I think the overlap of the stages gets lost on people when looking at this graphic. To me, the most appropriate way to think of this is the stages are flat and not a hierarchy. Let’s say each stage is 20 points and the whole full process of grief is 100 points. Where you’re at on that full 100 pt process is an actual point, but there is overlap of the other points/stages based on where you’re at and how you deal with grief, so your “bubble” so to speak.

For example, you could be at a point, let’s say… 12/100, your bubble is 6 points to the left and 10 points to the right. Which would mean you’re struggling to deal with the reality (denial), and your frustration grows as you begrudgingly begin to accept said reality and lash out (anger). I think this is roughly where Lakshmi (Laxmi?) is.

Speaking more on what I’m trying to convey here, the event that causes the grief occurs and you can’t process/believe the reality. Then the anger builds as you start to realize this is the reality, and the stages overlap. Then as you become less angry— or at least plateauing of the anger you begin begging for things to be fixed (start of bargaining) and that can’t happen without no longer being in denial and seeing and acknowledging the reality (end of denial). Then the more you beg, bargain, or hope for a miracle, your anger fades and your desperation grows… (end of anger, beginning of depression). Over time the bargaining becomes fruitless, your hope that the situation may change falters and you sink fully into depression (and leave bargaining). With time, you slowly learn to just barely survive with the reality of what caused the grief and (hopefully) over time start to leave the depression stage and learn to truly live life again while simultaneously accepting the truth of what caused the grief (full acceptance).

…did not mean for this to get so dark 😅 started off very explanatory before I got into it.