Grief
Definition
Grief is a reaction to a major loss. It is most often an unhappy and painful emotion triggered by the death of a loved one.
People also can experience grief if they have an illness for which there is no cure, or a chronic condition that affects their quality of life. The end of a significant relationship often results in a grieving process, as well.
Alternative Names
Mourning; Grieving; BereavementCauses
Everyone feels grief in their own way, but there are certain stages to the process of mourning. It starts with recognizing a loss and continues until a person eventually accepts that loss. People's responses to grief will vary depending upon the circumstances of the death.
For example, if the person who died had a chronic illness, the death may have been expected. The end of the person's suffering might even have come as a relief. If the death was accidental or violent, coming to a stage of acceptance could take longer.
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