It is completely normal to grieve when we lose someone or something that is important to us.

We grieve when a relationship ends, or when children leave home. At other stages of life, we may grieve as we age or transition through life. It’s also common to grieve for things we hope for that don’t happen or turn out the way we thought they would, such as a relationship that doesn’t develop or a job that turns out to be disappointing.

People respond in many different ways to loss. It’s common to feel anxiety, helplessness, anger and sadness. These feelings are a natural part of the grieving process, and the intensity of the feelings will fade with time. (And then might feel intense again when there’s an anniversary or another loss that echoes the first.) It is difficult and often not helpful to place time frames on grief and loss. The way in which grief affects us will depend on many factors, including the type of loss, our upbringing and beliefs, our age, relationships, and our physical and mental wellbeing.

What is important to know is that there are some practical things we can do that can ease the pain of grief and help us to live our lives while we are grieving.