Losing someone you love is one of the hardest and most difficult experiences any person can go through. Different people go through this phase differently and every individual go through certain phases during this time and this blog guides you exactly how to navigate through this phases in a healthy way. In this generation also because conversations about grief and mental health are more important than ever.

Modern life moves fast, yet grief rarely follows that pace of life and its slows down the person somewhere. Understanding what happens emotionally after a significant loss can make the journey comparatively easier and helps to deal with isolation, depression and move on from the certain situation in a better way less isolating and remind you that healing is not only possible but natural.

How Grief Affects Mental State So Deeply

Grief is not just sadness. Most people mistake grief by sadness and that’s why it becomes more difficult for them to get through the grief, It affects your thoughts, sleep, behaviour, physical energy and overall mental balance and making sure that you are not just physically functioning but also doing well mentally is as important, Because of this deep discussions around dealing with grief and mental health help normalize what you’re feeling and encourage healthier coping mechanisms.], particularly regarding mental health grief and loss.

Everyone grieve the same way But recognizing the patterns and emotional stages is very important and it can provide comfort and direction during a time when life feels completely changed.

The Emotional Stages of the Grieving Process

While grief is personal, many people experience similar emotional  effects and phases and similar  situations even though it might not look like,  These stages don’t always follow a perfect order. You may move back and forth between them, or experience several at once. Not dealing with these kinds of emotions can cost individuals a lifetime of trauma and mental stress stages of grief relief can be different for different people and its completely normal to go through and understanding them can help you approach your grieving process with more compassion for yourself.

1. First Phase – Shock or Denial

This is often the first emotional response. Many people go to deep trauma and refuse the actual ground reality avoiding anything and everything related to it, It may feel like your mind is numb or disconnected from reality. Denial acts as a protective shield, from the actual situation giving it a quick fix but keeping in mind that nothing really changes all of it is the same in the real world, Even though this mechanism gives you time to process news that feels too painful to accept all at once.

Common experiences includes :

• Feeling emotionally frozen

• Disbelief about the happening (loss)

• Difficulty speaking or thinking clearly

• Completely rejecting the idea of the situation

2. Pain and Emotional outbursts.

As the shock fades, overwhelming sadness may surface and this may left you feel completely drained and a rush of sad emotions suddenly can be very difficult to deal with.

Some clear symptoms are

-Crying

– anger

– confusion

– guilt or emotional effects of exhaustion

These emotions are completely normal at this stage. Allowing yourself to feel is an important part of healing because the more one ignores these emotions is the more time it takes to reach to acceptance and finally moving on.

Healthy ways to cope up in this stage:

Out of all the phases this one might be the harshest as at times this not only make you feel 100s of emotions at the same time but it physically hampers you as well.

• Journaling your emotions or writing them down anywhere

• Talking to a trusted friend or counsellor immediately regarding any thoughts you want to deal with.

• Letting yourself cry without guilt (one of the most important things people miss)

3. Anger and Frustration

Grief can create a deep sense of injustice. You may feel angry and sad at the very same time at the situation, at circumstances, at yourself, or even at the person who died. It might feel like :

• Overwhelming

• Anger

• Fear of being abandoned

• Deep grief

Anger is simply a sign of how much the loss meant to you and it is completely normal.

What helps in this stage:
Channel anger into movement: walking, cleaning, small physical tasks, or exercise.

You can even try physical exercise, going to gym, dancing class or anything that interests you.

4. Bargaining and “What Ifs”- this is kind of denial and confusion as a mental state.

During this stage, your mind tries to regain control by replaying events:

• “What if I had done something differently?”

• “What if I had been there?”

• “Is there something that can change this situation?”

These thoughts are emotionally heavy, but they are also common.

5. Depression and deep grief

This phase often includes:

• Withdrawal from social activities

• Emotional numbness

• Difficulty in sleeping or waking up

• Loss of interest in daily tasks and going through life in general

It is not a sign of weakness. It’s a natural reaction when reality fully settles in. Different forms of grief relief therapy can be handy in cases like this.

