Emotion · Sadness family
Grief
noun
The full response to a significant loss — of a person, a relationship, freedom, health, time or a version of your life.
How it shows up in the body
Waves of tears, exhaustion, brain fog, appetite changes, aches with no clear cause.
What it is telling you
Love has nowhere to go. Grief is not a problem to solve; it is a process to move through, and it rarely moves in a straight line.
The urge — and the choice
To stay busy, numb out or act like you are fine. The choice is to make room for it on purpose, a little at a time.
One thing to try
Set aside fifteen minutes to remember — a photo, a song, a letter. Close it with one breath and one kind act for yourself.
Practice it: Feelings journal.
Words you can use
I’m grieving. Some days are okay and some days aren’t. Please keep checking on me.
Read more: Trauma and emotional literacy
