Grief & Loss

What Is Grief? Grief is a natural, normal response to loss — the loss of a loved one, a relationship, a job, or even a life stage. Grief is not a sign of weakness or illness; it's a natural part of healing and adapting to major change. The Stages of Grief One of the best-known frameworks in this field is Elisabeth Kübler-Ross's five-stage model: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Importantly, these stages aren't linear or mandatory — people may move back and forth between them, skip some entirely, or revisit earlier stages. Grief is a deeply personal experience, and there is no single "right way" to move through it. Symptoms of Grief Grief can show up in many ways: emotional symptoms such as sadness, anger, guilt, and anxiety; physical symptoms such as chest tightness, shortness of breath, or an empty feeling in the stomach; cognitive symptoms such as disbelief or a sense of the deceased's presence; and behavioral symptoms such as sleep disturbances, restlessness, or social withdrawal. Normal vs. Complicated Grief In most cases, the intensity of grief gradually eases over time as a person resumes daily life. Sometimes, however, grief becomes "complicated" or prolonged — when an intense sense of loss continues to seriously disrupt daily functioning even after months or years. The Role of Grief Counseling Grief counseling doesn't aim to "cure" or eliminate sadness — its goal is to provide a safe space to explore feelings related to loss and to learn healthy ways of coping with it. If you find that your grief continues to seriously disrupt your daily life long after the loss, or is accompanied by intense guilt, emotional numbness, or deep isolation, speaking with a psychologist can help.