experience of grief
Last reviewed 01/2018
There are three stages to grief:
- stage I (lasting hours to days):
- the immediate effects of bereavement are characterised by disbelief and numbness
- stage II (lasting weeks to 6 months):
- the acute stage of grief with positive symptoms such as crying out, searching and agitation
- the intermediate stage of grief characterised by negative symptoms such as depression, despair and apathy
- stage III (lasting weeks to months):
- characterised by resolution of the grief and reinvestment of emotional energies