Which stage of grief is characterized by feelings of support-seeking and compromise?

The stage of grief characterized by feelings of support-seeking and compromise is bargaining. During this stage, individuals may seek to negotiate or make deals in an attempt to alleviate their emotional pain or reverse their loss. This often involves a desire to regain control over the situation and can manifest as thoughts like "If only I had done this differently, then maybe things would have turned out better."

In this phase, people may reach out for support as they navigate their feelings of distress, often hoping to find a solution or a way to avoid the reality of their loss. The essence of bargaining is the attempt to find ways to make sense of the grief or to lessen its impact, which underscores the support-seeking behavior that is prevalent in this stage.

The other stages, such as denial, acceptance, and anger, involve different emotional responses that do not focus on negotiation or compromise. Denial is about refusing to accept the reality of the loss, acceptance involves coming to terms with the actuality of the situation, and anger is characterized by frustration and resentment. Each of these stages represents a unique aspect of the grieving process, but bargaining specifically ties in closely with support-seeking and compromise as individuals wrestle with their feelings and experiences.