How to Treat Grief

            When I was young I lost my pet dog and it greatly influenced the way I experience grief today. Every person will experience grief. It is a natural thing that every human must deal with. You cannot avoid it. There are certain stages of grief that every person goes through; denial or shock, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance are the five primary stages that every person experiences. There are more stages but not everyone will experience them. I went through all these stages at the loss of my pet and at the loss of many other things later in life.

            If you have ever experienced these stages of grief you are normal. Every person experiences these stages at different times order and intensities. No two people experience grief the exact same way but the stages and the pain are all the same. Every person is damaged by the losses in their life. Grief is the emotional state of mind we enter after that loss. Why are people ashamed when they are crying over their loss? It is normal to feel pain. It is not normal to tell every passing stranger that you are in pain.

            I do not advocate telling everyone you can see about your struggles. Your friends, family, and people you are close to should know if you are grieving. They should know if you are hurt. Do not hide your pain but, do not display it like a billboard for sympathy.