Refresher on the 5 stages of grief

 The Kübler-Ross five stages of grief, also known as the Five Stages of Dying, were introduced by psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross in her 1969 book On Death and Dying. These stages describe a common range of emotional responses experienced by individuals facing terminal illness, loss, or significant life changes:

1. Denial – Refusing to believe the reality of the loss or diagnosis (“This can’t be happening”).
2. Anger – Frustration and helplessness may turn into anger (“Why is this happening to me?”).
3. Bargaining – Attempting to make deals to postpone or reverse the loss (“If I do this, can I live longer?”).
4. Depression – Deep sadness as the person begins to understand the loss’s impact (“What’s the point of going on?”).
5. Acceptance – Coming to terms with the reality of the situation (“It’s going to be okay”).

These stages aren’t always experienced in order, and not everyone goes through all of them. 

But, for me, in my recent trauma, I experienced 1-3 as a group, very mixed up, for about a year  then I had almost two years of 4, depression.  Acceptance is just beginning, at the start of year four.  

I’m one more data point which supports the general idea, including infinite complexities around the edges.