Stages of Grief

What are the stages of grief that a parent may experience?

The first stage of grief is feeling shock, disbelief and denial. This usually lasts several days to weeks.

Second, there is an acute mourning period with bodily discomfort as well as emotional discomfort. During this time, people withdraw from societal functions. This can last several weeks to months.

Third is restitution, which happens after several months or years since the child has died. This is when parents acknowledge their loss and what it means for them. At this point, they can accept their loss and return to their routines.

Keep in mind that parents don’t expect to outlive their children hence the grieving period is often much longer than grief with other losses.

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