Stages of Grieving:
1. shock 5. depression
2. denial 6. testing
3. anger 7. acceptance*
4. bargaining
Coping:
Many people are helped by creating a memoir of their loved one. Whether you have it bound professionally, photo-copied for relatives, stapled or available for purchase on Lulu's.com, honoring your loved one in a memoir is a meaningful way to pay homage to their memory. For that's the untouchable sacred place in your heart that you want to hold onto forever in order to keep those alive with whom you've shared the joys, sorrows, and lessons of life.
To create a permanent memory of a husband, wife, mother, father, sister, brother is truly worthwhile and honorable. If writing is not your bailiwick, try a photo memoir instead. You can even set it to favorite music.
For additional ways of coping, go to the late Elizabeth Kubler Ross' website. She studied death and grieving for years and was truly a pioneer in her field.
Grieving the Loss of a Child:
We are mentally conditioned to the possibility of losing a parent, a friend - even a spouse. And while it does not make these losses easy to bear, less tragic or sorrowful by any means, the death of a child is something foreign to our hearts. We grow up and expect to outlive parents - but not our children. Grieving the loss of a child may be a slower process in a sacred part of your heart. As with all losses, it will be important not to give up. You can learn to live again. Your child would want you to be happy again.
