Title: The Ways We Grieve | Psychology Today
Headings: The Ways We Grieve
Ralph Ryback M.D.
The Ways We Grieve
From loss, to despair, to recovery, grief is an inevitable part of life.
Bereavement after death
Normal grief reactions
Grief is more than just sadness
Anticipatory vs. traumatic grief
Dealing with loss
Grief pangs: Yearning, disorganization, and despair
THE BASICS
Unresolved, complicated grief
Persistent complex bereavement disorder
Recovering from bereavement

Content: Other kinds of events can be equated with the loss of a loved one like the loss of a person’s sense of safety after he or she experiences a traumatic event.) When we are “ deprived by something or someone we valued ,” which is typically the case when someone we love passes away, what follows is a distinct period of grieving, sadness and emotional distress that is called bereavement. Our coping mechanisms, cultural norms, support system as well as the circumstances of the death and our relationship with the deceased person may all play a role in how we react to a significant loss. Normal grief reactions
Bereavement and other types of losses (loss of health, identity, finances) can lead to intense periods of sadness, rumination about the loss and other problems that can be difficult to deal with. Grieving, or the outward physical, emotional and psychological expression of loss, can cause us immense emotional and physical suffering when someone or something we love is taken away from us. “Grief can deplete you to such an extent that the slightest tasks become monumental, and what previously was easily achievable now may seem insurmountable,” wrote Therese Rando, Ph.D. Although sadness is often one of the intense emotional reactions that take over in our immediate response to losing someone we love, it is certainly not the only way that grief can manifest itself. Although everyone reacts to loss in different ways, we rarely are prepared to deal with the pain and emotional turmoil that result after we lose someone or something intrinsically valuable to us. Grief is more than just sadness
Grief can manifest itself in the form of immense emotional and physical suffering, and we may experience anything from anger to denial, to guilt, to sadness and despair. Initially, people who experience grief may experience confusion, shock, and disbelief that their loved one has passed. However, after the initial shock has passed, highly distressful emotions can contribute to anxiety, extreme fatigue, crying fits, dreams and even nightmares about the deceased.