Grief is unique and universal.

Universal because we all go through it at some point or the other in our life.

Unique because ,just as our Life ,we all experience it in our own ways

Having such distinct characteristics, it is difficult to put the symptoms of grief in one category or one branch.

Grief is intense sorrow , and can include a wide range of emotions ,from being

Angry —- Depressed — Confused — Helpless —Indifferent — Hurt — Sad — Judgmental , to being Resentful .

Grief is understood more in the context than as a symptom, because just as we all experience it , unless we gain a deeper understanding of what lies beneath, grief may often be misunderstood or dealt in an incorrect way.

Let’s understand it through an example :

If you happen to meet a young adult crying, the first question asked is , what happened ?

based on the answer he/she may provide , you may either agree and sympathize or simply suggest , to not cry, do not overreact , it’s okay , it happens etc etc…

But if the same young adult, you are made aware ,has been abused by his own family relative for many years and is now a troubled, confused adult, your entire perception and treatment of him/her would radically shift.

In this case of “Grief” crying is a mere symptom , but the real grief is in the horrible past that has left scars of trauma inside his/her mind, and as a result, before you is a confused individual ,reacting weirdly ,incapable of handling or dealing with even trivial issues of life .

To help someone grieving ,we need to go in-depth ,mere symptoms are not the true story nor does it represent grief in a accurate way .

(c)Mehnaz Amjad 2021

About the Author: Mehnaz Amjad is a Life Coach, a CBT Practitioner, Founder of Guide & Advice which offers Coaching to both individuals and organizations. You can Connect