Bereavement is the emotional grief following the death of a loved one, which can be experienced differently by individuals. The normal stages of mourning include denial, anger, depression, and acceptance. Bereavement counseling may be necessary if the grieving process becomes stuck. Different cultures handle death differently, with varying beliefs and customs.
Bereavement refers to a period of emotional grief following the death of a loved friend, family member, or pet. Mental health experts define the normal stages people experience after a death, but feelings can overlap and appear in cycles. People mourn differently and may grieve quickly or go through a long process before emotional healing occurs. When the grieving process gets stuck in one phase, it could signal the need for bereavement counseling.
After the death of a loved one, the first stage of mourning commonly appears as denial or disbelief. A person may feel helpless and lightheaded even if the person who died suffered from a long illness. If the loved one was a source of financial or emotional support, a sense of panic may emerge as the bereaved wonders how they will manage on their own.
Funerals and memorial services could help people in this stage of mourning accept the reality of death. For some people, seeing the body helps them realize that the person is truly gone. These rituals commonly remove feelings of numbness and pave the way for the next stage of grief, typically a sense of anger.
During the grieving process, a bereaved person may become angry at their loved one who died for leaving them. He may also blame doctors or other hospital staff for not saving the person’s life. Sometimes this anger targets friends or relatives who may have been absent when they were needed. A bereaved might be internalizing guilt over a past disagreement with the person who died.
Depression typically follows the anger phase and commonly begins four to six weeks after death. This period can be characterized by moments of intense sadness and mourning, especially when something reminds the bereaved of the loss. In this stage, recalling positive memories commonly helps someone overcome sadness. This is considered an essential part of the coping process which generally becomes more bearable over time.
As the depression eases, acceptance usually sets in. Emotions usually become less intense and a person begins to resume normal activities. He or she may still become depressed on significant loss-related dates or when listening to a particular song. Physical symptoms related to grief usually improve with acceptance, such as difficulty sleeping and loss of appetite.
Different cultures handle death based on different beliefs and customs. Grieving could be loud and public or a quiet ritual that is considered private. Some cultures define a mourning period when survivors wear black clothing and refrain from attending or attending certain social events. In some regions, memorial shrines in homes keep the memories of your loved one alive.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
