Therapy for Grief & Loss in California

What Is Grief?

Grief is the emotional suffering and physical response to losing someone or something you love. It can feel unpredictable, with waves of emotions such as confusion, anger, shock, remorse, and even moments of peace. You may feel overwhelmed and disconnected from reality at times or as if time is moving slower. Physically, grief may manifest as nausea, fatigue, disrupted sleep, or loss of appetite.

Grief takes many forms, including:

• Anticipatory Grief: The grief felt before an expected loss, such as the decline of a loved one or personal health.
• Acute Grief: The immediate and intense emotions following a loss.
• Uncomplicated Grief: Common feelings and reactions, such as withdrawal, difficulty concentrating, or emotional confusion.
• Disenfranchised Grief: Grief that is not acknowledged by others, often linked to stigmatized or unrecognized losses.
• Complicated Grief (Prolonged Grief Disorder): Persistent, intense grief that may feel debilitating, including emotional numbness or difficulty finding meaning in life.