Grief is a normal response to loss. It’s the emotional distress you feel when something or someone
you love is gone. Often, the pain of loss you can feel is overwhelming. Additionally, you may
experience all types of difficult and unexpected emotions, from shock or anger to disbelief, guilt, and
profound sadness. However, the pain of grief can also disrupt your physical health, making it difficult
to sleep, eat, or even think straight. These are normal reactions to loss – and the more significant the
loss, the more intense your grief will be.
It’s worth noticing that coping with the loss of someone or something you love is one of life’s biggest
challenges. You may associate grieving with the death of a loved one – which is often the cause of
the most intense type of grief – but any loss can cause grief, and that includes:
Divorce or relationship break up; Loss of health; Losing a job; A miscarriage; Retirement; Loss of
financial stability; Death of pet; Loss of a friendship; A loved one’s serious illness; Loss of safety after
a trauma; Selling the family home; Loss of a cherished dream.