This post is paid advertising by Christman’s Funeral Home.

Grief and loss are connected to every situation we deal with at Christman’s Funeral Home. We remain prepared to cope with any feeling you are faced with, in order to make our experience together as manageable as possible. Our goal is to work with through this with you to find a common thread of hope and celebration of life.

Everyone grieves differently. It is a personal process with no time limit. There is no “right” or “wrong.”

According to the experts, there are five stages we potentially experience. You may experience some, but not all of them. They are:

• Denial and Isolation – We don’t want to believe it. We block the words in order to come to grips with the news that a loved one is gone. This may be a temporary response to get you through that agonizing first wave of pain.
• Anger – As the denial wears down, it can be replaced with feelings of anger. This raw emotion may be directed at the loved one who left you, the doctor who failed to save him or her, or even self-directed – “What could I have done differently? If you need to talk it over with the doctor, or anyone else targeted by the anger, by all means do this. It’s not good to hold onto these feelings.
• Bargaining – In this stage, you can be affected by a feeling of helplessness and vulnerability. Sentences begin with “If only…”. “If only the doctor ..”; “If only I had ….”’ Etc. Guilt can sometimes take over. We may believe that we could have done something to save the loved one. And we bargain to try to resolve the feeling.
• Depression – Feelings of sadness and regret are common to this stage. You worry about finances. You worry about the reality of the separation, and you are concerned about the overwhelming changes in your life. Read about depression to better understand. A hug from someone close to you is also good medicine.
• Acceptance – Grief is a natural occurrence in the loss of a loved one. Allow it to happen, and don’t be resistant to others who offer comfort and support. The last thing you want is to be resist and prolong the natural process of healing.

We all have our callings in life. Mine is to be there for you in a time you need expert and professional assistance. This keeps me in a constant state of listening and learning about the service I provide. Knowing about the five stages of grief and loss is one small example.

Read more from the Christman’s Chronicles.