When Sadness Doesn’t Subside
The Top 3 Common Types of Grief
There is no right way or wrong way to grieve. Because grieving is extremely personalized and individualized, it is possible some may not even
recognize they are grieving. You may also find that coping with the loss of someone or something you love may feel like one of your life’s biggest challenges. Even subtle losses can trigger a sense of grief. Nonetheless, the important aspect of grieving is to ensure you are pursuing healthy ways to deal with the grieving process.
While everyone mourns differently, identifying the type of grief is a great help towards pursuing healthy ways to adapt, heal, and recover. Everyone has an idea of what grief looks like when in actuality grief is different for everyone. However, what we are able to identify are the top three various types of grief.
3 Common Types of Grief
- Normal Grief. Normal grief is actually a contradiction. There is no normalcy when it comes to grieving. Nonetheless, what has been defined as ‘normal grief” is the ability to move forward emotionally towards acceptance of the loss. An indicator of normal grief is that there is a gradual decrease in the intensity of emotions. This occurs as a result of processing and talking about your internal emotional thoughts. This segment of mourners makes continued progress towards healing and recovery.
- Chronic Grief. Unlike normal grief, indicators of chronic grief are prolonged feelings of hopelessness, a sense of disbelief that the loss is real, and continued avoidance of any situation that may remind them of the loss. This grief could possibly last for years. If left untreated, chronic grief can develop into severe clinical depression, suicidal thoughts, or possible substance abuse.
- Traumatic Grief. This type of grief usually occurs when the death of a loved one is sudden. It is an intense type of grief with ongoing difficulties interfering with everyday life. This type of grief often shakes one’s security. Coping is two-fold, first the death and second, the traumatized loss. If left untreated, this type of grief can impact one’s mental health and result in a post-traumatic stress disorder
You Can Recover
Mourning the loss of a loved one is perhaps one of the biggest challenges you will face in life. With no right or wrong way or a scheduled timetable for recovery, the important thing is to pursue a healthy process towards recovery. Recognize your life will never be the same for you will always remember the loss. However, recovery is possible. Rest assured your mourning is only temporary for we can hold fast to the Bible reference at Revelation 21:4, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” So while there is no timetable for overcoming grief, we have the confidence in God’s word that grief and grieving are only temporary.
During the grieving process, it is important to not self-isolate. Always seek support by way of friends, family, spiritual advisor, or a professional therapist.
About Dr. Portia Lockett:
Everyone has a purpose, but not everyone knows their purpose early in life. At the age of seven, Dr. Portia Lockett was clear on her calling: teaching and encouraging others, which later evolved into her being a schoolteacher that inspired students to be their best regardless of their path. Eventually, she transitioned into speaking and training for major corporations and nonprofits which included but was not limited to UAW GM, Chrysler, and Goodwill Industries. Later becoming a licensed and ordained Chaplain allowed her to support and encourage individuals from the womb to the tomb. Eventually being led into the world of being a missionary allowed her to travel and support the underserved in Japan, Barbados, Mexico, Bahamas, Canada, Kenya, and Jamaica. Like most of us, Dr. Portia has experienced a few traumatic episodes in her life, but through grace, the favor of God, and self-determination, she pulled herself up and kept it moving forward each time. Lockett has received several awards and her most recent include the City of Detroit Spirit Award, Michigan Chronicles Women of Excellence, and the Career Mastered Winning Spirit Award, and The Power of One award. Lockett is the co-author of Anointed Moments meditational CD and an Amazon # 1 seller Delayed But Not Denied 2, featured lyric writer and psalmist of Happy Birthday Jesus. She’s been featured on CNN, National Geographic, BET, The Michigan Chronicle, The Detroit News, and Radio One. She is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.
