What Exactly is Grief?

Grief is not just sadness; it is the natural, emotional, behavioral, and physical response to loss.

• Grief is Dynamic: It is an active process, not a passive state. It involves actively adapting to a new reality where the thing you lost no longer exists in the way it once did.

• Grief is Personal: There is no single "right way" to grieve. Your experience is shaped by your personality, coping style, cultural background, and the nature of the loss itself.

• Grief is Physical: It shows up in your body as fatigue, headaches, stomach issues, difficulty sleeping, or even physical pain.

• Grief is Non-Linear: You don't "finish" grieving. It often comes in waves, striking with intensity one day and receding the next. The goal of healing is not to eliminate grief but to integrate the loss into your life and learn to carry the pain without it consuming you.