Grief is different for each person and each situation. People can grieve over different types of loss, such as the loss of a job, a marriage, a pet, or a loved one. Although each person grieves differently, there are some common reactions to grief.

These can include:

• A sense of numbness and shock
• Tightness in the throat, heaviness in the chest or a feeling of emptiness
• Restlessness and a tendency to wander around the house or familiar places
• Grief bursts marked by crying easily, unexpectedly and intensely
• Changes in appetite and/or sleep
• Decreased energy and loss of interest in social activities or work
• Difficulty concentrating
• Sensing the presence of the deceased

If you are experiencing these sorts of symptoms, you may be grieving. One of the many benefits that hospice can offer is grief and bereavement support for patients, families and friends.

For those enrolled in hospice, bereavement support starts at the first contact with hospice and continues throughout the loved one’s illness. Bereavement support then continues for 13 months following their death. For those who are grieving the loss one of someone who was not enrolled in hospice, there are still a variety of grief support options available. Contact your local hospice provider to find what grief programs they offer.