What Is Grief?

Grief is one of the most universal human experiences — and also one of the most misunderstood. While most people associate grief with the death of a loved one, it can happen in response to any significant loss: the end of a relationship, the loss of a job, a major life transition, or even the slow letting go of dreams that will never be realized. Grief isn’t just one emotion. It’s a complex, layered process that touches every part of us: emotional, physical, cognitive, spiritual, and relational.

Grief Is a Natural Response to Loss

Put simply, grief is our way of adapting to a world that has changed. When we lose someone or something important to us, our internal map of the world no longer matches reality. Grief is the process of redrawing that map. It’s our mind and body’s attempt to process and integrate what has happened, to find a new sense of orientation in a world that feels altered.

But this process rarely follows a straight line. Grief does not have a clear beginning, middle, and end. It doesn’t move in predictable stages, despite popular models like the “five stages of grief” (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance). People don’t grieve in neat, sequential steps; they move in and out, loop back, skip around, and experience a wide variety of emotions all at once.

The Many Faces of Grief

Grief can look and feel different depending on the person and the situation. For some, it shows up as sadness and tears. For others, it might manifest as anger, numbness, guilt, or even relief, especially after prolonged losses, such as the death of someone after a long illness. People may also experience physical symptoms: fatigue, trouble sleeping, changes in appetite, and even aches and pains with no apparent medical cause.

It’s also important to acknowledge ambiguous or non-death losses. You can grieve the loss of a friendship, the ending of a chapter of life, a change in identity, or the loss of safety or routine. The COVID-19 pandemic, for instance, brought a collective grief for many: the loss of normalcy, human connection, and even faith in the future.

Another type of grief is anticipatory grief, or the sorrow we feel before a loss occurs. This is common when caring for a terminally ill loved one or anticipating a major life change, like divorce or retirement. In these cases, grief begins long before the official goodbye.

There Is No “Right Way” to Grieve

Because grief is so deeply personal, there’s no correct timeline or method. Some people feel intense emotion immediately; others don’t feel much until months later. Some need to talk about their loss frequently, while others prefer solitude. Some express their grief outwardly, while others process internally. All of these responses are valid.

Unfortunately, society often places subtle (and not-so-subtle) expectations on how people should grieve. We hear messages like “you should be over it by now” or “you have to stay strong,” which can lead to feelings of shame or confusion. People may feel pressure to move on before they’re ready, or they may worry they’re grieving “wrong.”

In reality, grief isn’t something we “get over.” It’s something we learn to carry. Over time, the intensity may ease up, and we find ways to integrate the loss into our lives. But we don’t return to who we were before; instead, we become someone new who’s shaped, in part, by the loss we’ve endured.

Supporting Yourself Through Grief

Grief requires time, space, and compassion. If you’re grieving, allow yourself to feel what you’re feeling. Be gentle with your expectations. Accept help from others, and try to stay connected, even in small ways. If your grief feels overwhelming, contact us today. Through grief or depression treatment, we’ll help you find ways of processing the loss that feel meaningful for you.

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