How long does grief last?
Grief has no fixed timeline, but for most people the sharpest pain eases gradually over months, while waves of sadness can return for years.
Grief often comes in waves rather than neat stages. Anniversaries, birthdays and holidays can bring it back strongly, even years later, and that is normal. Shock, anger, guilt, numbness and tiredness are all common, in any order.
Get support if, more than a year after a death, grief is still intense and makes daily life hard. That may be prolonged grief, and it responds to treatment. See a doctor sooner if low mood lasts more than 2 weeks with loss of interest or hopelessness, since depression can follow a loss and is treatable.
See a doctor promptly if
- Thoughts of ending your life or wanting to join the person who died. Call your local emergency number or a crisis line now
- Feeling worthless or deeply guilty about things unrelated to the loss, most of the day, for two weeks or more
- Being unable to eat, sleep, work or look after yourself for weeks
- Using alcohol or other substances to get through the days or nights
Try the mood check2 min, free, nothing to installThe PHQ-9 and GAD-7, the two questionnaires doctors screen low mood and anxiety with, scored privately on your device.
Mind and sleepA private mood check, and guides on anxiety, low mood, ADHD and sleep
Answered by the AskDoc Medical Team · Medically reviewed under our Medical Director, MBBS · How we review
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