Grief

Grief is a reaction to a major loss of someone or something. It is most often an unhappy and painful emotion.

Causes

Grief may be triggered by the death of a loved one. People also can experience grief if they have an illness for which there is no cure, or a chronic condition that affects their quality of life. The end of a significant relationship may also cause grieving.

Everyone feels grief in their own way. But there are common stages to the process of mourning. It starts with recognizing a loss and continues until a person eventually accepts that loss.

People's responses to grief will be different, depending on the circumstances of the death. For example, if the person who died had a chronic illness, the death may have been expected. The end of the person's suffering might even have come as a relief. If the death was accidental or violent, coming to a stage of acceptance might take longer.

Symptoms

One way to describe grief is in five stages. These reactions might not occur in a specific order, and can occur together. Not everyone experiences all of these emotions:

• Denial, disbelief, numbness
• Anger, blaming others
• Bargaining (for instance, "If I am cured of this cancer, I will never smoke again.")
• Depressed mood, sadness, and crying
• Acceptance, coming to terms

People who are grieving may have crying spells, trouble sleeping, and lack of productivity at work.

Exams and Tests

Your health care provider will perform a physical exam and ask about your symptoms, including your sleep and appetite. Symptoms that last for a while may lead to clinical depression .

Treatment

Family and friends can offer emotional support during the grieving process. Sometimes outside factors can affect the normal grieving process, and people might need help from:

• Clergy
• Mental health specialists
• Social workers
• Support groups

The acute phase of grief often lasts up to 2 months. Milder symptoms may last for a year or longer. Psychological counseling may help a person who is unable to face the loss (absent grief reaction), or who has depression with grieving.

Support Groups

Joining a support group where members share common experiences and problems and help relieve the stress from grieving especially if you have lost a child or spouse .

Outlook (Prognosis)

It may take a year or longer to overcome strong feelings of grief and to accept the loss.

Possible Complications

Complications that may result from ongoing grief include:

• Drug or alcohol use
• Depression

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call your provider if:

• You can't deal with grief
• You are using excessive amounts of drugs or alcohol
• You become very depressed
• You have long-term depression that interferes with your daily life

Prevention

Grief should not be prevented because it is a healthy response to loss. Instead, it should be respected. Those who are grieving should have support to help them through the process.