Moving Through the Stages of Grief

If you’ve recently lost a loved one, there are several things you should know about the stages of grief. While you may be busy planning a funeral service and taking care of practicalities such as planning funeral or cremation services at a funeral home, it’s important to pay attention to your emotions during this challenging time. Read on to learn more about the stages of grief, and be sure to seek grief counseling for additional emotional support.

Denial

After losing a loved one, you’ll likely feel a sense of denial. While looking at funeral homes and attending the service, you may experience feelings of shock and numbness. These feelings are important for surviving the loss of your loved one.

Anger

Once your feelings of denial begin to fade, you may feel very angry about losing your loved one. Your anger could have a particular target, such as someone who didn’t attend the funeral, or even the person that you lost. This anger gives your life more structure as you move through the stages of grief. However, it’s important to move past it.

Negotiating and Depression

Once your anger has dissipated, you may enter a phase in which you look back on the past and think about what you should have done differently, leading to a lot of “what if” questions and negotiating with yourself. You may also feel a great depression, as if your life is suddenly empty.

Acceptance

The last stage of grief is acceptance—the acceptance of reality. This acceptance will allow you to move on in your life, making new relationships and progressing in your own interests. While you’ll never forget your loved one, your grief will no longer be the focus of your attention.

Are you planning a funeral service near Oakland? Chapel of the Chimes Oakland is here to help you create an emotionally fulfilling funeral or cremation service for your loved one. Call (510) 654-0123 today to learn more about our unique service options for a variety of different preferences and budgets.