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What is grief?

Child and dog looking in puddle at reflection of someone who has died

What is grief?

Most people feel sad when they lose someone or something close to them. This sadness is called grief.

Child sitting on fence looking at horses at sunset

Grief can happen when...

Someone you know dies. When you lose a friend or a pet. It can also happen when your parents separate or you change schools. You may also feel grief when you find out that someone is really sick.

Child stuck on game of Twister not knowing which emotion to feel

It’s normal to feel a lot of emotions

You may feel surprised, angry, sad, scared or alone. Everyone reacts differently to losing someone. These feelings may come and go at different times.

Two children sitting together and one of them is crying

There are lots of different ways that people show their grief

Sometimes you may find that you cry a lot and are very upset. Sometimes you can be sad and not cry, and this is ok.

Child experiencing a range of feelings including upset tummy, headache, not sleeping

You might notice...

Changes in your body, like an upset tummy or a headache. You might eat more than normal or not feel like eating at all. Sometimes you might have bad dreams or trouble sleeping.

Child at school not wanting to hang around with two friends

Sometimes grief can change how you act at home or school

You may feel lonely as your family are sad too, or things are different at home. School can be hard to keep up with and you might be mean to your friends without wanting to be.

Boy calling Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800

If you are feeling grief, it can help to talk to someone you trust

We're here for you. Give us a call, send an email or start a WebChat.


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This content was last reviewed 06/09/2018