I don’t think there is an exact definition for the word grief. Yes, Google has it under the definition of “deep sorrow, especially that caused by someone’s death” but I don’t think that’s right. I think grief is what you make it out to be. It can be happy, sad, annoying. There are times when it’ll hit you right away and times when it doesn’t affect you until later. It can hit you at any given time no matter what. Grief isn’t confined to one time, place, or definition. 

There are many ways to identify grief and many symptoms that make it more noticeable. According to Complicated Grief – Symptoms and Causes – Mayo Clinic, there are many symptoms including, “Intense sorrow, focus on little else but your loved one’s death, extreme focus on reminders of the loved one or excessive avoidance of reminders, problems accepting the death, numbness or detachment”, and many more. So many things come with it, making it even more difficult to deal with.

 Grief can affect us in so many different ways. An article I read, Grief and loss – the effects of grief and how to deal with it | Healthdirect dives deeper into how grief can make us feel so many different emotions like sad, anger, upset, guilt, and annoyance. It can take control of our lives in so many different ways, and affect how we live and who we are as a person. Not only does it affect your mental health it can affect your physical health as well in multiple ways according to Physical effects of grief | Cruse Bereavement Support grief can affect your appetite, sleep, anxiety, and even cause you to have physical pain.

There are ways to get help for these issues though and ways to know when you need help. Bringing up Grief and loss – the effects of grief and how to deal with it | healthdirect again, “If your feelings are getting in the way of your everyday life, then it’s important to get help.”It is vital to make sure to see a doctor or someone who can help you if you are having problems getting through the day or beginning to have concerning thoughts. But getting this help doesn’t mean you’ll automatically be ok after that. Grief stays and will stay for a long time. A couple common ways to get help are by talking to someone who can give you the support you need even if it’s just a family or friend, journaling, or just doing stuff you enjoy around the people you love.

Grief holds a heavy part in our hearts. A part many of us don’t want to acknowledge because when we think of grief we feel about the loss of someone or something we cared for. If you asked me what I thought grief was three years ago I would’ve said grief is being sad. If you asked me a year ago I would’ve said grief is thinking and getting over the loss of someone. If you asked me 6 months ago I would’ve said grief is what I felt after the loss of my dog or the feeling of missing anyone in my life that may not be a part of it anymore. But if you asked me now I’d say grief is love and memories and grief doesn’t have to be over someone who passed. You can still grieve the loss of someone who’s still alive even if it’s just them changing. That is why I believe there is not one specific way to describe grief, it is what you make it. Do not limit your feelings to a definition.