During which stage of grief do individuals experience denial of a loss?

The stage of grief characterized by denial of a loss is indeed the stage known as denial. In this initial stage, individuals may have difficulty accepting the reality of their loss. Denial functions as a coping mechanism that helps soften the blow of overwhelming emotions. It allows individuals to process the news at their own pace, often leading to feelings of numbness or shock.

During denial, the mind may reject the reality of the loss, leading to thoughts like "This can't be happening," or "I need to speak with them again." This stage can last for varying amounts of time, and individuals may fluctuate in and out of denial, especially as they slowly confront the truth of their situation.

The other stages—acceptance, anger, and bargaining—are subsequent phases that often follow denial, where individuals begin to confront their emotions more fully and seek to navigate their grief in more complex ways. Understanding that denial is an essential first step in the grieving process helps in recognizing how people can protect themselves from the immediate pain of loss.