Each loss must be felt and processed through grieving. Grieving is a natural part of life -- it is what allows us to compartmentalize our pain, hurt and anger, and any other feelings we may have about it in order to move on and continue living our lives to the fullest.

In her famous 1969 book On Death and Dying, Dr. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross studied over 500 patients faced with terminal illnesses and was able to identify five common stages that most people experience. The stages are:

• Denial - ("This can't be happening to me," or "I feel fine") - People in denial tend to minimize the importance of heir condition or block it from their minds in order to cope.
• Anger - ("Why me?","Not fair!") - People in the stage of anger may direct their rage at caregivers and friends, or envy others for their health.
• Bargaining - ("I'd do anything to live longer", or "I promise to go to church every day/week in return for more time") - People in this stage tend to "negotiate" with a higher power, promising to be a better person in exchange for a longer life.
• Depression - ("What's the point?", "Nothing matters") - In this stage, people are comprehending the certainty of their loss and can sequester themselves from others in order to cry and grieve and, in effect, "disconnect" from loved ones.
• Acceptance - ("Everything will be all right", "I am ready to accept what happens") - People in this stage finally reach a sense of peace with the inevitability of their loss and are more able to prepare for it.

This list of the stages of grieving is not meant to be complete or chronological, meaning they can be experienced in any order, and there is no normal period of grief and no normal way to experience it. Not everyone will experience all five stages of grief, and some will get stuck in one stage. Everyone experiences this in their own individual way.

Recently a friend who is in her twenties experienced the loss of a close friend and subsequently the loss of a close relative. She was knocked for a loop - she found it difficult to concentrate at work and would burst into tears at a moment's notice. This is perfectly normal.

It can be helpful to find someone to talk to about your grief. A friend or a family member can provide an ear and a shoulder to lean on (or cry on); better yet, a mental health professional can provide all that plus give you a sense of normalcy and a psychological understanding of your grieving process, helping you to heal and emerge stronger and ready to embrace the present.