6. Acceptance and Adjustment

Acceptance does not mean forgetting. It means learning to live with the loss and accepting this as a part of life, the grief and sadness will definitely not vanish overnight in the 6th day but this stage helps you to adapt and how to deal with it and basically by this stage you know how to deal with it and carry the loss in a healthier way. You begin forming new routines, reconnecting socially, or rediscovering things you once enjoyed. This stage is about strength not closure.

How Grief Impacts Daily Mental Health?

People experiencing grief commonly struggle with:

• Difficulty concentrating

• Fluctuating moods

• Sleep issues

• Anxiety

• Feeling emotionally unpredictable

This is where thoughtful support, therapy, and community can make a big difference.

Practical Mental Wellness Tips that can help you in grief.

Healing doesn’t require grand practices and not necessarily medicines , it needs, love care and consistent personal improvements . These simple mental wellness tips can help you regain emotional balance over time and help you a little bit to get better.

Take slow, mindful breaths 

Breathing exercises calm the nervous system and reduce anxiety spikes.

Create small daily routines 

Even simple habits like a morning walk or small small routines like mealtime, bedtime can help . You can set daily notifications and meetup plans with friends as well as staying alone can be not very fruitful always.

Talk about your feelings 

Talking to a family member or friend might not be viable always we get it, but still forcing yourself one step to open about your feelings help you process them better Whether with a counsellor, friend or grief group, speaking helps release emotional burden.

Nourish your body 

Grief drains energy. Eating well supports mental clarity and emotional stability.

Avoid isolating yourself 

You don’t have to be social every day just stay connected with at least one safe person.

Why is it important to take mental health seriously and grief care?

Navigating through grief without support can feel overwhelming. This is why mental health and grief care is important, Most people think they are alone in this and its kind of the end of scenario but making them believe its not and help them cope is a social responsivity rather, in this case professional counselling, community support, or online grief platforms plays a vital role.

These resources help you process emotions safely and remind you that your reactions are completely valid.

What is the right time to seek professional help?

• Continuous numbness or hopelessness

• Inability to function in daily life

• Intense guilt about life and inability to move on

• Self harm thoughts

• Severe and frequent anxiety or panic attacks

Therapists, bereavement counsellors and support groups in both the US and UK are equipped to guide you through these feelings. You don’t have to navigate loss alone. Ownstory provides a gentle space to celebrate your loved one’s life with an online obituary that truly reflects who they were. Start your tribute now. 

FAQs

1. Can obituaries be more inspirational than depressing?

Yes. In fact obituaries are  mostly inspirational and less depressing. Modern obituaries often focus on celebrating the individual’s life rather than emphasizing loss This not only helps the families and friends process the news in the different emotional stages and help them in the process of acceptance. This approach turns obituaries into inspirational tributes that uplift readers, offering comfort, hope, and a positive reflection on a life well lived.

2. What does unhealthy grieving looks like?

Unhealthy or “complicated” grief occurs when someone becomes stuck in intense emotions for a longer period of time and is unable to resume daily life. Signs may include:

• Prolonged hopelessness

• Faling in the denial phase

• Inability to function socially or at work

• Extreme guilt

• Grief and stress for every small thing.

• Substance misuse as a coping mechanism

• Feeling not worthy enough and hopelessness

3. What therapy is best for grief?

There are different types of therapies which can be gone through, for post traumatic stress disorder and grief commonly known as PTSD.

• Grief Counselling – It Helps individuals understand and process their emotions and come to acceptance.

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) – It is for supporting healthier thinking patterns when someone is going through extreme grief causing stress.

• Complicated Grief Therapy (CGT) – Specifically designed for prolonged or intense grief.

• Support Groups

4. How does grief affect mental health?

Grief can impact mental health in many ways. And would need severe stages of emotional healing the different symptoms can include:

• Anxiety, sadness, or emotional numbness

• Difficulty concentrating

• Changes in sleeping cycles

• No motivation for anything

• Social withdrawal and suicidal thoughts

• Physical symptoms like fatigue or headaches

5. How do you support someone who is going through grief?

Understanding the grieving process is the first step to help someone who is going through a loss and emotional effects of grief. Other small gestures that you can show from your end are:

• Being Patient and listening to them is one of the best things you can do.

• Gently check on them regularly

• Give them space

• Offer practical help