What is Grief?
Grief is a natural response to losing someone or something important to us. Although it is most often associated with the death of someone close, grief can also follow the loss of a relationship, health, independence, a hoped-for future, or another significant part of life.
Grief can be deeply painful, but the intensity of what we feel does not necessarily mean that something is wrong. It is part of the way we gradually adjust to a significant loss and to a life that may now be different. There is no single pathway through grief, and feelings can shift between sadness, longing, anger, guilt, relief or numbness, sometimes coming and going in waves.
At times, grief can become particularly persistent or difficult, but support can also be valuable when grief is unfolding naturally. Having someone help you understand what you are experiencing, make sense of the changes that come with loss, and find your way through them can make this period feel less difficult to navigate.