After a loved one's funeral service, it might take a long time to eventually accept the loss. During this time, it's not uncommon to experience a grieving process, where you learn how to identify your emotions and healthy ways to cope with your feelings. For a better idea of what to expect, here is a brief overview of the five stages of grief. Keep in mind that you may not experience all of these stages, and they can happen in any order for varying amounts of time. 

What Are the 5 Stages of Grief?

1. Denial

Whether expected or unexpected, the death of a loved one can cause overwhelming feelings of sadness, pain, and shock before, during, and after the funeral service. These emotions, coupled with the thought of never interacting with the individual again, can be difficult to tackle. A person will deny the loss happened in an attempt to suppress the pain they are feeling.

2. Anger

Once a person starts to move from denial, their emotions may start to surface as they adjust to the reality of the situation. Many people will feel anger about the loss and having to adjust to a new life without their loved one. The anger can also stem from being scared about facing the new reality. 

3. Bargaining

After their intense anger subsides, a person is left with lingering pain over the loss. They will bargain in an attempt to make the pain go away quickly. If the death was anticipated, a person might pray to a higher power to let their loved one live in exchange for something, such as the person doing good deeds going forward. Bargaining can also take the form of regret over past actions. Had they acted differently, the person might feel there may have been a different outcome. 

4. Depression

After the first three stages of grief, a person will start to move past intense emotions and start to face head-on the reality of living life without their loved one. Allowing the mind to fully focus on this outcome can cause a person to become depressed. They might isolate themselves from loved ones during this time as they reflect and process the loss. 

5. Acceptance

Once a person moves to the acceptance stage, they have come to cope with the loss and are no longer trying to control the situation. They will, however, still feel pain over their loved one's passing, but it can also reflect positively on the life once lived.

If you have lost a loved one, reach out to the professionals at the family-owned and -operated Cornelius, Dodd & Connell, Inc., Funeral Home in Middletown, NY. The funeral home has been serving families in Orange and Sullivan counties since 1900. The discreet funeral directors will listen to your needs to help you plan a meaningful memorial, cremation, or funeral service to honor the deceased. Learn more about the funeral home's history online, visit Facebook for announcements, and call (845) 343-2142 to make an appointment.