Health Encyclopedia

Grief

Definition

Grief is a reaction to a major loss. It is most often an unhappy and painful emotion triggered by the death of a loved one.

People also can experience grief if they have an illness for which there is no cure, or a chronic condition that affects their quality of life. The end of a significant relationship often results in a grieving process, as well.

Alternative Names

Mourning; Grieving; Bereavement

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Everyone feels grief in their own way, but there are certain stages to the process of mourning. It starts with recognizing a loss and continues until a person eventually accepts that loss. People's responses to grief will vary depending upon the circumstances of the death.

For example, if the person who died had a chronic illness, the death may have been expected. The end of the person's suffering might even have come as a relief. If the death was accidental or violent, coming to a stage of acceptance could take longer.

Symptoms

There can be five stages of grief. These reactions might not occur in a specific order, and can (at times) occur together. Not everyone experiences all of these emotions:

Denial, disbelief, numbness
Anger, blaming others
Bargaining (for instance "If I am cured of this cancer, I will never smoke again.")
Depressed mood, sadness, and crying
Acceptance, coming to terms

People who are grieving will often report crying spells, some trouble sleeping, and lack of productivity at work.

Signs and tests

The doctor will perform a physical exam and ask questions about your symptoms, including sleep and appetite disturbances. Symptoms that last for a while may lead to clinical depression.

Treatment

Family and friends can offer emotional support during the grieving process. Sometimes outside factors can affect the normal grieving process, and people might need help from clergy, social workers, mental health specialists, or self-help groups.

The acute phase of grief can usually last up to 2 months, but some milder symptoms may last for a year or longer. Psychological counseling may help a person who is unable to face the loss (absent grief reaction), or who has depression associated with grieving.

Support Groups

You can help the stress of grieving by joining a support group where members share common experiences and problems.

Expectations (prognosis)

It may take a year or longer to overcome strong feelings of grief, and to accept the loss.

Complications

Grief and loss can affect your overall health. It can lead to depression or excessive alcohol or drug use. Major depression is also a problem with grief. Grief that lasts for more than two months and is severe enough to interfere with daily life may be a sign of more serious illness.

Calling your health care provider

Call your health care provider if you can't deal with grief, are using excessive amounts of drugs or alcohol, become very depressed, or have prolonged depression that interferes with your daily life.

Prevention

Grief should not be prevented because it is a healthy response to loss. Instead, it should be respected, and those who are grieving should have support to help them through the process.

Review Date:7/27/2007
Reviewed By:Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Pediatrics and Psychiatry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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