![]() ![]() ![]() Their emotions stabilize, and they learn to cope with the grief. If someone remains in this stage for an extended period (four to six weeks), he or she may need to be referred to a grief support group or mental health professional.Īdjustment: In this stage, individuals gradually adjust to their new normal. ![]() When someone experiences this stage in the case of death, it may help to ask what she or he believes the deceased person would want for the individual going forward in life.ĭepression: In this stage, individuals may feel emptiness, helplessness, hopelessness, and possibly a loss of interest in participating in everyday life. Individuals often feel guilty about their inability to protect the person who has passed away or to prevent the misfortune that occurred. He or she may decide to destroy the journal after moving past this stage, but for the time being, it can provide a safe outlet for anger.īargaining: Someone in the bargaining stage may try to bargain with God and ask “what if” questions (such as “What if I promise to treat the person better?” or “What if I go to the temple every week?”). Consider encouraging the person to keep a journal of those angry feelings. When a person experiences this stage, it’s often best to talk empathetically or spend time just sitting quietly together.Īnger: In this stage, individuals may direct anger at God, themselves, or other people around them. Individuals experiencing denial may deny what has happened, go numb, or experience shock. Here is a basic description of each stage:ĭenial: Denial is typically the first stage of grief. Each stage in the grieving process may require a different approach by those who minister. These can occur in any order, and some may be skipped or may be repeated more than once. Most people pass through five emotional stages when they grieve: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and adjustment. What specific things have people said or done that have helped you? What hasn’t been helpful?Īdditionally, it can help to be aware of the stages of grief. When you’re having a good day, what seems to make that positive difference? “I’m really sorry you have to go through this.”Īs you minister to someone struggling with grief, consider asking questions like the ones below in a kind and loving manner to help you understand the person’s concerns, needs, and circumstances. Just let yourself experience emotions as they come.” “It’s OK to have different feelings from one day, or one moment, to the next. “You don’t have to talk if you don’t want to, but I’m here to listen if you do.” “I don’t know what to say, but I want you to know I care about you.” Statements like these may help you communicate empathy: Everyone is different, and individual paths forward will vary.Īs you minister to someone struggling with grief, show love first and foremost. Some might need time away before they feel able to socialize or attend church meetings and activities, while others might crave social connection immediately. Some people might need to avoid things that remind them of their loss, while others might find comfort in memories. Was the loss sudden or agonizingly anticipated? In the case of death, how emotionally close was the mourner to the deceased? How much did the person depend on who or what was lost? These and other elements increase our understanding of how to help someone who is grieving. The amount of time needed for grief to run its natural, healthy course varies from person to person, depending on several factors. Those who mourn need time to grieve their losses, and they need supportive friends and family to be with them through that experience. Grief is a normal response to loss and an emotional transition on the path to joy, not an expression of weakness or a lack of faith in God or His love. Additionally, death is not the only source of grief other kinds of loss invoke feelings of grief, such as losing a job, a relationship, health, and so on. Death is part of God’s plan of happiness, but even with that understanding, many people find it difficult to grapple with the emotions that surround losing someone they love. Almost everyone experiences it at some point in life. Frequently review details on the guiding principles. As you help with sensitive or trying situations, remember the following guiding principles: love first, listen to understand, teach truth, nourish faith, and minister.
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