Grief Awareness: How Loss Shows Up and How to Support Others

August 30 is National Grief Awareness Day, making August a meaningful time to recognize the importance of understanding grief and its impact on those who experience it. Grief is a natural response to many kinds of loss, not only the death of a loved one. It can take many forms and may affect a person’s emotional, physical, and professional well-being. Recognizing how grief affects a person can make a meaningful difference in how we respond with compassion and support.

Understanding Grief

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines grief as a natural response to loss. Grief can stem from many different experiences, including the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, a significant relationship change, or another major life event. Because grief is deeply personal, each individual experiences it differently. There is no right or wrong way to grieve, and there is no set timeline for healing.

Stages of Grief

Elisabeth Kübler-Ross introduced the five stages of grief in 1969 to describe some common responses to loss.

The Five Stages of Grief include:

• Denial
• Anger
• Bargaining
• Depression
• Acceptance

These stages are not meant to place complex emotions into a strict order or suggest that grief follows a predictable path. Not everyone experiences all five stages, and healing does not require moving through each one. Some people may experience the stages out of order, move back and forth between them, or grieve in ways that do not fit this model at all.

How Grief May Show Up: Common Signs and Symptoms

The stages of grief can help describe some emotional responses to loss, but grief often shows up in daily life in many ways. A person may notice emotional, physical, cognitive, or work-related changes, and these signs may shift over time or appear alongside different stages.

• Emotional symptoms
  • Shock or disbelief
  • Sadness
  • Guilt
  • Fear
  • Anger
  • Stress or anxiety
  • Lower confidence
• Physical symptoms
  • Fatigue
  • Sleep difficulties
  • Nausea
  • Lowered immunity
  • Weight loss or gain
  • Aches and pains
  • Reduced energy
• Cognitive and work-related impacts
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Memory problems or “brain fog”
  • Reduced productivity
  • Challenges with decision-making
  • Feeling easily overwhelmed

Common Misconceptions About Grief

Grief is often misunderstood. Some people assume it follows a predictable timeline, looks the same for everyone, or should become easier after a certain point. In reality, grief is deeply personal and can change over time depending on the person, their experience, and the nature of the loss. Recognizing common myths about grief can help clarify what grief may actually look and feel like.

Myth: Ignoring the pain will make it go away faster.

Fact: Healing often involves acknowledging grief, allowing space for difficult emotions, and using healthy coping strategies.

Myth: Being strong means not showing emotion.

Fact: Showing emotion is not a sign of weakness. Expressing feelings can be an important part of healing.

Myth: If someone does not cry, they are not truly grieving.

Fact: Crying is only one way people may express pain. Grief can look different from person to person.

Myth: Grief should resolve within one year.

Fact: Everyone’s experience is unique, and there is no set timeline for grieving.

Myth: Moving forward means forgetting the loss.

Fact: Moving forward can involve acceptance, but acceptance does not mean forgetting the person, relationship, or experience that was lost.

Myth: There is only one type of grief, and it happens immediately after a loss.

Fact: Grief can take many forms and may occur before, during, or after a loss. Common types include:

• Anticipatory grief: Sadness, anxiety, or distress that occurs before an expected loss.
• Disenfranchised grief: Grief that is not openly acknowledged, validated, or accepted by others, which can contribute to feelings of isolation.
• Complicated grief or prolonged grief disorder: Intense, persistent grief that makes it difficult to adjust to the loss and move through daily life.

Supporting Employees Through Grief and Loss

Grief and loss can have a significant impact on the workplace. Employers can help by preparing employees to navigate their own grief and by equipping them to support colleagues who may be grieving. Training, compassionate communication, and flexible policies (when possible) can all make a meaningful difference.

Consider these ideas when reviewing your workplace wellness strategy, as it relates to supporting grief and loss.

• Review and communicate bereavement policies. Make sure bereavement leave, accommodations, and related workplace policies are clear, accessible, and consistently shared with employees.
• Train managers and leaders. Provide guidance on how to talk with employees who are grieving, respond with empathy, and offer appropriate support.
• Promote Employee Assistance Program (EAP) resources and other relevant benefits. Clearly communicate available EAP services and other benefits to managers, leaders, and employees, so they know how to access support when needed.
• Offer flexibility when possible. Temporary schedule changes, workload adjustments, additional breaks, or a phased return to work can help employees manage grief while easing back into their responsibilities.
• Respect individual needs and preferences. Some people may want to talk about their loss, while others may prefer privacy. Acknowledging the loss and asking what support would be most helpful can show empathy and care without making assumptions.

Grief is deeply personal. Taking time to understand grief can help individuals navigate their own experiences while also equipping them to better support others who may be grieving, both in and outside the workplace.

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  Ashton Sholund

  Associate Director, Wellness Education and Content

  Wellness Alliance

  As a Wellness Content and Information Specialist at the Wellness Alliance, Ashton is passionate about supporting employee well-being and advancing workplace wellness initiatives. With over 12 years of experience as a certified health coach, Ashton has worked extensively in the worksite wellness sector, empowering individuals and organizations to prioritize health and create sustainable wellness strategies. Outside of work, she enjoys group exercise classes and participating in a monthly book club to nurture both her physical and mental well-being.