Grief Comes in Many Forms

Grief doesn’t always look how we expect it to. Sometimes it’s loud and overwhelming. Other times, it’s quiet – a slow ache that follows us through ordinary days.

We often think of grief as something that comes after someone we love dies. And that kind of loss can shake us to our core. Whether it’s a partner, a parent, a friend, a child, or a pet, the absence they leave behind can feel impossible to put into words. The way they laughed, the space they filled, the part of you they held – it all leaves a mark.

But grief doesn’t only arrive in the wake of death. It can show up in so many other ways. The end of a relationship. The distance that slowly forms between friends. A divorce that leaves you questioning who you are now. Even when you know something needed to end, it doesn’t mean it’s easy.

You can grieve the life you thought you’d have. The job you loved. The dreams that quietly faded away. You can grieve a version of yourself you barely recognise anymore. Changes in identity or purpose –  retiring, letting go of a long-held role – can all stir up unexpected feelings of loss.

Even moments of transition – like moving house, changing schools, or watching your children grow up – can carry grief. These are the kinds of changes people often call exciting or positive. And they can be. But they can also hold sadness for what’s been left behind.

Grief can also come from physical change. Illness. Injury. A diagnosis that changes how you move through the world. There’s grief in that too – for the body you had, the freedom you felt, the plans you made.

Sometimes grief is shared. When communities go through fire, floods, war, or global events like a pandemic, there’s a collective loss that lingers. The loss of connection, routine, safety, or home.

And then there’s the kind of grief that’s harder to explain. The loss of trust. The feeling of no longer belonging. The letting go of something precious – even if it’s small.

Grief doesn’t follow rules. It doesn’t wait for the “right” kind of loss or ask whether anyone else understands. It simply comes – because something mattered.

Whatever form your grief takes, it’s valid. Whether it’s a full wave or a passing moment. Whether it’s recent or something you’ve carried for years.

You don’t have to compare it. You don’t have to justify it. You just have to know it matters – and you’re not alone in feeling it.

Because grief comes in many forms. And every single one deserves to be met with care.