Know Your Grief: 12 Types of Grief and Their Symptoms

Losing a loved one is not an easy experience. We weren’t taught how to cope with our grief. Most of us just learn about it when we experienced it.

This article aims to help you identify and understand the grief you are experiencing. Read through the symptoms listed and try to know which grief are you currently feeling. 

Understanding your grief can help you take care of yourself in a way that addresses your specific needs and feelings. 

And if you’re not the one who is experiencing grief but want to help those who are going through one, we hope this article can help you understand how grief can affect people differently!

12 Types of Grief and Their Symptoms

Normal Grief

Normal grief is the natural and normal emotional and psychological response to the loss of a loved one. Everyone’s grief is unique, but there are some common experiences that people have when they grieve.

Symptoms of normal grief can include:

• Feelings of sadness, loneliness, and emptiness
• Difficulty sleeping and/or eating
• Difficulty concentrating
• A sense of disbelief or numbness
• Anger or irritability
• Guilt or regret
• Feeling like life is empty or meaningless

Most people can expect to feel these symptoms for a period of time after a loss. They can expect to go through different stages of grief such as denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. 

Grief can be a process and it can be a difficult one. It can be made more complicated by life events and by the person’s relationship with the deceased.

Anticipatory Grief

Anticipatory grief is a type of grief that occurs when a person is anticipating the loss of a loved one due to a terminal illness or other impending death. 

It is grief that happens before death occurs. The person is mourning the loss of the loved one before they die, acknowledging the reality of the impending loss, and accepting that the death is going to happen.

Symptoms of anticipatory grief can include:

• Feelings of sadness, loneliness, and emptiness
• Difficulty sleeping and/or eating
• Difficulty concentrating
• A sense of disbelief or numbness
• Anger or irritability
• Guilt or regret
• Feeling like life is empty or meaningless
• Difficulty accepting the reality of the loss
• Difficulty in planning for the future
• A sense of hopelessness

Anticipatory grief is a normal and natural response to an impending loss. It can also be a way of coping with the loss and preparing for it. It can also be a way of acknowledging that the person is going to die and to say goodbye before the death occurs.

Acute Grief

Acute grief is a type of grief that occurs immediately following a significant loss, such as the death of a loved one. 

It is characterized by intense and overwhelming feelings of sadness, shock, and disbelief. The person may experience a range of physical, emotional, and psychological symptoms.

Symptoms of acute grief can include:

• Intense feelings of sadness, shock, and disbelief
• Difficulty sleeping and/or eating
• Difficulty concentrating
• A sense of numbness or disconnection from reality
• Anger or irritability
• Guilt or regret
• Feeling like life is empty or meaningless
• Difficulty accepting the reality of the loss
• Constant worry and anxiety
• Physical symptoms like headaches, fatigue, or chest pains

The duration of acute grief can vary depending on the person, but typically it lasts for a few weeks to several months. Some people may feel like they are stuck in this stage and they can’t move forward, that’s when it’s important to seek help.

Chronic Grief

This type of grief occurs when a person continues to grieve for a long period of time after a loved one has died. 

It can be more complex and may involve a range of emotions, including anger, guilt, and depression. 

Symptoms of chronic grief can include:

• Persistent and intense feelings of sadness, loneliness, and emptiness
• A sense of numbness or disconnection from reality
• Constant worry and anxiety
• Difficulty in planning for the future
• A sense of hopelessness
• Withdrawing from social activities and interests
• Difficulty in moving on with life
• Preoccupation with the deceased
• Difficulty in finding meaning in life after loss

Chronic grief can persist beyond the typical time frame for normal grief. It is characterized by a prolonged and intense period of mourning that interferes with an individual’s ability to function in daily life.

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Traumatic Grief

Traumatic grief is a type of grief that occurs when a person experiences a loss that is accompanied by overwhelming trauma, such as the sudden and violent death of a loved one. 

Trauma can be defined as any event that causes intense emotional and psychological stress, and traumatic grief is a natural response to this type of loss.

Symptoms of traumatic grief can include:

• Intense feelings of shock and disbelief
• Difficulty accepting the reality of the loss
• Persistent thoughts and memories of the traumatic event
• Intrusive images, nightmares, or flashbacks related to the event

Traumatic grief can be debilitating and can interfere with a person’s ability to function in their daily life. This type of grief requires specialized treatment, and therapy is often necessary. 

Complicated grief

This type of grief occurs when a person is unable to process their emotions and move on from their loss. 

It can manifest in a variety of ways, such as difficulty accepting the death, feeling detached from reality, and becoming preoccupied with the person who has died.

