1. GRIEF & LOSS STAGES ELISABETH KUBLER-ROSS

2. IN GENERAL… Anytime we suffer a significant loss, we experience grief.
The intensity of the grief depends on the loss.
The loss could be the end of a meaningful relationship, the breakup of one’s family, the death of a pet, the death of a family member…

3. STAGE 1: DENIAL & ISOLATION
Denial and/or shock are often a person’s initial reaction followed by numbness.
There may also be a feeling of isolation or helplessness.
These feelings are an attempt to avoid reality by saying or thinking, “It is all a bad dream and will go away.”
Buys us time to be able to cope with the loss.

4. STAGE 2: ANGER
Anger is a natural reaction, an outlet for resentment at being a victim.
There may be envy of other who have not experienced such a loss.
The person often takes out the anger on those close by – friends and family.
“Why me?...”

5. STAGE 3: BARGAINING
The person seeks to postpone the loss by making promises, often to God, to be a better person.
“I’ll do this if you will only do…”

6. STAGE 4: DEPRESSION
The numbness, anger, and rage felt previously are now replaced with a sense of great loss.
Feelings of great loneliness, isolation, helplessness, and sadness are characteristics of this stage.

7. STAGE 5: ACCEPTANCE Facing reality in a constructive way.
It allows for action.
Learning from our mistakes and remembering the good times.

8. OTHER NAMES FOR STAGES SHOCK – Denial & Isolation
SUFFERING – Anger, Bargaining, and Depression
RECOVERY - Acceptance

9. FINAL NOTES Everyone goes through the stages at a different rate.
We often bounce back and forth between the stages – no specific order.
It is possible to get stuck in a specific stage.
At the anniversary of a loss, the some of the stages may be revisited.
Everyone copes with loss in a different way.

10. COPING How can you cope with a loss in a healthy manner?
How can you help a friend cope with a loss?