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A woman in black clothing expresses sorrow at a funeral, reflecting on loss.

Why Grief Shows Up Differently for Everyone: Understanding Personal Grief Styles

January 23, 2026

Grief is not a single emotion. It is a series of internal shifts that affect people in different ways, often at different speeds, and rarely in a straight line. Across Washington, clinicians are seeing more individuals and families seeking support because their grief doesn’t look the way they expected — or the way others expect it to look.

Whether you’re grieving a loved one, a relationship, a transition, or a version of life that changed suddenly, your emotional experience is shaped by many factors: your history, your coping patterns, your nervous system, your relationships, and even your environment.

Understanding your “grief style” can help you navigate loss with compassion instead of comparison.

There is no “right” way to grieve

Many