Does Grief Have a Time Frame?

Grief is one of the certainties of life. No matter who you are, you’re going to experience grief at some point or another. 

Grief can be overwhelming, consuming, and uncomfortable. Everyone's experience is highly personal and there is no specific playbook for navigating the journey.

The source of grief can be any number of things, ranging from life transitions to relocations, separating from a partner to the death of a loved one, and everything in between. 

For most people experiencing grief, there are five common stages that you’ll go through - denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. 

The Five Stages of Grief

Denial

When faced with a difficult situation, like the death of a loved one, it’s natural to have trouble accepting it. The denial stage is a protection mechanism to keep yourself from feeling bad. Unfortunately, the denial stage also keeps you stuck in one place. 

Anger

Loss often comes with a swirl of emotions, including anger. Anger about the situation, anger towards a person, or even anger with a higher power. Anger is a means of coping and a necessary stage, but also one that keeps you from healing if you stay there too long. 

Bargaining

In the bargaining stage, you may find yourself trying to find ways to “go back” and change the outcome. You’ll do whatever it takes to regain what you’ve lost and feel better. 

Depression

When you finally reach a point where your circumstances are becoming your reality, the weight of that reality can start to set in. It’s entirely normal to feel depressed, sad, and hopeless. These are all completely human emotions in the face of loss. 

Acceptance

The last stage in the process is acceptance. Accepting what happens doesn't mean you will close the book on the situation entirely. That loss, or at least a piece of it, will likely stay with you in some capacity. Reaching acceptance means that you can move forward in a healthy way. 

The Stage Progression

Moving through the five stages of grief isn’t always a linear process. You may find yourself experiencing the stages out of order. It’s also possible to bounce around between the stages a bit, revisiting any given stage at any point in time. 

Your experience with the five stages and the time spent in each depends on a number of factors. Those include the severity of loss, other external stressors, coping strategies, your support system, and your ability to process the details. It’s important to note (and remember) that moving forward and backward is completely normal. 

Feeling Waves

Grief can often be described as being felt in waves. Some days are easier than others. Your mind transitions between the life you were living before the loss and the life you’re currently living after the loss. 

You may be completely established in a new routine, using effective coping mechanisms, and feel like you’ve reached a good point. Then out of nowhere, you have an off day and mentally transport back to old habits. Something triggers you and you feel this rush of sadness or remembrance of what used to be. 

When Does it End?

While there is not set time frame for grief to end, you should start to notice some symptoms reducing in around six months. For some, it may take a bit longer. For others, it may be sooner. By the time the twelve-month mark hits, you should start to feel more normal in your new routine. If you experience strong symptoms for over a year, you may be dealing with more complicated grief. 

Seeking Help

Grief can be a difficult process, but it doesn’t have to be dealt with alone. There are resources and support options available. Always remember that it's okay to ask for help. 

If you need some guidance navigating your grief experience, contact us today and schedule a time to talk about grief or spirituality counseling.