Grief is a psychological reaction that most often occurs after a person has lost someone close to them, for example a family member or a good friend. This is a common feeling that many people experience at some point in their lives. In this article you can read more about how grief can affect you, as well as how Dr.Dropin Psykologi can help you deal with grief.
Grief is a normal reaction that is expected when you lose someone or something you love and can come in different strengths. The reactions may also be related to the circumstances surrounding the death, for example if it was sudden and unexpected. In the case of a sudden or unexpected death, one can experience overwhelming grief in an acute phase. For others, the grief may only come some time after the death, or persist over a longer period.
The most common symptoms experienced with grief include:
There is no conclusion for how to grieve - but a conversation partner who can support and understand your unique grieving process can make the grief easier to bear and process. Some people want to grieve together with family, friends or a partner, while others see the benefit of talking to an outsider, such as a psychologist.
Our psychologists can assist in helping you through challenging periods of grief. The psychologists have a lot of knowledge about grief processes and can contribute with, among other things, emotional support, normalization and psychoeducation. Having the client's experiences explored, put into words and recognized can contribute to an experience of support and a processing of the loss.
Dr. Dropin has psychologists who have extensive experience with physical and digital grief talks. Find your psychologist here and download the app to book an appointment.
See availability
How long does grief last?
The length of a grief reaction is individual and dependent on the circumstances surrounding the loss, as well as your previous experiences. Often the strongest grief reactions will subside within six months, but many will always carry elements of the grief with them.
Can you get sick from grief?
Grief is not a mental disorder, but for some the grief turns into a complicated grief reaction. This is more common in survivors who have experienced sudden and unexpected deaths such as accidents or disasters. In ICD-11, the diagnosis prolonged grief disorder is included. It is about stuck grief reactions that are intense, persistent and prevent you from functioning.
Are grief and depression the same?
Grief and depression are not the same, but there are several common features between the two conditions. Grief is a normal reaction and depression is a mental disorder. In both grief and depression, one can for example have reactions such as sadness, loss of joy, reduced energy levels and sleep difficulties.
How to get out of grief?
For many, it will be sufficient to seek support from friends and family, as well as allow and accept the grief reactions that may come. It can be good to talk to a professional helper if you feel the need for more support than you have available. It is recommended to seek help and treatment for complicated grief reactions.
Is grief an emotion?
Yes, sadness and grief are often discussed and understood as one of our basic emotions. They are feelings associated with losing something important to you.
