Understanding Bargaining in Grief
Journeying through grief takes a lot of work. It’s not a process to be rushed, nor is it easy to navigate, especially if you have young kids. It takes time, patience, and stamina to work through the stages, and they each present their own challenges and various emotions. The next stage, bargaining, is a complex step in the grief process.
Bargaining in grief is a stage marked by the "if only" and "what if" questions. It's a natural response to the feelings of vulnerability and helplessness that loss brings. We might find ourselves negotiating with God, promising to make changes in our life in exchange for the return of what we've lost, or for relief from our anguish. This stage embodies our desire to regain control over the uncontrollable, to negotiate our way out of pain and back to a semblance of normalcy and often occurs alongside denial and anger.
As with the anger stage, I didn’t think I experienced much bargaining in my grieving journey. I couldn’t really recall any times I was trying to negotiate with God or asking Him to bring Jon back in exchange for me committing to something. However, after researching what this stage actually is, I realized bargaining was definitely a part of the grief process for me.
Read more...Coping with Anger
Here are some things that can help you cope with and through the stage of anger:
- Allow yourself to feel the loss. Find an emotionally safe place, either with a supportive friend or counselor, and allow yourself to feel, cry, and think about the loss.
- Recognize underlying feelings when you express anger. Sadness and overwhelm can often show up as anger and frustration. It’s important to identify and address the root cause of your feelings.
- Don’t ignore your feelings. Suppressing your feelings can cause them to come out in less desirable ways. As we surrender those feelings to the Lord, He will help us express them in healthy ways.
- Find ways to express emotions through journaling, poetry, music and prayer.
- Thinking about the situation from various people's points of view can help you gain a better understanding of your feelings and the feelings of others.
The Dangers of Anger
While anger is a necessary stage of grief, it's crucial to remain mindful of its potential to become destructive. If left unchecked, anger can isolate us from our support systems, strain relationships, affect our health (both physical and mental) and delay healing. It can turn inward, manifesting as self-loathing, or outward, harming those we love. Recognizing this balance is essential in navigating our grief journey.
For me, my anger turned into trying to control everything, which I referenced in the series on denial. Everything was so out of control when Jon was sick. Then he died, and I felt so lost. I was determined not to let it happen again, and gaining control was the only way I thought I could change things. It became an obsession to have all my ducks in a row, and to be able to do it all. I wanted to be strong and to be able to handle whatever came my way, and I deceived myself into thinking I could handle it for quite a while. Eventually, everything crashed and burned, and my illusion of control crumbled.
The Benefits of Anger
Though it may seem counterintuitive, anger carries with it certain benefits. It can serve as a stark acknowledgment that something significant has been taken from us, propelling us to confront the breadth of our loss. Anger can motivate action, pushing us to find support, assert boundaries, or advocate for ourselves and others. It has the energy that, when harnessed constructively, can fuel the journey towards healing.
While being angry with God isn’t right, He could handle my anger. He’s much bigger than anything I could throw at Him. As the Lord worked on my heart through wise council, I gradually accepted that God had a bigger plan that I probably wouldn’t know until I was in Heaven. And even though it didn’t change my circumstances, it caused me to rest in God’s sovereignty.
Read more...Understanding Anger in Grief
When navigating the waves of grief as a widow, we often encounter a powerful and complex emotion: anger. It’s a natural part of the grieving process, yet understanding and managing it can be a tumultuous journey. My own path through widowhood has been intricately laced with moments of profound anger, each experience teaching me more about its nature, its benefits, its dangers, and ultimately, how to move past its grip.
Anger, within the context of grief, is an emotional response triggered by the pain of loss. It can manifest toward ourselves, the loved one who has passed, those still living, or even God for allowing such heartache. This anger forms part of the natural grieving process, following denial and preceding bargaining. In life, we often get angry when we can't control what's happening to us. We have no control over death, and so it's normal to feel anger. It is a sign that the reality of loss is penetrating the heart's defenses, prompting an internal cry for the unjust hand we have been dealt.
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