Grief & Loss

Grief is the reaction we have in response to a death or loss. Grief can affect our body, mind, emotions, and spirit. You may experience the following things while grieving:

• Strong emotions like sadness, anger, guilt, despair, relief, love, or hope.

• Changes in appetite or sleep, an upset stomach, tight chest, crying, tense muscles, trouble relaxing, low energy, restlessness, or difficulty concentrating.

• Replaying happy or sad memories of the person who died, worries or regrets, or thoughts of what life will be like without the person.

• Finding strength or insecurity in faith, questioning religious beliefs, or discovering spiritual meaning and connections.

Grief is a reaction to loss, but it's also the name we give to the process of coping with loss. Grief is an important and healthy process of feeling comforted, coming to terms with a loss, and finding ways to adapt.

Ambiguous Loss

Ambiguous loss is a term used to describe a loss where there is no verification of death or no certainty the person will come back or return to the way they used to be. This includes situations like divorce, adoption, and loss of physical contact with family and friends because of immigration. More catastrophic examples include when a loved one is missing (i.e., kidnapping, missing in action, terrorism, natural disasters).

Another type of ambiguous loss occurs when a loved one is emotionally or cognitively compromised but physically present, like in the case of Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, traumatic brain injury, and addiction.

Rife with ambiguity, such losses are complex and challenging to navigate. With support, you can learn how to cope with the ambiguity, find meaning, and discover new hope.

Other Losses We Grieve

The death of a loved one isn’t the only loss we grieve. You might be surprised by some of the things on the following list. Some of our most familiar life events, which we may celebrate, like going to college, changing jobs, and having an empty nest, may also be experienced as losses.

Healing from Grief

Healing from grief doesn't mean “getting over it” or forgetting. Grieving is about finding ways to adjust to life while still honoring your feelings and your losses. Therapy can help you do this.