Grief

Table of Contents

  • What is Grief?

  • Types and Stages of Grief

  • Common Symptoms and Experiences

  • When Grief Becomes Complicated

  • Treatment and Support Options

  • Telehealth for Grief Counseling

  • Living With Grief

  • References

What is Grief?

Grief is a natural and deeply personal response to losing someone or something important—most commonly the death of a loved one, but also due to divorce, illness, or significant life changes. It impacts every part of a person’s life, often arriving in unpredictable waves of emotion. For some, grief may feel like sadness or longing; for others, it may involve anger, guilt, or physical symptoms. While painful, grief is a necessary process that helps individuals navigate change, find meaning, and ultimately heal.

Types and Stages of Grief

  • Most people experience grief as a process, not a single event. Popular models include the five stages: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Others survive shock, confusion, and guilt before slowly moving forward.

    • Normal Grief usually fades with time and allows people to reintegrate into everyday life within months.

    • Complicated or Prolonged Grief occurs when symptoms persist for a year or longer and interfere with daily functioning; about 10% of bereaved individuals may experience this.
       Triggers and progression vary, but connecting with others and seeking help can ease the path.

Common Symptoms and Experiences

Grief may cause symptoms such as:

  • Emotional pain, sadness, anger, or guilt

  • Disbelief, confusion, trouble concentrating

  • Physical effects (fatigue, headaches, chest tightness)

  • Changes in sleep and appetite

  • Difficulty carrying out normal routines or isolating from others
    Grief is not linear, and mixed emotions are normal—even moments of happiness may alternate with pain.

When Grief Becomes Complicated

When grief remains severe for a year or more, or includes persistent thoughts of worthlessness, inability to enjoy life, or wishing to have died with the loved one, it may be classified as complicated grief. This condition can overlap with depression, anxiety, and physical health problems and is treatable with professional help.

Treatment and Support Options

  • Grief Counseling: Talk therapy, including cognitive behavioral techniques and meaning-focused interventions, helps people process overwhelming emotions, adjust to losses, and restore life satisfaction.

  • Social Support: Support from friends, family, and groups offers connection, understanding, and practical help.

  • Medication: Sometimes used to manage depression or anxiety related to grief.

  • Self-care: Healthy routines, exercise, and expressive activities (writing, art) support recovery.

  • Professional Help: Needed when grief affects everyday life, or thoughts of self-harm arise.

Telehealth for Grief Counseling

Telehealth makes grief counseling and therapy accessible from home, offering privacy, convenience, and flexibility for those facing loss. Online sessions can include individual counseling, family therapy, group support, and even crisis intervention. Telehealth programs help people learn coping skills, process emotions more safely, track progress, and access specialized grief resources—even when in-person visits are difficult.

Living With Grief

Grieving takes time, but healing is possible. Support from others, healthy coping strategies, and professional guidance all foster adaptation and renewal. Everyone's journey is unique—finding meaningful ways to remember and connect can lead to hope for the future.

If you or a loved one suffer from grief and would like to explore treatment options, you may schedule in with our clinicans below:

Schedule Now

If you find the person you were looking to schedule with is no longer accepting patients, feel free to contact us at 734-707-1052, Monday-Friday from 9am-6pm, and we will see if we can find any openings for you with another similar provider.

References

Cleveland Clinic. (2025, June 1). What Is Grief? Types, Symptoms & How To Cope. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24787-griefclevelandclinic

HelpGuide. (2025, March 12). Coping with Grief and Loss: Stages of Grief and How to Heal. https://www.helpguide.org/mental-health/grief/coping-with-grief-and-losshelpguide

StatPearls. (2025, April 11). Grief and Prolonged Grief Disorder. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507832/ncbi.nlm.nih

Mayo Clinic. (2022, December 12). Complicated grief - Symptoms and causes. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/complicated-grief/symptoms-causes/syc-20360374mayoclinic

Cleveland Clinic. (2025, June 1). Complicated Grief: What It Is, Symptoms & Treatment. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24951-complicated-griefclevelandclinic

Telemed2U. (2022, February 19). Professional Online Grief Treatment. https://www.telemed2u.com/psychiatry/grieftelemed2u

PositivePsychology.com. (2024, September 10). 10 Grief Counseling Therapy Techniques & Interventions. https://positivepsychology.com/grief-counseling/positivepsychology