No one hands out a road map for grief. You won’t get handed a manual as you leave the funeral that explains, “Here’s what happens next, and watch out for the speed bumps at the third stage.” And let's be clear: the death of a loved one isn't something you can slap a kale band-aid on and bounce back from. Grieving is a twisted, winding marathon, not a sprint.

But wouldn't it be just a smidge easier if we had some kind of understanding of what we’re up against? This is where this stark-as-hell-but-honest breakdown of the four stages of grief comes in, conceived by these party animals named Colin Murray Parkes and John Bowlby back in the 70s.

Buckle up for the first stage: shock/numbness. Death hits like a sucker punch, and the body's reflex is pretty much to play dead. This emotional hibernation period can help you survive the initial blow.

Then comes yearning/searching, or as I prefer to call it, the annoying ex phase. The void they left feels like the Grand Canyon and you're left aching for their presence. You experience the full buffet of emotions: anger, anxiety, confusion, and, for the overachievers among us, all of those at once.

Next up: disorganization/despair. Think of it as a tantrum against reality. You start pulling away from people and the things you used to love, feelings of intense apathy and despair creep in but, cranky as it may be, it's a necessary phase.

Finally, reorganization/recovery - finding your new "normal". It's not the same as before, because, let’s face it, you're not the same. But slowly, you get your mojo back, your energy levels rise and a healthier emotional state starts to emerge. No, grief doesn't disappear, but it starts to walk beside you instead of stepping on your toes.

Let’s not sugarcoat it: moving through these stages can feel like trying to run uphill on a treadmill. And no, there's no “one-size-fits-all” timeline. It’s not a race, it doesn't matter if you're a Usain Bolt or a tortoise – it's YOUR journey.

Different types of grief? Oh, you bet. We've got them all: disenfranchised grief, complicated grief, anticipatory grief, breakup grief, traumatic grief. The fun never stops.

To add some structure to this mess, a chap named William J. Worden came up with four tasks of mourning to help us steer ourselves back towards sanity. Embrace the reality. Feel the pain. Find your new role. Remember and let go - four steps to help glue back together a shattered heart.

The truth is, grief is a storm you have to weather, but knowing what you’re in for can help you prepare for the high winds and rough seas, and identify when you might need some extra help navigating. An unexpected lifeboat can often come in the form of bereavement support groups or grief counseling.