Everyone has heard of grief and has a basic idea of what it is. But not everyone fully understands the stages of grief and how important they are when it comes to fully healing. 

Grief occurs when there is any type of loss in your life. Whether you lost a loved one, a family pet, or even if you’re going through a divorce or separation, you have to be able to get through the loss in an effective and productive way. 

The stages of grief are meant to help you get through your loss from start to finish. You’ll never completely “forget” the loss you experienced, and that’s not the point. The point is being able to move on from that loss and continue on with your life.

So, what are the stages of grief? And how can you cope if you’ve experienced a loss?

Losing a spouse is one of the most difficult things a person can go through. Whether they passed recently or quite some time ago, dealing with the pain of loss can leave a lasting scar on your emotions.

Grief is normal when you lose a spouse, but the loneliness that comes with it can be crippling.