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Navigating Grief: Understanding The Stages of Loss and Healing
Losing someone dear to breast cancer can be an immensely painful and emotional experience. As we grapple with the departure of our dear friends due to metastatic breast cancer, it's essential to recognize that grief is a complex and individual journey. This year has been particularly hard in our breast cancer community and our heart aches for the families who have lost a mom, grandmother, and/or spouse.
Grief is something we do not talk about enough. Oftentimeswe may get a few days off from work for bereavement and then are expected to return as if everything is somehow fine.
Understanding the stages of grief can provide a framework for navigating this challenging process and finding healing amidst the ebbs and flows of pain.
Stages of Grief
Denial:
Initially, when faced with the loss of a loved one, it's common to feel a sense of disbelief or denial. It's our mind's way of protecting us from the overwhelming reality. Thoughts like "this can't be happening" or "it's just a bad dream" might surface as we struggle to comprehend the finality of the loss.
Anger:
As the reality of the loss sinks in, feelings of anger may emerge. We might question why this happened or feel anger towards the unfairness of the situation. Anger can be directed at various sources - illness, fate, or even towards the departed for leaving us.
Bargaining:
During this stage, it's not uncommon to find ourselves bargaining or making deals in our minds. We may ruminate on thoughts like "If only we had detected it earlier" or "If I had done something differently." We seek ways to negotiate with the situation, attempting to reverse what has already occurred.
Depression:
Grief often brings waves of profound sadness and emptiness. This phase can be marked by feelings of deep sorrow, loneliness, and a lack of motivation or interest in things that were once enjoyable. It's important to allow oneself to feel and process these emotions rather than suppress them.
