During which stage of grief might individuals attempt to find a reason for their loss?

The stage of grief where individuals often attempt to find a reason for their loss is bargaining. In this stage, people are typically seeking to understand why the loss occurred and may think about what they could have done differently to prevent it. Bargaining is characterized by thoughts that center on “if only” scenarios, where individuals may negotiate with themselves or a higher power in hopes of reversing or mitigating the loss. This reflects a desire to regain control or make sense of the situation and is a natural part of the grieving process.

Other stages, such as depression, denial, and anger, focus on different emotional responses. Depression may involve feelings of deep sadness or hopelessness after accepting the loss, denial is a refusal to accept the reality of the loss, and anger often manifests as frustration or resentment towards the situation or even towards oneself, but these stages do not typically revolve around seeking reasons or justifications for the loss.