Grief can follow a death, a breakup or another major loss, and it rarely looks the way people expect. This guide pulls together what the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Institute on Aging (NIA), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and MedlinePlus say, along with a few peer-reviewed studies. It is general education, not a diagnosis.
By the Exsura Team · October 25, 2026
NIMH says: “If you or someone you know is struggling or having thoughts of suicide, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org . In life-threatening situations, call 911.” The 988 Lifeline says it is “available 24/7/365” and that conversations are “free and confidential.” Its home page says text and chat are available in Spanish. MedlinePlus adds: “If someone you know has attempted suicide, call 911 or the local emergency number right away. DO NOT leave the person alone, even after you have called for help.”
NIH says: “Grief is something we all go through. It can follow the death of someone you love, the end of a relationship, or another major loss or life change.” It adds that “While experiencing grief is normal and natural, it can still feel hard to understand.”
NCI separates a few words that are often used together. It says “Grief is the emotional response to the loss of a loved one,” “Mourning is the way we show grief in public,” and bereavement is the period of grief and mourning after a death. NCI also says “The way people mourn is affected by beliefs, religious practices, and culture.”
NIH says that researchers say “grief is not a straight line.” NIA says: “There are no rules about how you should feel. There is no right or wrong way to mourn.” NCI says that although many bereaved people have similar responses, “there is no typical grief response.”
“But researchers say that grief is not a straight line.”NIH News in Health, Navigating Grief, July 2026
NIH says grief “can bring sadness, anger, or a loss of meaning in life. Some people cry often. Others feel numb, restless, or even guilty. These are all normal responses.” NIA says you may feel numb, shocked and fearful, may feel guilty for being the one who is still alive, and may even feel angry at the person who died, and that all of these feelings are normal.
Dr. Sarah Stahl, a University of Pittsburgh associate professor of psychiatry quoted by NIH, says “Everyone grieves differently. There’s no timeline.” NCI says that in normal grief, symptoms occur less often and feel less severe as time passes, and that “For most bereaved people, symptoms lessen between 6 months and 2 years after the loss.” It adds that recovery time varies with each person.
NIA describes the pattern like this: “As time passes, you may still miss your loved one. But for most people, the intense pain will lessen. There will be good and bad days.” NCI describes grief bursts or pangs as “short periods (20-30 minutes) of very intense distress.” NIA adds that “It’s common to have a roller coaster of emotions for a while.”
NIH says “Most people adapt to loss over time. But some people get stuck in their grief for much longer. They can develop a condition called Prolonged Grief Disorder, or PGD.” It says people with PGD feel intense grief for more than a year after a loss, may think constantly about the person who died, feel unable to connect with others, or believe the future holds nothing for them, and that unlike normal grief, these feelings do not ease with time.
NIH is careful about the boundary. It quotes Dr. Lichtenthal: “The term ‘prolonged grief disorder’ doesn’t mean that grief that continues beyond one year is, by itself, a disorder.” She says the concern is when grief remains so intense, persistent and disruptive that a person feels unable to re-engage with life.
Peer-reviewed reviews describe PGD as now included in the International Classification of Diseases, 11th edition, and in the text revision of the DSM-5 (DSM-5-TR). One study says it can be diagnosed “when acute grief stays distressing and disabling, beyond 12 months following bereavement.” NIA and NCI use the term complicated grief for a prolonged and intense reaction, so the names differ between sources. A 2023 review also argues that the evidence separating PGD from normal grief has gaps and raises concerns about medicalization and stigma, so the diagnosis is still discussed among researchers.
NIH lists risk factors for PGD that include losing someone who was central to your identity, a history of depression or anxiety, social isolation, financial hardship, and sudden or traumatic loss. A review of 120 studies of prolonged grief symptoms found small but statistically significant associations with unexpected death, violent or unnatural death, low education, low income, female gender, anxious attachment style, and death of a child or partner. Those are associations, not causes.
was the pooled prevalence of prolonged grief disorder in one meta-analysis of 14 studies of adults after non-violent bereavement (95% CI 6.8 to 14.0).
NIH says: “When supporting someone who is grieving, let them know you are there for them. Keep checking in. Respectfully acknowledge their loss and show empathy.” It suggests avoiding phrases that minimize the loss, like “Everything happens for a reason,” and offering practical support such as bringing meals, helping with errands, remembering important dates, and continuing to reach out over time, not just after the initial loss.
NIA says people sometimes hesitate to bring up the loss or mention the name of the person who died because they worry it can be hurtful, but that “many people may find it helpful to talk directly about their loss.”
NIH says: “give yourself or your loved one permission to grieve. Trying to push grief away often makes it harder, not better.” NIA says: “Try not to ignore your grief.” It also says grief can be hard on your health, and suggests exercising regularly, eating healthy food and trying to get enough sleep, and says bad habits such as drinking too much alcohol or smoking can put your health at risk. NIA adds: “If you have a choice, delay major life decisions until you are feeling better.”
NIH says: “Not everyone needs professional counseling for grief. Many people find their way through with the support of family, friends, faith, or other sources of connection.” It continues that if you feel stuck after a significant loss, or your grief is making daily life difficult, “talk with your doctor or a licensed counselor who specializes in grief.”
MedlinePlus lists several signs to contact your provider, including that you cannot deal with grief, you are using excessive amounts of illegal drugs or alcohol, or you have suicidal thoughts. If you have suicidal thoughts, call or text 988; in life-threatening situations, call 911. NIA says that if sadness is making it difficult to carry on in your day-to-day life, help is available, and to reach out to a support group, mental health professional or loved ones. It says that if cost is a factor, you can ask your doctor or other health care provider about local professionals or programs that offer low-cost or free help, and that you can also ask hospice workers for bereavement support even if hospice was not used before the death.
To find a provider, see how to find a mental health provider or low-cost mental health care in Dallas County. If loneliness is part of it, see loneliness and your health.
A 2019 systematic review compared rates of suicidal thoughts by cause of death among bereaved people. It reported that suicide bereavement was associated with the highest rates of suicidal ideation (14.1% to 49%), and the authors note significant gaps in the literature and few articles, so this is a picture of associations in a thin body of research, not a rule about every person. If you are having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988. In life-threatening situations, call 911.
A University of Pittsburgh associate professor of psychiatry quoted by NIH says there is no timeline. NCI says that for most bereaved people, symptoms lessen between 6 months and 2 years after the loss, that recovery time varies with each person, and that there is no typical grief response.
Not by itself. NIH quotes Dr. Lichtenthal saying that prolonged grief disorder does not mean that grief that continues beyond one year is, by itself, a disorder. The concern is when grief remains so intense, persistent and disruptive that a person feels unable to re-engage with life.
NIH says not everyone needs professional counseling, and that many people find their way through with the support of family, friends, faith, or other sources of connection. It says to talk with your doctor or a licensed counselor who specializes in grief if you feel stuck or your grief is making daily life difficult.
Call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. In life-threatening situations, call 911.
Sources last checked October 25, 2026. This article is general education, not financial, legal or medical advice. Rules, fees and programs change, so confirm details with the organization before you act.
Take the next step
Our directory lists free and low-cost mental health help across Dallas-Fort Worth.
A free, private check-in. It is not a diagnosis, and it ends with next steps.
Start the check-in →Keep reading