Grief is a natural response to loss, but it is often misunderstood. Many people are familiar with the five stages of grief proposed by psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, which are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. However, grief does not always progress in a direct fashion, and recent perspectives suggest that this model may not fully capture the complexity of bereavement. Instead, grief is often cyclical, with emotions resurfacing unpredictably over time.
The Nonlinear Nature of Grief
Contrary to the structured model of grief, many experts now recognize that mourning is unique to each person. You may experience multiple overlapping stages, revisit emotions, or even skip steps. Rather than following a predictable path, grief often fluctuates between moments of sadness, anger, numbness, and even brief periods of joy as people adapt to loss.
Other interpretations, such as the “dual-process model,” suggest that grieving involves oscillating between confronting the loss and engaging in daily life. In other words, people may take breaks from grieving and resume healing in their own time.
Since grief is an individual experience, there is no “right” way to grieve. However, there are healthy strategies to navigate the grieving process.
- Allow yourself to feel: Suppressing your emotions will ultimately make you feel worse. Acknowledge your grief without judgment.
- Seek support: Lean on friends, family, or support groups. Talking about your loss can be incredibly therapeutic.
- Engage in self-care: Exercise, nutrition, sleep, and mindfulness practices can help you regulate your emotions and maintain your well-being.
- Create rituals: Honoring your loved one through small ceremonies like journaling, donating to their favorite charity, or visiting a place you both loved can offer comfort.
- Express yourself: Creative expression like art, writing, or music can provide an outlet for complex emotions.
When Grief Becomes a Mental Health Concern
While grief is a natural process, prolonged or intense mourning can develop into complicated grief or contribute to mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder. It may be time to seek professional help if you experience:
- Persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness that do not subside.
- Inability to function in your daily life due to overwhelming grief.
- Intense guilt or self-blame related to the loss.
- Numbness or detachment from others.
- Thoughts of self-harm or suicide.
Your Personalized Grief Retreat
Grief is not a challenge you should confront alone. Foundation Stone Wellness offers compassionate care tailored to your needs, allowing you to process loss in a healthy and healing environment. Through evidence-based therapy, mindfulness techniques, and holistic wellness approaches, we are here to guide you through your loss with care and understanding. Reach out to us today to learn more about what we offer and how our carefully tailored programs can help you recover.