When our brains and bodies are trying to protect us, we can often suppress emotions to cope with the stress of grief. When we don't feel the full impact of the loss at the time it happens, that's called Delayed Grief.

Delayed Grief might happen if:

• You were responsible for all of the practical arrangements after a loss, such as funeral arrangements or paperwork to process probate.
• You experienced a loss during a moment of crisis and there were lots of difficult things happening at once, so you were concentrating on just surviving and getting through initial tough times.
• The grief was too painful to feel, so your mind protected you to deal with it at a later time.

Delayed grief can come up months or even years later, sometimes triggered by a new loss, a significant milestone, a particular date or activity, or something seemingly small.

Disenfranchised grief is grief that isn't acknowledged or recognised by others as valid grief.

This might include:

• Grieving someone you were estranged from or had a complicated relationship with.
• The loss of a pet, job, friendship, opportunity or dream.
• Grieving when others have expectations that you should be over it.
• Not feeling comfortable to grieve because you are comparing the type of grief to others.

If you find yourself downplaying your grief or feeling like you don't have the right to grieve, it's likely disenfranchised grief.

Dr Pauline Boss describes ambiguous grief as loss that remains uncertain, unresolved or lacks a definitive ending. This might include:

• A loved one who is physically alive but emotionally absent due to dementia, addiction, or estrangement.
• Losing a part of yourself-your health, identity, or a role that was once meaningful to you.
• The loss of a home, community, or faith.

Complicated grief is when the symptoms and feelings of grief remain intense long after a loss and significantly impact your routines and everyday life.

Signs of complicated grief may include:

• Intense and persistent longing with a preoccupation with the person who has died.
• Being unable to accept the loss.
• Avoiding anything that reminds you of the loss.
• Feeling like life has no meaning without what you lost.
• Intense emotions that don't ease over time.

This is the only type of grief that is considered a mental health condition.

Collective grief is grief that a group of people shares. It happens when a community, society, or group mourns together. This can happen after:

• A public figure dies.
• A natural disaster, war, or pandemic.

Traumatic grief happens when a loss is sudden, violent or distressing, which makes it difficult to process.

Masked grief happens when you might be unaware that symptoms and emotions are connected to grief.

• Chronic stress, anxiety, or irritability.
• Unexplained physical symptoms.
• Unhelpful behaviour.

Anticipatory grief happens before a loss. This might include:

• Diagnosis of a terminal illness.
• Knowing a relationship, job, or something important to you is coming to an end.
• Grieving what is coming before it happens.

Cumulative grief happens when multiple losses occur close together or when past grief resurfaces with the experience of a new loss.

Examples include:

• Multiple deaths or losses in a short amount of time.
• Facing personal loss while also dealing with collective grief.
• A new loss bringing up unresolved past grief.

Secondary losses are the additional losses that can happen due to the primary loss.

Examples include:

• Losing your identity as a caregiver when the person you have been caring for dies.
• Financial difficulties after losing a job or the main breadwinner dies.
• Changes in friendships and family dynamics.
• A loss of security, routine, or sense of purpose.