Sure, grief has stages but that does not mean it is linear or that everyone experiences it in the same way. The waves of diverse, intense emotions come and go without warning — leaving us feeling helpless at times.

In times of grief, it can feel comfortable — even logical — to isolate oneself. While, of course, some solitude is good for everyone, grief is a tricky, complicated ride.

Grief affects each of us in different ways — and it comes in many forms. We grieve when someone we love dies, of course, but mourning is not limited to that scenario.

Many experiences unite us as humans. One of those universal events, however, is something too many of us choose to keep hidden. In a culture that doesn’t openly discuss death and loss, people will struggle mightily with grief.

Even though grief affects all of us, very few people give it any thought until it happens. Then, in a flash, everything has changed and we’re often left floundering. Despite the inevitability of death, as a culture, we generally avoid talking about it.

Grief is a human, emotional response to personal loss, the ending of a relationship, or a major life change. Your experience with grief will be complex and challenge you in ways you would never expect. Your experience will also differ from your family’s or friends’ experiences, even if the circumstances are the same.