Grief Doesn’t Have to Look Like Crying
Grief is incredibly personal, and there is no single way that it is supposed to look.
We can sometimes expect grief to be visible — tears, sadness and talking about the person or thing that has been lost. But someone who isn’t crying or doesn’t want to talk about their loss all the time may still be hurting deeply.
Grief can appear in our behaviour, energy, relationships and everyday routines. Someone might keep themselves constantly busy, become quieter or more withdrawn, feel irritable or angry, struggle to concentrate, experience changes in sleep or simply feel numb and disconnected.
Sometimes we may not even recognise these changes as grief at first.
I think this is particularly important when we talk about men and grief. There can still be an expectation that men should remain strong, hold things together or deal with difficult emotions privately. But there is no “right” emotional response to losing someone or something important to you.
Some people need to talk.
Some need to cry.
Some need routine or activity.
Some need time alone.
And what you need today might be completely different tomorrow.
Grief doesn’t need to be visible for it to be real.
If you are grieving in your own way, please don't compare your response with somebody else's or feel that you should be coping differently.
Give yourself permission to experience your loss in the way that feels right for you — and to reach out when you need someone alongside you.
With love,
Maggie
Space to Breathe Therapy
