Written by Menswear Style
in
Health & Fitness
on the
6th October 2025
If you’ve experienced loss you’ll likely be grieving. The grieving process is different for everyone but it can be helpful to understand what to expect. Grief is complex; it’s important to know that however you are feeling is ok, it’s normal, and support is available if you want it or feel like you need it.
Our comprehensive, compassionate guide is designed to help you navigate the complex emotions and practical challenges of grief, providing evidence-based coping strategies and advice, whilst helping to normalise the bereavement experience.
The stages of grief
It may be disheartening to be told that there is no timeline for grief. People often refer to the ‘stages of grief’ but the truth is that grief isn’t linear and everyone’s experience is different. Let’s take a quick look at the five stages of grief, possibly one of the most frequently cited frameworks when it comes to understanding the emotions you might feel after a death.
– Denial: Often described as feeling numb, denial can feel as if it’s hard to believe the loss has actually happened.
– Anger: This is a completely normal emotion to feel. You may feel angry both towards yourself and even towards the person who has passed away.
– Bargaining: It can be challenging to accept that we are unable to change the situation. You may find yourself wondering ‘what if’ in the hope things might have ended differently.
– Depression: Depression is the most common symptom associated with grief. Sadness and pain can come and go over a long period of time.
– Acceptance: Many individuals find the pain lessens gradually over time.
The emotions we’ve explored above don’t always happen in this order, nor will you necessarily experience all of them. How you feel after a loss can also vary greatly based on the different kinds of bereavements and the type of relationship you had with the deceased. For example, you have different kinds of relationships with pets, family members, and friends. As a result, you may experience their loss in different ways.
The ‘five stages of grief’, originally coined by psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, is just one framework – this is not the only way of thinking about it. Indeed, another idea people often find helpful is that of growing around grief. What do we mean by this? Grief doesn’t necessarily go away – you don’t ‘get over it’. Over time, as you grow as a person, other things take up space alongside the grief in your brain and in your heart. In time, it can feel like the grief is still there, but it doesn’t take up quite so much space.
Understandably, grief can be incredibly upsetting and it can be tempting to retreat into yourself and lean into unhealthy coping mechanisms in the form of alcohol and recreational drug use to try and forget about what’s happened. But there are healthy ways to grieve. You can support healthy grieving by:
Emotional processing
– Acknowledge your feelings: Take the time to sit with, name, and really feel your emotions. You are allowed to feel both positive and negative emotions when you are grieving – there are no rules. Crying is a natural part of the process for some individuals and can feel cathartic, but not everyone will find this the case.
– Express your emotions: Choose healthy ways to express your feelings. Some people find it really helpful to make notes in a journal about their memories with the deceased, and others find it helpful to talk about them with friends and other loved ones.
– Don’t expect to be “over it” quickly: Grief doesn’t have a timeline. Although it is a natural response to loss, everyone processes things and adjusts at their own speed.
Look after yourself
– Eat and sleep: Grief can be incredibly draining, both physically and mentally. It is really important to pay particular attention to your quality of sleep and ensuring you’re eating a balanced diet in order to look after yourself – even if it’s the last thing you feel like doing.
– Stay active: Moving your body regularly is scientifically proven to release endorphins in the body which help you feel good. Going for a walk can be a really helpful and easy coping mechanism to help when you’re feeling overwhelmed.
– Avoid harmful habits: It’s normal to want to avoid thinking about upsetting topics. Many people retreat into alcohol and recreational drugs in order to do this but these can leave you feeling worse.
Seek support – you’re not on your own
– Talk to others: Talking to a loved one about how you are feeling and about your loss can be really helpful for processing difficult emotions. It can also reinforce that you’re not alone.
– Join a support group: Some individuals find it helpful to talk to people they don’t know. There are a lot of support groups available that can provide a different form of support.
– Consider professional help: A lot of people find it beneficial to speak to a mental health professional like a psychiatrist in London. They can help you work through your feelings in a healthy and structured manner, and will usually take a holistic approach.
– Utilise helplines when needed: If you feel like you need immediate support you can contact organisations like the Samaritans over the phone or online.
Managing your grief and moving forwards
Grief can be one of life’s most challenging experiences. Despite this, remember that whatever you’re feeling is valid and normal. There is no correct way to grieve, no timeline to follow, and no pressure to “move forward” within a certain timescale. Healing takes time, but with compassionate self-care and the right support network, you can find your way through grief while honoring the memory of what you’ve lost. The pain of loss may never fully disappear, but with time and healthy coping strategies, you can learn to carry it alongside the other meaningful parts of your life.