Kuriakon - Infinity

What is Grief?
When someone experiences a loss, they go through a normal process called grieving. Grieving is a natural and expected process which, over time, can allow a person to accept and understand their loss. Grieving involves feeling many different emotions over a period of time, all of which eventually help the person to come to terms with the loss of a loved one.

Bereavement and mourning are two other words that are commonly used to describe the grieving process. Bereavement is what a person experiences when someone close to them dies. It is the state of having suffered a loss. Mourning is the expression of one's loss and grief. Mourning includes behaviors and rituals that are specific to each person's culture and religion.

Phases of Grief
Many people think of grief as a single instance or very short period of pain or sadness in reaction to a loss -- for example, the tears shed at a loved one's funeral. However, the term grieving refers to the entire emotional process of coping with a loss. Normal grieving allows us eventually to let a loved one go and continue with our lives in a healthy way. Though grieving is painful, it is important that those who have suffered a loss be allowed to express their grief, and that they be supported throughout the process. Each person's way of grieving for a loved one will be different. The length and intensity of the emotions people experience will also vary from person to person.

It is normal for people to feel better for a period of time, only to become sad again soon afterward. Sometimes, people wonder how long the grieving process will last for them, and when they can expect to experience some relief. Although there is no one answer to this question, it may help to know some of the factors that can contribute to the intensity and length of grieving. The kind of relationship you had with the person who died, the circumstances of their death, and your own life experiences will all play a part in determining your individual grieving process.

Researchers have studied grief to better understand the ways that people work through a loss and eventually accept it. They have identified several phases, or emotional states, that people can experience while grieving. The first phase involves a period of shock or numbness. This phase is often followed by a period of emotional upheaval, which can involve feelings of anger, loneliness, disbelief, or denial. The final phase of grief is the one in which people find some way to come to terms with the loss.