Grief myths

Myth: Grief moves through stages in a totally predictable pattern.
Fact: Grief is a profoundly personal and individual experience. It does not necessarily follow a set pattern. There are many ways to experience grief. Honor your own mourning process when facing a loss. There is no established time line or deadline.

Myth: The goal when dealing with grief is recovering to your previous status within a specific time period.
Fact: The belief that grief can be resolved quickly and easily is damaging. In truth, your life may never be or feel exactly the same as it did before any significant loss. In some cases, accepting or reconciling the loss is more realistic -- and healthier -- than recovering from it.

Myth: If you don't respond to a significant loss with extreme distress, something is seriously wrong.
Fact: Depression or extreme distress can occur when grieving, but these are not the only responses to a loss. People react to situations in highly personal ways. A lack of extreme distress over a loss does not mean you lack caring or love.

Myth: Eventually, you should be able to find meaning in your loss.
Fact: With time, some people find meaning in loss. This does not happen for everyone, however.

Myth: Grief and mourning are the same thing.
Fact: The thoughts and feelings you experience after a loss are considered grief. Mourning is the outward expression of those thoughts and feelings.

Myth: Tears expressing grief are often a sign of weakness.
Fact: Crying is a way to physiologically mourn a loss.