Understanding and Coping with Grief and Loss

Kenneth Pecoraro
May 26
2 min read

Intro: Grief is a natural emotional response to loss. Quite often people think of grief as the pain and sadness that follow the death of a loved one — and that is certainly one of the most profound and difficult forms of grief. However, grief can also arise from many other kinds of losses, both big and small, visible and invisible.

Loss can take many forms: the end of a relationship, the loss of physical health, the loss of a role or identity, loss of opportunities, or major life transitions. In the context of substance use and mental health struggles, grief and loss can be even more complex. People often face the loss of trust, damaged relationships, missed opportunities, loss of self-esteem, lost time, and even a sense of lost potential or purpose. These losses may not always be immediately recognized by others — or even by the person experiencing them — but they are real and deeply felt. Sometimes the perception of loss can be as real as an actual loss itself (For example, someone thinking to themselves “I could have been so much more successful if I didn’t… (Make a particular life choice)”

Acknowledging and working through all types of grief and loss is a critical part of healing. When we give ourselves permission to grieve both the obvious and the subtle losses, we open the door to growth, resilience, and rebuilding hope for the future.

Exercise: Loss Inventory

Below is a list of types of losses people may experience. Some losses are obvious and traditional, while others are more subtle, gradual, or harder to talk about — but they are still important to recognize and process. Take your time reading through these. Check off √ any losses you have experienced, and feel free to add any others that come to mind. Underline any items on the list that really stand out as still impacting you emotionally today.

Understanding and Coping with Grief and Loss

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