Grief and loss

Grieving the death of a loved one, a pet or a pregnancy, and what to do when grief gets stuck.

• GriefGrief is the natural emotional, physical and mental response to loss, most often the death of a loved one, but also divorce, illness, miscarriage or other major losses. Grieving has no fixed timeline or right way to do it. For most people it gradually becomes more bearable, and grief counseling can help when it feels overwhelming.
• Grieving the loss of a petPet loss is the grief people feel when an animal companion dies or is lost. Because pets are part of daily routines and offer unconditional affection, losing a pet can hurt as much as losing a close person. Pet loss grief is a normal, valid response, and support is available if it feels overwhelming.
• Miscarriage and pregnancy lossPregnancy loss is the death of a pregnancy or baby, including miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, termination for medical reasons, stillbirth and infant loss shortly after birth. Miscarriage grief, and grief after any perinatal loss, is a natural response to a real loss, and it can affect people deeply. Support from loved ones and mental health professionals can help.
• Prolonged grief disorderProlonged grief disorder is a condition in which grief after the death of someone close remains intense, persistent and disabling for much longer than expected, typically at least a year for adults. It used to be called complicated grief or complicated bereavement. It is not a sign of loving too much or grieving "wrong," and specialized therapy can help.
• The stages of griefThe stages of grief are a well-known way of describing emotional reactions to loss. The most famous model, from psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, lists five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. Today, experts see these as common experiences rather than fixed steps: grief rarely follows a straight line, and there is no "right" way or timeline to grieve.