The results of a new study could change the way we all view grieving and grieving people.

Doctors had always thought the dominant feeling we have while grieving was depression.

However, now they have found it is not depression, rather it is yearning.

The new study is published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

It tested what is called the "stage theory of grief."

The stages start with disbelief, then yearning, anger, depression, and finally acceptance.

Researchers found the order is accurate, but that it takes a longer to get through the stages than previously thought.

Holly Prigerson, ph.d, of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, stated, “Up until now I think people thought that sadness was, sad mood, depressed mood was the characteristic feature of bereavement response, and these data say that's really more about yearning and pining and missing the person.”

Doctors say it is also important to point out most people did not move through the depression stage until six months after losing a loved one.

So it can be expected for the grieving process to take that long.