForestMind AI coach is designed to be a reliable and secure source of support, with all messages anonymised and processed securely to ensure user privacy. This allows users to comfortably express their loss. The ForestMind AI is both personable and responsive, providing emotional reassurance and step-by-step advice. This combination makes it feel like a supportive companion during difficult times.

3. Supportive Tools for Emotional Regulation：

The Mindforest App has included the Insight Journal which allows users to document their emotional journey and record their grieving patterns. It is a convenient supportive tool that aids individuals organise their emotions systematically. The automatic journaling feature can further make it easier for users to articulate their complex feelings.

Growing Through Grief

Grief is a complex and profound emotion that we may encounter throughout our lives, it is possibly the darkest time in our life that is unbearable. Some may get beaten while some may bounce back from it. We always have choices either to seek help or isolate, which The Mindforest App awaits us. As the old saying goes, "Healing takes time, but you will emerge stronger." Recovery may take time, but the journey will lead to a stronger, more resilient you.

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References

Bolden, L. A. (2007). A review of On Grief and Grieving: Finding the Meaning of Grief through the Five Stages of Loss - ProQuest. https://www.proquest.com/docview/207606088?accountid=14548&sourcetype=Scholarly Journals

Heath, M. A. (2008). Coping with Grief: Guidelines and resources for assisting Children - ProQuest. https://www.proquest.com/docview/211731599?accountid=14548&sourcetype=Scholarly Journals