List the five stages of grief in their traditional order.

• A. Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance
• B. Denial, Bargaining, Anger, Depression, Acceptance
• C. Anger, Denial, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance
• D. Denial, Anger, Depression, Bargaining, Acceptance

Answer: (A)

Grief is often described as a progression of emotional responses to loss. In the traditional sequence, denial acts as a protective shield that helps you survive the shock of the news. As reality sinks in, anger can surface, directing intense feelings outward. Following that, bargaining emerges as attempts to regain control or reverse what’s happened through hopeful negotiations. Then comes depression, a deep sadness as the loss is fully acknowledged. Finally, acceptance represents beginning to live with the new reality and finding a way forward. This order—denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance—fits the common pattern described by the model, though remember it isn’t a rigid ladder; people may experience steps in different orders or revisit earlier stages.