Chapter 1: An introduction to grief
Everyone grieves in their own way
Grief is unique. No two people experience or express their grief in the same way. Members of the same family may grieve in different ways: being overcome by sorrow, getting “busy”, closing down, or avoiding people, places, or situations. You may feel alone if others appear to have a different response to the loss.
Grief affects our emotions, our thinking, and our behaviour. It also affects how our bodies feel.
What affects your grief
Many factors impact your grief. Click on the arrows below to reveal what may affect your grief.
Your relationship with the person who died
How the person died
Your culture
Your supports
How you usually cope with distress, and other losses you have experienced
What else is happening in your life, such as a new job, moving, separation or divorce, your physical and mental well-being, and financial struggles
It’s not just one loss
You may experience a variety of losses with one death. These are referred to as “secondary” losses. These losses are connected to your relationship and the role the person had in your life, and the one you played in theirs, such as caregiver, trusted advisor, cook, travel companion, handy person, driver, financial expert, mentor.
