Grief Is Not Linear

One of the most unhelpful myths about grief is that it follows a neat sequence of stages. In reality, grief is messy, unpredictable, and deeply personal. You might feel fine one morning and overwhelmed by the afternoon. You might laugh and cry within the same hour. All of this is normal.

The Many Faces of Grief

Grief isn't limited to bereavement. We can grieve:

• The end of a relationship
• A career change or job loss
• A health diagnosis
• The loss of a friendship
• A version of ourselves we've outgrown
• The childhood we wished we'd had

Acknowledging these losses — even when they don't involve death — is an important part of processing them.

What Helps

There's no quick fix for grief, but there are things that can help:

• Allow yourself to feel: Suppressing grief doesn't make it go away — it just delays it
• Talk about it: Whether with a friend, family member, or therapist, putting grief into words helps your brain process it
• Be patient with yourself: Grief takes as long as it takes. There's no deadline
• Maintain small routines: Structure can provide a sense of stability when everything else feels uncertain
• Seek professional support: If grief feels stuck, overwhelming, or is affecting your ability to function, therapy can help

You Don't Have to Grieve Alone

In therapy, we create a space where all of your feelings about loss are welcome — the sadness, the anger, the guilt, the relief, the confusion. There's no judgment, only understanding. If you're carrying a loss that feels unresolved, reaching out for support is a brave and worthwhile step.