{"id":83480,"date":"2023-03-02T06:47:05","date_gmt":"2023-03-02T06:47:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/?p=83480"},"modified":"2023-10-12T11:30:02","modified_gmt":"2023-10-12T11:30:02","slug":"denial-stage-of-grief","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/mental-health\/denial-stage-of-grief\/","title":{"rendered":"Denial Stage of Grief: Signs and How to cope"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Sad<\/p>\n

The denial stage of grief is the first of the five stages described by the late Swiss-American psychiatrist <\/span>Elisabeth Kübler-Ross<\/b> in her <\/span>book titled<\/span><\/a> “<\/span>On death and dying<\/b>.” But denial is not only restricted to losing a loved one; you can see it in everyday scenarios. <\/span><\/p>\n

You might forget your phone in a taxi and desperately search your two jeans pockets as if expecting the device to materialize out of thin air. <\/span><\/p>\n

More often than not, you find yourself muttering the words “I can’t believe it,” but it is not that you can’t believe it. You are just choosing not to, and there is denial. <\/span><\/p>\n

First of five grieving stages? What are the other four, you might ask? Let’s find out. <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>5 stages of grief<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

\"Husband<\/p>\n

The five grieving steps are the tools that we subconsciously employ to manage grief. It is important to note that there is no fixed timeline as people experience them in a unique order. <\/span><\/p>\n

But being aware of these <\/span>grieving stages<\/span><\/a> eases the challenge of coping with grief. <\/span><\/p>\n

These stages are: <\/span><\/p>\n

1. Denial<\/b><\/h3>\n

The denial stage of grief is there to protect you. It acts like a buffer between yourself and the devastating news. It allows you to gradually internalize the information in a way that the shock and aftershock of the sad event would not cripple your day-to-day. <\/span><\/p>\n

Not accepting this reality that you have been thrown into against your will and often without preparation is denial in grief. <\/span><\/p>\n

2. Anger<\/b><\/h3>\n

There is only as much and as long that you can keep your emotions locked away for. Sometimes the sheer magnitude of the loss would cause the facade to break and occasionally present itself as misplaced and undirected anger. <\/span><\/p>\n

Some people might blame themselves for what happened and begin to point accusatory fingers around, desperately looking for a vent to release all the pent-up anger. <\/span><\/p>\n

If you are around such a person, you must recognize the situation and ensure not to compound it. <\/span><\/p>\n

Related Reading:<\/i><\/b> 10 Most Effective Ways On How to Control Anger in a Relationship<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/pre>\n
Watch this video on how best to manage and soothe someone who is angry. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n