Grief Self-Assessment

The assessment below is not a diagnostic tool. It will only provide you insight into the symptoms you may be experiencing. Keep in mind, some of these symptoms are expected after a loss.

There are many types of grief. While we all experience grief in our lifetimes, not every grief is experienced the same way.

Losing a relationship through dementia may be a slow and agonizing experience. Losing a loved one in a car accident may be a shocking and traumatic experience. Choosing to leave a relationship due to abuse, or going no-contact with people you love, may be riddled with feelings of guilt and confusion. And yet, at the heart of them all, you will find pain, sorrow, and distress.

To learn more about the types of grief, scroll through the list below. Notice if any of them resonate with you.

Types of Grief

  • Acute Grief

    This is the first or beginning response to grief. This may include crying, feeling overwhelmed, and shock.

  • Ambiguous Grief

    When a person is cut off from your life or you’re unsure if the person is alive or dead, this can lead to ambiguous grief. Usually there is no clear conclusions or resolutions leaving you with a lot of questions and no answers. This can delay the grieving process or lead to a more complex grief.

  • Complex Grief

    Painful acute grief symptoms that seem to be unending. You may be unable to see a place for the loss to co-exist in your life. You may still feel hope the loss didn’t actually happen.

  • Traumatic Grief

    Sudden, unexpected, and/or violent. Often it can feel impossible to deal with the aftermath and be accompanied with symptoms of PTSD.

  • Anticipatory Grief

    Terminal illness, impending loss, or the anniversary of a loss on the horizon. Symptoms can mimic acute grief, and continue for the entirety of the pre-loss stage.

  • Disenfranchised Grief

    Loss that is difficult to discuss or share with others due to the nature of the loss or the relationships involved. This can look like a stigmatized loss such as suicide, or a relationship not everyone understands like a beloved family pet.

Did the information from this page help you? Do you find yourself wondering if your grief is something you want to talk about? Maybe you’re questioning whether you need specialized grief therapy? Fill out our contact form and talk to a professional grief therapist today.

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