Which is the correct sequence of the five stages of grief, in order?

Which is the correct sequence of the five stages of grief, in order?

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

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is the typical progression people experience as they cope with loss. The sequence moves from initial disbelief to a growing acceptance, reflecting how thoughts and feelings often unfold when facing a painful reality. The correct order is: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance. Denial serves as a shield against being overwhelmed by the news. Once that protective layer wears off, anger commonly emerges as a response to unfairness or the situation. After anger, bargaining appears as thoughts of “if only” or “what if” aimed at regaining control or reversing what happened. As reality sinks in, deep sadness and reflection follow, which is the depression stage. Finally, acceptance comes when the person acknowledges the reality and starts to move forward with life, integrating the loss into their ongoing experience. Other sequences mix these stages in ways that don’t align with the typical flow—for example, starting with anger before denial, or placing depression before bargaining—because they don’t reflect how the emotions commonly unfold in this model. Keep in mind that real-life grief isn’t always perfectly linear, but this order serves as a useful framework for understanding the general progression.