Symptoms of complicated grief can include;

• Social withdrawal and isolation
• Difficulty in forming new relationships
• Physical symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, chest pains, and difficulty sleeping
• Thinking or talking about the deceased constantly
• Difficulty in functioning in daily life
  Intense feelings of guilt, anger, or blame
• Difficulty engaging in activities that were once enjoyed
• Avoidance of reminders of the deceased
• Difficulty in finding a new identity

Delayed grief

This type of grief occurs when a person does not initially experience intense grief after a loved one has died, but it comes later on. It can be triggered by a significant event, such as a holiday or an anniversary.

Symptoms of delayed grief can include:

• Difficulty expressing emotions
• Avoiding talking about the loss
• Difficulty remembering the person who died
• Avoiding places or things that remind them of the loss
• Difficulty feeling emotions or feeling numb
• Difficulty sleeping
• Difficulty concentrating

Masked grief

Masked grief is a type of grief in which a person may not show traditional signs of grief or may express mixed emotions about the loss. 

This can happen when a person has a complex relationship with the person who died, has unresolved issues with the person, or feels guilty or relieved about the loss.

Symptoms of masked grief can include:

• Difficulty expressing emotions
• Avoiding talking about the loss
• Expressing mixed emotions about the loss, such as feeling both sadness and relief
• Difficulty remembering the person who died
• Avoiding places or things that remind them of the loss

It can be due to cultural or societal expectations, or because the person may not be able to grieve freely.

Disenfranchised Grief

Disenfranchised grief is a type of grief that is not recognized or validated by society. It is often referred to as “ambiguous” grief because it is not associated with a specific loss or event, such as the death of a loved one. 

Disenfranchised grief can occur when a person experiences a loss that is not acknowledged or supported by others, such as the loss of a pet, a miscarriage, or a broken relationship.

Examples of disenfranchised grief can include:

• Grief after a miscarriage or stillbirth
• Grief after an abortion
• Grief after the loss of a pet

People experiencing disenfranchised grief may feel a sense of isolation and may not receive the same level of support and understanding as those who have experienced a more “traditional” loss. 

They may also feel guilty or ashamed for feeling grief over something that is not considered a significant loss by others.

Cumulative Grief

Cumulative grief is a type of grief that occurs as a result of multiple losses or stressors over time. 

It can happen when a person experiences a series of losses in a short period of time, such as the death of multiple loved ones, or when a person experiences losses or stressors over a longer period of time, such as a chronic illness or a history of trauma.

Symptoms of cumulative grief can include:

• Difficulty accepting the losses
• Feeling overwhelmed and constantly sad
• Difficulty moving on and finding joy in life
• Difficulty trusting others
• Difficulty sleeping
• Difficulty concentrating

Cumulative grief can be more complex and intense than grief from a single loss because the person may have to process multiple emotions and feelings at the same time. 

It can also make it harder for the person to move on and heal because they may feel like they are constantly grieving.

Exaggerated Grief

Exaggerated grief, also known as “pathological grief” or “complicated grief disorder”, is a type of grief that is characterized by intense and prolonged symptoms that significantly interfere with a person’s ability to function in their daily life.

It is a condition that persists for a longer period, usually more than six months, and goes beyond what is considered a normal grieving process.

Symptoms of exaggerated grief can include:

• Intense longing or yearning for the deceased
• Constant preoccupation with thoughts of the deceased
• Difficulty accepting the death
• Feeling detached from reality
• Difficulty moving on with life
• Persistent feelings of emptiness or hopelessness
• Difficulty engaging in activities that were previously enjoyed
• Difficulty forming new relationships
• Difficulty sleeping
• Difficulty concentrating

Inhibited Grief

Inhibited grief, also known as “suppressed grief” or “delayed grief,” is a type of grief in which a person has difficulty expressing and experiencing their emotions related to a loss. 

This can be due to a variety of reasons such as cultural or societal expectations, trauma, or repression of emotions. People who experience inhibited grief may suppress their emotions and avoid thinking about their loss, causing them to delay the grieving process.

Symptoms of inhibited grief can include:

• Difficulty expressing emotions
• Avoiding talking about the loss
• Difficulty remembering the person who died
• Avoiding places or things that remind them of the loss
• Difficulty feeling emotions or feeling numb
• Difficulty sleeping
• Difficulty concentrating

This type of grief can be more complicated to deal with than normal grief as it can make it harder for the person to process and move on from the loss. It can also lead to prolonged feelings of sadness, guilt, or anger. 

Inhibited grief can be addressed with professional help such as therapy. A therapist can help the person to understand why they are having difficulty grieving and help them to process their emotions in a healthy way.

End of Article

Everyone grieves differently. Always remember that grief is a natural response to loss. 

Don’t feel weirded out by feeling intense grief. Reach out to community groups and keep on befriending yourself during this difficult time. 

Understanding your grief can help you process your loss and move forward in your life. It can also help you to find a new identity and purpose after the loss. Be kind to your self and take it one step at a time!