Bereavement, grief and loss can cause many different symptoms and they affect people in different ways. Such great exchanges are taking place in that growing community of grieving and supportive hearts that we want to enable the wider community to benefit as well. Can We Put A Timeline on Grief? There's no right or wrong way to feel. Each relationship we have during our lives is as unique as our fingerprint. Grief is a natural response to losing someone or something that’s important to you. There is no set duration of time that grief will last, nor is there a specific timeline that the grieving process follows. However, while normal grief symptoms gradually start to fade over time, those of complicated grief linger or get worse. As long as the person is making progress on resolving their grief and improving their well-being, they are on the right track. It might take six to eight weeks, or in my experience, six months to a year, sometimes more, to regain a sense of normal rhythm in your life. The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders suggests that grief lasting more than 2 weeks be diagnosed as complicated grief, paving the way to prescribe medication to deal with the symptoms. Last week, we compared two grief theories about ways we can actively engage with our grief, rather than waiting for time alone to bring healing. Everything changes in an instant and you may wonder, how long does grief last? This week’s question tackles the topic of “grief brain” and how long it actually lasts. The problem with this is that while medication masks those symptoms, it does nothing to actually deal with moving through and beyond the real issues generating … Symptoms of bereavement, grief and loss. To find a bereavement support group in your area, contact local hospitals, hospices, funeral homes, and counseling centers, or see the Resources section below. Welcome back to our new series of posts drawing from conversations taking place on the Grief Revolution Patreon.. Some of the most common symptoms include: By Elizabeth Harper Neeld ... How long will my grief last> Comment by Maria Morreale on August 3, 2008 at 9:38am . You may feel a variety of emotions, like sadness or loneliness. Grief can feel very lonely, even when you have loved ones around. During the first few months after a loss, many signs and symptoms of normal grief are the same as those of complicated grief. In this video, psychiatrist G. Richard Smith, MD, explains why the course of grieving takes longer than we would like. As well as bereavement, there are other types of loss such as the end of a relationship or losing a job or home. Sharing your sorrow with others who have experienced similar losses can help. Complicated grief is like being in an ongoing, heightened state of mourning that keeps you from healing. How Long Is This Grieving Going to Last? Time frames also vary from person to person.