Title: Grief and loss - the effects of grief and how to deal with it | healthdirect
Headings: Grief and loss
Grief and loss
Key facts
On this page
What are grief and loss?
Are there different types of grief and loss?
What are the effects of grief?
Emotions
Physical health
Spiritual life
Post-traumatic growth
Complicated grief and depression
When should I seek help for my grief?
How can I cope with grief?
Allow yourself to grieve
Live one day at a time
Seek help
Stay connected
Create positive memories
Look after your health
Surviving anniversaries
How can I support a grieving loved one?
Initiate contact
Listen
Do something together
Practical help
Be aware
Other questions you might have
How long does grief last?
How do I move on?
Resources and support
Other languages

Content: Grief is usually described in relation to the death of a loved one, but other types of major loss can also lead to feelings of grief. The more significant a loss, the more intense grief may be. People may feel grief over: the death of a loved one – grief can be particularly severe following the death of an infant or child, or a suicide
divorce or separation
the loss of a beloved pet
giving up something that mattered
work changes – unemployment, retirement, retrenchment
the diagnosis of a terminal illness
the loss of good health due to an illness, accident or disability
miscarriage or infertility
having a child with a disability, a terminal illness, a mental illness or a substance abuse problem
moving away or separation from family or friends
having an ‘empty nest’ when children leave home
What are the effects of grief? The effects of grief can often resemble depression and some people do go on to develop depression following a significant loss. If you are dealing with a major loss and finding it difficult to cope, see your doctor. Immediately after a death, those left behind often feel shocked, numb and in denial, particularly if the death was unexpected. When they are able to start to understand the reality of death, they can experience intense sadness, emptiness or loneliness, and sometimes anger or guilt. The feelings can be painful, constant or overwhelming. Grief can come in waves, seeming to fade away for a while and then return again.