Understanding Grief

Grief can affect your mind, your body, and the way everyday life feels. Some reactions may be surprising or unfamiliar, and no two people experience grief in exactly the same way.

In your mind, you might notice:

• trouble concentrating or making decisions
• forgetting things or losing your train of thought
• feeling confused or disconnected
• replaying moments, conversations, or “what ifs”
• a sense that time feels slow, fast, or unreal

In your body, grief can look like:

• deep exhaustion, even when you’ve rested
• trouble sleeping or sleeping more than usual
• headaches or body aches
• changes in appetite
• tightness in your chest or stomach
• feeling restless, on edge, or unusually sensitive

In your day-to-day life you may find:

• things that once felt easy now feel overwhelming
• social interactions feel draining—or you want more connection than usual
• your patience is shorter, or your emotions feel closer to the surface
• ordinary places or routines feel unfamiliar
  

You don't have to make sense of it all right now

In the early days especially, grief can feel disorienting. Your usual ways of coping may not work the same way they once did, and emotions can change from one day—or one moment—to the next.



There is no single right way to grieve and no timeline you need to follow. You don’t need to have answers, and you don’t need to do this perfectly.

Support when you need it

Whether you’re looking for information for yourself, helping a child understand a death, or trying to support someone you care about, our resources are here to help you better understand grief and what may be helpful along the way.