Anger

The bereaved person often becomes angry that the deceased has gone, and this aspect of grief tends to be neglected. The bereaved person suffers a sense of outrage; they have been robbed of someone precious and much of what they hoped for in the future has suddenly gone. The expression of anger may be unacceptable or regarded as childish, and many bereaved people are ashamed of it and attempt to hide it.

Caring professionals are often included in the anger, sometimes with a measure of justification if there has been a delay in reaching a diagnosis or negligence in providing adequate treatment. If this response is not dealt with honestly and with tolerance, it can lead to complaints about care, or in extreme cases, to litigation.