Depression
"I'm so sad, why bother with anything?"; "I'm going to die soon, so what's the point?"; "I miss my loved one, why go on?" During the fourth stage, the individual despairs at the recognition of their mortality. In this state, the individual may become silent, refuse visitors and spend much of the time mournful and sullen.
Examples of the Depression Stage
Children grieving in divorce
- This involves the child experiencing sadness when they know there is nothing else to be done, and they realize they cannot stop the divorce. The parents need to let the child experience this process of grieving because if they do not, it only shows their inability to cope with the situation. Example: "I'm sorry that I cannot fix this situation for you."
Grieving a lost serious relationship
- The partner left behind might feel discouraged that his or her bargaining plea did not convince the former partner to stay.
Grieving in substance abuse
- Sadness and hopelessness are important parts of the depression stage when drug abusers are faced with the reality of living a life without their substance of choice. Most abusers experience this when they are going through the withdrawal stage quitting their addiction.
The 5 stages of grief and loss are:
- Denial and isolation;
- Anger;
- Bargaining;
- Depression;
- Acceptance.