Understanding grief
Your love. Your pace.
Grief can change from day to day. There is no sequence you have to complete and no deadline for feeling differently.
Making room for what you feel
You do not have to follow a pattern.
Shock, sadness, anger, guilt, or exhaustion may appear at different times. You may also have moments of relief, connection, or joy. Your experience does not have to look like anyone else’s.
Stages can be one way people describe grief, but they are not a timetable. The NHS notes that people may not experience every stage, or experience them in a particular order.
Small choices, in your own time
You decide what feels right today.
Talk with someone
A person you trust, a bereavement group, or a counselor can offer space to be heard. You do not need to have the right words.
Keep one thing close
A photograph, an original voice recording, or a story from someone who knew them may be something you want to return to.
Leave room to pause
You can set memories aside for a while, ask someone to help, or come back another day. There is no requirement to build or finish anything.
Resources & support
You can ask for help.
If grief is making daily life difficult, consider talking with a healthcare professional or bereavement counselor.
GriefShare
Find a bereavement support group.
The Compassionate Friends
Support after the death of a child.
What’s Your Grief
Explore grief education and resources.
Immediate support in the United States
Call or text 988, or visit the 988 Lifeline, for support at any time. You can also text HOME to 741741 through Crisis Text Line.
Outside the U.S., contact a crisis service in your country. If you are in immediate danger, call your local emergency number.
Remembering with Loved1s
A place for stories, whenever you are ready.
A Luminary can hold photos, original recordings, and memories contributed by people who knew someone. You can begin with one item and return when you wish.
Loved1s is a storytelling platform, not a counseling or crisis service. AI conversations are generated responses; they are not the person’s original words or a source of answers about their death.