Stage 1: Shock and Denial. The pain is too great to be handled. You can’t for the love of anything understand how the weekend went by in such a blur. “This can’t be happening.” You will keep thinking this to yourself as you get up for work.
Stage 2: Emotions Erupt. The shock passes and emotions overflow their usual boundaries. They are expressed in ways ranging from wrenching sobs to gentle tears - either way, you will definitely weep silently in the shower.
Stage 3: Anger. After the emotions,most people feel angry and will want to to strike out at the person or thing causing the pain. However you can’t inflict pain on an abstract thing like days of the week, so you might decide to take it out on the things around you, like the neighbour’s cat.
Stage 4: Sickness. Often the body acts out the pain being felt through actual physical symptoms. You stay thinking of feigning sickness in order to get away from having to deal with your irate co-workers, or the rest of the week for that matter.
Stage 5: Panic. After a time of sickness and emotional upset, you starts to panic because you’re getting late for work. Oh crap where is the iron box?
Stage 6: Guilt. Personal guilt or similar feelings start to build up as you wonder whether that last drink the night before was worth it. Either that or it could be the hangover finally creeping up on you.
Stage 7: Depression and Loneliness. The pain of your loss will often cause you to withdraw into one’s self, the weekend is over can you believe it? Does anyone really care?
Stage 8: Re-Entry Troubles. Once the effort is made to get back into your normal routine, the pain of the of the loss of the weekend makes it difficult to be the same functional adult you were before the long weekend happened. Computer passwords are forgotten, writing or working becomes a near impossible task.
Stage 9: Hope Emerges. Gradually, the pain of being a full functional adult subsides and the world becomes almost bearable again after well deserved coffee. Hope sneaks through you as the day wears on. Energy is regained.
Stage 10: Accepting and Affirming Reality. The loss is accepted with great bitterness as you will most definitely go through this again after the next long holiday.
