Five Different Types of Grief You Likely Don't Know About
Grief is a process, not a destination. When we lose someone we love, be it through death or another significant separation, our world comes crashing down on us.
Maybe you’ve felt this way before – like there’s no way you can go on without them in your life. It feels like the end of the world. Assuming that your loved one is gone forever and irreplaceable leaves you feeling empty, hopeless, and utterly shattered. And while it may seem impossible to climb out of that dark hole at first, with time and many different coping techniques, the healing process begins to take shape. The key to moving forward after losing someone special lies in understanding what kind of grief you are experiencing and how to recover meaningfully from this painful loss.
What Is Grief?
Grief is the natural process we go through after losing someone or something important to us, whether through death or other significant separation. While the intensity and duration of this mourning process can vary from person to person, we can all expect to experience some form of this complicated emotion at some point in our lives. In other words, grief is a normal response to loss. No matter how happy and healthy someone may be, the death of a loved one – or any significant parting – is certain to elicit a grieving response.
Bereavement
Bereavement refers to the period of time surrounding the death of someone close to you. It’s normal to mourn the death of a loved one. But if these feelings don’t reduce or fade away in a few months and become strong enough to be classified as grief, then you are likely experiencing prolonged grief or complicated grief. Bereavement is typically experienced as a steady, but manageable, decline in mood, energy, and motivation. It may also be accompanied by a wide range of other symptoms such as:
appetite changes
difficulty sleeping
decreased concentration.
For most people, these feelings gradually subside over time, with the average grieving period lasting approximately one year. If you continue to experience signs of bereavement for longer than a year, you may be experiencing a more severe form of grief.
Distinguishing Between Mourning & Grieving
While mourning and grieving both occur as a result of a death or significant departure, there are a few differences between these two reactions.
Mourning is a process that begins even before the death of a loved one. It’s the psychological preparation we undergo when we know that death is imminent. Mourning is a healthy and necessary process that allows us to come to terms with the loss we are facing.
Grieving, on the other hand, is the specific set of emotions, thoughts, and actions that take place after a death has occurred. Grief is the reaction our bodies have to this death.
As such, mourning occurs in the present, while grieving takes place in the future. This means that many people can mourn even though the death has yet to occur. They know that death is inevitable, so they’re already in a mourning state of mind. Grieving, on the other hand, occurs once death actually happens.
Acute Grief
Acute grief is the initial reaction you experience when you are faced with death or loss. It often occurs immediately after the death of a loved one, but can also be triggered by other significant losses. Such as a divorce, a breakup, or a job loss. Acute grief is characterized by intense feelings of sadness, anxiety, and other negative emotions. These feelings are so strong that they may interfere with your ability to function normally.
Acute grief is likely to subside over time, but there are many ways you can help manage its intensity until it passes. It’s important to be patient with yourself during this process and not rush through the grieving process. Acute grief usually resolves itself over the course of several months. However, if you feel like these feelings are not subsiding after several months, or if they are intensifying, you may be experiencing a more severe form of grief which a grief counselor can help with.
Chronic Grief
Chronic grief is a more severe reaction to a death or loss. If you are experiencing this type of grief, you may feel as though you will never again be able to experience happiness. Or that you are no longer able to function normally in society. Chronic grief is not a normal reaction to the death of a loved one. It is an extreme response that must be treated in grief counseling with urgency. People who experience chronic grief are at an increased risk of developing serious mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety disorders. Chronic grief can also make it more difficult to come to terms with the death of a loved one. Chronic grief takes longer to treat than acute grief, as it often requires some form of counseling.
Depression and Anxiety During Grief
Some people who experience grief develop depression or anxiety disorders. These mental health conditions can make it difficult to come to terms with a death or loss and to function normally in society. Grief-induced depression is the most common mental health condition that develops during grief. It is often referred to as “complicated grief” or “prolonged grief.” People who experience grief-induced depression may feel as though they will never be happy again, or that they are no longer able to function normally in society. Grief-induced anxiety is also relatively common. People who experience this type of anxiety may become overly worried about their future or feel like they are unable to take care of themselves. People who experience grief-induced depression or anxiety may need treatment to help them manage these feelings.
How To Deal With The Loss Of A Loved One?
Be Patient And Be Kind To Yourself
Although the death of a loved one leaves you feeling like you have been torn apart, and you may have no idea how to move forward, you can survive this experience. The first step is to accept that you need help from a grief counselor and that you’re not alone in this pain – many people go through the same thing.
Grief is a long and painful journey that takes patience, self-compassion, and support. You will not heal overnight, and there is no set timeframe for when you should “be over it”. Give yourself as much time as you need to heal and embrace all of the emotions you are feeling. And, most importantly, don’t forget to be patient and kind to yourself throughout this process.
Get Support From a Grief Counselor in the San Francisco Bay Area
If you are suffering from chronic grief then it is important to get support from a grief counselor. Working with a therapist in grief counseling can help you embrace all of the emotions that you are feeling. Then you will be able to start healing and moving forward.
If you are ready to get support from Bay Area Therapy for Wellness then follow these 3 steps:
Schedule your first appointment with a grief therapist
Start moving forward with patience, self-compassion, and support
Other Online Therapy Services Offered in the Bay Area in California
Through online therapy in California, we offer more than just grief counseling. At Bay Area Therapy for Wellness, you can also receive family therapy and support for caregivers and those living with chronic illnesses. As well as depression treatment and anxiety treatment.
