Losing someone you love is one of life’s most profound experiences. Whether the loss comes unexpectedly or after a long illness, grief has a way of changing how we see ourselves, our relationships, and the world around us.
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Harvard Medical Health says: While everyone experiences loss differently, many people find that the hardest part isn’t always the funeral or the first few days after it, but learning how to live in a world where that person is no longer present.
The study also states that grief is an unfortunate but inevitable part of life. Whether due to the death of a loved one (this type of grief is referred to as bereavement), losing a job, or any other significant life change, grief is the universal response to dealing with loss.
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The silence grief leaves behind
One of the most difficult parts of grief is the absence. It’s the instinct to reach for your phone to call them before remembering they’re gone. It’s setting the table and realising there’s one less chair to fill. It’s hearing a song they loved or passing a place you visited together and feeling the weight of memories all over again.
The silence isn’t just physical—it’s emotional. The conversations you imagined having, the advice you expected to receive, and the future moments you thought you’d share suddenly disappear.
What are the 5 stages of grief?
Dr Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, who is part of the team atHarvard Medical Health, says in her book that although everyone copes with loss in different ways, there are five commonly defined stages of grief.
These stages help provide a framework for the complex thoughts, behaviours, and emotions often experienced with the loss of a loved one.
- Denial
- Anger
- Bargaining
- Depression
- Acceptance
Perhaps one of the greatest challenges is that the world doesn’t stop. Everything keeps on going. While life may feel as though it’s been turned upside down, everyone may be dealing with their own grief and going through the stages of grief.
People may assume grief follows a predictable path or ends after a certain amount of time. But the reality is, grief doesn’t work that way; it continues and stays with you. Although some days feel manageable, others can be unexpectedly difficult.
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Featured image: Pexels
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