5 Stages of Grief

It's important to be honest with yourself.

Denial: Helps Us Survive Loss  - Marjorie McAllister, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Child, Individual and Family Therapist walks us through the stages of the grief.   In this stage, life is meaningless. People are usually numb to their current circumstance during this stage. It can be compared to when your body experiences a physical injury and goes into shock so as not to feel the pain. The emotional numbness allows us to be able to cope and survive the current situation. As the reality sinks in, the numbness wears off. When this occurs, feelings start to emerge, allowing the individual to progress to the second stage.(Photo: Peathegee Inc/Blend Images/Corbis)

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Denial: Helps Us Survive Loss  - Marjorie McAllister, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Child, Individual and Family Therapist walks us through the stages of the grief.   In this stage, life is meaningless. People are usually numb to their current circumstance during this stage. It can be compared to when your body experiences a physical injury and goes into shock so as not to feel the pain. The emotional numbness allows us to be able to cope and survive the current situation. As the reality sinks in, the numbness wears off. When this occurs, feelings start to emerge, allowing the individual to progress to the second stage.(Photo: Peathegee Inc/Blend Images/Corbis)

Anger: A Necessary Stage of the Healing Process - Be willing to feel your anger. Underneath anger are several other emotions of pain. During this phase, people direct their anger toward others, themselves and sometimes God. It is during this stage that people’s spiritual walk will be tested and some may be unable to move forward to the next phase. When one stays in anger, they die spiritual, socially and emotionally. If one is unable to move on, the anger can become like a poison, infiltrating all areas of that person's life. It is only by processing through anger that one can move to the next phase of grief.(Photo: Jack Hollingsworth/Blend Images/Corbis)

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Anger: A Necessary Stage of the Healing Process - Be willing to feel your anger. Underneath anger are several other emotions of pain. During this phase, people direct their anger toward others, themselves and sometimes God. It is during this stage that people’s spiritual walk will be tested and some may be unable to move forward to the next phase. When one stays in anger, they die spiritual, socially and emotionally. If one is unable to move on, the anger can become like a poison, infiltrating all areas of that person's life. It is only by processing through anger that one can move to the next phase of grief.(Photo: Jack Hollingsworth/Blend Images/Corbis)

Bargaining: 'Spiritual Bargaining” Occurs  - During this stage, one finds oneself trying to make a deal with a higher power, with the exchange going something like this: "Please God, If you…then I will..." Though some may experience it, it is possible to skip this phase of grief.(Photo: Wavebreak Media LTD/Wavebreak Media Ltd./Corbis)

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Bargaining: 'Spiritual Bargaining” Occurs  - During this stage, one finds oneself trying to make a deal with a higher power, with the exchange going something like this: "Please God, If you…then I will..." Though some may experience it, it is possible to skip this phase of grief.(Photo: Wavebreak Media LTD/Wavebreak Media Ltd./Corbis)

Depression: A Stage That Often Feels as Though It Will Last Forever - Feelings of emptiness are often present during this phase.  To not experience depression after a loved one dies would be unusual. If grief is a process of healing, then depression is one of the many necessary steps along the way.  Like anger, one has to push through their depression. This can be done with the assistance of spiritual guidance from one’s church, pastoral counseling, seeking therapy, the support of other loved ones and/or one’s personal will to continue to live life.(Photo: JGI/Jamie Grill/Blend Images/Corbis)

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Depression: A Stage That Often Feels as Though It Will Last Forever - Feelings of emptiness are often present during this phase.  To not experience depression after a loved one dies would be unusual. If grief is a process of healing, then depression is one of the many necessary steps along the way.  Like anger, one has to push through their depression. This can be done with the assistance of spiritual guidance from one’s church, pastoral counseling, seeking therapy, the support of other loved ones and/or one’s personal will to continue to live life.(Photo: JGI/Jamie Grill/Blend Images/Corbis)

Acceptance: Often Confused With Everything Being OK - This stage is about accepting the reality that our loved one is physically gone and recognizing that this new reality is permanent.  (Photo: Tony Garcia/Corbis)

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Acceptance: Often Confused With Everything Being OK - This stage is about accepting the reality that our loved one is physically gone and recognizing that this new reality is permanent.  (Photo: Tony Garcia/Corbis)

Photo By Photo: Tony Garcia/Corbis