What is Normal Grief?

In a society that has trained us to be uncomfortable with grief, when someone experiences a significant loss it can be difficult to identify what “normal'“ grief looks like. People are often left feeling confused and alone, thinking, “is this normal, should I be feeling this way?”. Here are a few ways normal grief can present itself:

• Losing interest in activities that once excited you

• Feeling great one minute then feeling devastated the next minute

• Withdrawing from family and friends, wanting to be alone

• Having memory problems and finding it more difficult to concentrate

• Dwelling on the events leading up to your loved ones death

• Feeling like no one can understand the magnitude and depth of your loss

Everyone experiences grief differently, you may feel some, all or none of the things listed. When you are experiencing significant grief, instead of asking “is this normal?”, it is often more helpful to ask yourself “do I need some additional help so I can cope better with what I am going through?” If you feel stuck, overwhelmed, or unable to manage day to day life, you may benefit from individual counseling to help you cope with the symptoms of your grief and process your loss.