Grief and Loss

Grief is a normal reaction and process of emotional and life adjustment one goes through after a loss. Though grief is often associated with the death of someone significant, it can accompany many types of losses. Grieving after a loved one’s death is also known as bereavement. The grieving process is a way of making sense and meaning across a multitude of loss experiences. Grief is not a linear process with a defined endpoint, and people experience it in different ways at different stages. Grief also affects various parts of one’s life differently, and there is no one "right way" to grieve. Grief is a natural process that does not always require professional treatment, but it is important to seek help if the pain of loss is so constant and severe that it interferes with daily functioning or causes suicidal thoughts.

Grief can show up in a variety of ways:

Cognitive: disbelief, confusion, preoccupation, dreams of the loss
Emotional: sadness, anger, guilt, hopelessness, helplessness, shock, yearning, numbness
Physical: headaches, back or chest pain, soreness, changes in sleep and appetite
Behavioral: isolating from others, avoiding or focusing on reminders of the loss, changing routine activities

Connecting with support can make a crucial difference in the grieving process. The resources below may be helpful in learning more about the impact of grief and ways of coping with grief or helping a loved one who is grieving. If you would like to speak with a counselor about getting more support, please contact University Counseling Services.