Grief: quick facts
Grief is the intense, often prolonged sorrow that follows a significant loss, most commonly the death of a loved one. It is a deeper, more enduring variety of sadness and is widely understood as a natural process rather…
Category
Complex & secondary emotions
Valence
Negative
Emotion family / blend
Sadness
Typical triggers
Bereavement and significant loss
How it's expressed
Tearfulness, withdrawal, fatigue, waves of distress
Sources: American Psychological Association — APA Dictionary: emotion; National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) — Depression. Educational information only — not medical or psychological advice. See our sources & fact-check policy.