Grief

Causes of grief

The causes of grief can take many forms. However, this despair is typically brought on by experiencing a sense of loss, including:

• Bereavement after the death of loved one, friend or pet
• Divorce or separation
• Selling a home
• Job loss or significant change in employment
• Moving to a new area
• Health issues
• Financial instability
• Loss of independence
• Terminal illness

Types of grief

While everyone grieves at some point in life, the grieving process affects each person differently. There are several types of grief, including:

• Normal grief: The American Psychological Association (APA) defines “normal” grieving as lasting from six months to two years following a loss. While symptoms may come and go, they aren’t constantly experienced as a yearning for what was lost. For example, after losing a spouse, you might feel sorrow during holidays or birthdays but can engage in daily activities and experience joy outside those moments.
• Anticipatory grief: Anticipatory grieving occurs before a prolonged, expected loss. For instance, family members might begin grieving the loss of a loved one diagnosed with a terminal illness. Processing your feelings before a loss can help you mentally prepare when it eventually comes.
• Disenfranchised grief: Society doesn't acknowledge all loss as equal. For example, the loss of a pet might be deeply painful, but others may not see it as a significant loss. You may therefore feel isolated because your agony isn’t widely recognized or validated.
• Chronic grief: This type of grieving involves prolonged, intense sadness that doesn't diminish after loss. Unlike “normal grief,” the feelings of loss are consistently strong and can hinder a person’s ability to move on. An example is a parent who, years after the death of their child, finds daily functioning heavily impacted by their grief.
• Abbreviated grief: Sometimes, a person can move through the stages of grief quicker than what’s considered typical. For example, after spending months preparing for the loss of a chronically ill family member, you may process much of your feelings in advance. Therefore your grieving process might be condensed.
• Traumatic grief: Sometimes called “complicated grief,” traumatic grief can follow sudden, intense losses that may interrupt the normal grieving process. This form of grieving is often accompanied by symptoms of trauma, such as flashbacks or severe anxiety, and emotional pain that prevents a person from moving through their sorrow. An example is losing a loved one in an accident or natural disaster.
• Absent grief: The lack of a visible grieving response following a significant, sudden loss is absent grief. The person may appear to be carrying on as usual without showing signs of grieving, often due to shock. For instance, someone who suddenly lost a loved one might appear unaffected, focusing on getting back to work right away or denying the impact of their loss.

Who is at risk for grief?

Experiencing loss is universal, therefore everyone will experience grief at some point in their lives. However, certain risk factors can increase your chance of developing grief and impact the grieving process. These include:

• Relationship to who or what was lost: The intensity of a person’s suffering is often linked to their relationship with the person or thing lost. The deeper the connection, the more profound the sense of loss may be.
• Trauma: Experiencing traumatic losses can increase a person’s risk of developing grief.
• History of mental health conditions: Having other existing mental health disorders can make coping with loss more challenging and increase a person’s risk of developing grief.
• Previous losses: Experiencing multiple losses, especially if they haven’t been fully processed, can lead to the development of grief.
• Lack of support system: Without social support, a griever may struggle more deeply with their anguish and feel isolated in their pain.
• Age and developmental stage: A person’s age and developmental stage can affect how they understand and process grief. Children, adolescents and older adults may have unique vulnerabilities and needs during the grieving process.
• Cultural and social factors: Cultural norms and societal beliefs can influence how individuals are allowed to process their grief. In some cultures, expressive grieving is encouraged and supported, while others may value stoicism. This might complicate the grieving process for those who feel that their natural reactions aren’t socially acceptable.

Grief treatment options

It’s important to know that everyone grieves differently. And while the grieving process can be challenging, you are never alone.

At Main Line Health, our behavioral health specialists will work with you to determine the grief treatment best suited to your needs so that you can move through your feelings and eventually heal. This may include one or more of the following treatments:

• Therapy or counseling
• Medication
• Joining bereavement support groups
• Practicing self-care
• Following a routine
• Staying connected with loved ones

Diagnosis and testing for grief

In order to diagnose grief, your behavioral health specialist will perform an evaluation through tests that may include:

• Exam: You’ll talk with your doctor about your symptoms, experiences and medical history to diagnose your grief
• Psychological assessment: Your doctor will ask questions to look for signs such as difficulty accepting the loss, feeling as if a part of you has gone missing and experiencing overwhelming emotions

These tests help identify the resources and treatment needed to support you through the grieving process.