What Is Grief?
Grief is the emotional, physical, psychological, and behavioral response to a significant loss.
It can affect how you feel, think, behave, and interact with other people. Grief is different for everyone, and there is no single "right" way to experience it.
Grief Can Follow Many Types of Loss
Grief is not limited to death.
Someone might experience grief after:
• The death of someone important
• The end of a friendship
• A breakup
• Moving or losing a community
• Changes in family relationships
• Losing an opportunity or ability
• A major change in someone's life
• Losing a future or experience they had imagined for themselves
The significance of a loss depends on the person experiencing it. Something that may seem small to one person can be deeply meaningful to someone else.
Emotional
You might experience:
• Sadness
• Anger
• Guilt
• Anxiety
• Loneliness
• Numbness
• Shock
• Relief
• Irritability
• Conflicting emotions
You can experience more than one emotion at the same time.
Physical
Grief can affect your body, too.
You might notice:
• Fatigue
• Changes in sleep
• Changes in appetite
• Headaches
• Stomachaches
• Muscle tension
• Feeling physically drained
Cognitive
You might notice changes in how you think.
These can include:
• Difficulty concentrating
• Forgetfulness
• Trouble making decisions
• Confusion or "brain fog"
• Repetitive thoughts
• Difficulty focusing at school
Behavioral & Social
Grief can also affect what you do and how you interact with others.
You might:
• Spend more time alone
• Become more irritable
• Lose motivation
• Have difficulty keeping up with routines
• Experience changes in school performance
• Want more support from others
• Want more personal space
• Change how you interact with friends or family
Grief Isn't Linear
Grief does not follow a straight line.
You might have a difficult day, followed by a good day, followed by another difficult day.
A reminder, milestone, or unexpected moment can bring difficult emotions back even after you have been feeling okay.
Having a good day does not mean you are "over it."
Having a difficult day does not mean you are starting over.
Your experience can change over time.