Recognizing the 9 Different Types Of Grief

Losing something you value causes pain, but there are various sorts of grieving beyond the death of a loved one.

When someone, place, pet, or item you care about leaves your life, you may feel loss. This emptiness causes regret and loss for what was.

While tiered models of sorrow help us comprehend the notion, there’s no incorrect way to handle any loss.

Abrupt Grief

Abrupt grief is typical grief caused by rapid or unexpected losses. Spanaway, Washington-based licensed marital and family therapist associate and certified grief counselor Simone Koger says this form of sadness may be caused by:

Job loss
Death
Relationship breakup
Any other form of loss that comes as a shock

How To Manage

Abrupt grief, or traumatic grieving, may occur anytime, anyplace. It’s OK to take a break and feel your unexpected feelings. Take a break before driving to digest the facts.

Prolonged Grief

Any long-term grief is prolonged. Interference with everyday living may lead to extended grieving disorder, also known as complex sorrow if it considerably inhibits critical areas of function. The DSM-5-TR defines chronic grieving disorder as deep desire and obsession with loss, thoughts or memories.

Research from 2021 indicates that this condition is associated with anxiety and depression-related avoidance behaviors. According to Jerry Kiesling, a master of social work and licensed clinical social worker in Colombia, Missouri, profound grieving may endure months and cause melancholy or anxiety, making it difficult to enjoy activities with others.

How To Manage

A mental health expert may help resolve chronic grieving. Prolonged grief-specific cognitive behavioral therapy (PG-CBT) helps minimize grief-related thought avoidance and enables you to process sorrow without anxiety, anger, or guilt.

Absent Grief

The lack of sadness after a tragic loss is also grief. According to Heather Wilson, a certified clinical social worker from Blackwood, New Jersey, absent mourning may result from shock, denial, or detachment, preventing grieving.

“This may happen if the death is abrupt or traumatic,” she explains. “Denial is a big component to this form of grief.”