Types of Grief

• Anticipatory Grief — Grieving before a loss occurs (e.g., when a loved one has a terminal illness).

• "Normal" (or Uncomplicated) Grief — The typical response to loss, with emotions that gradually lessen over time.

• Complicated Grief (also called Prolonged Grief Disorder) — Intense, prolonged grief that interferes with functioning.

• Disenfranchised Grief — Grief that isn’t acknowledged by society (e.g., mourning an ex-partner, a miscarriage, or a pet).

• Chronic Grief — Grief reactions that persist and do not diminish over time.

• Delayed Grief — Grief that is postponed and surfaces later, sometimes unexpectedly.

• Collective Grief — Grieving shared by a group or society after a communal loss (e.g., natural disasters, pandemics).

• Cumulative Grief — Grieving multiple losses that happen close together, making processing each loss more difficult.

• Secondary Loss Grief — Grieving related losses that stem from the primary loss (e.g., loss of identity, financial security, or community).

• Ambiguous Loss — Loss without closure or clear understanding (e.g., dementia, missing persons, estranged relationships).

• Traumatic Grief — Grief following a sudden, violent, or unexpected loss that can overlap with PTSD symptoms.

• Existential Grief — Grieving the loss of meaning, purpose, or a sense of identity, often triggered by major life changes.