Loss drains us of our energy and robs us of our choices.
Grief is the reaction to loss and two of the definitions of grief from “The Grief Recovery Handbook” are:
- Grief is the normal and natural reaction to loss.
- Grief is the conflicting feelings caused by the end of or change in a familiar pattern of behavior.
The Loss List
- Adoption
- Begin or end school
- Business readjustment
- Change in church activities
- Change in eating habits
- Change in financial state
- Change in frequency of arguments
- Change in health of family member
- Change in living conditions
- Change in number of family reunions
- Change in recreation
- Change in residence
- Change in responsibilities at work
- Change in schools
- Change in sleeping habits
- Change in social activities
- Change in working hours or conditions
- Change to different line of work
- Child leaving home
- Christmas
- Death by suicide or overdose
- Death by homicide
- Death due to child/parent abuse
- Death due to drunk driving accident
- Death of a close family member
- Death of a close friend or co-worker
- Death of a partner in an extra-marital affair
- Death of a pet
- Death of a sibling
- Death of a spouse
- Death from HIV/AIDS
- Dismissal from work
- Divorce
- Family separation due to foster care
- Foreclosure of mortgage or loan
- Gain a new family member
- Getting clean from the loss of an addiction
- Grief from an abortion
- Grieving a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia
- Grieving a loved one with substance disorder
- Grieving someone who is dealing with severe mental illness
- Grieving someone with a traumatic brain injury
- Grieving someone you can’t remember (ex. a parent who died when you were an infant)
- Grieving someone who died before you were born
- Grieving someone you didn’t know well
- Grieving someone you didn’t know at all (like a celebrity)
- Grieving someone you only knew online (cyber loss)
- Imprisonment
- KIA (Killed In Action), MIA (Missing In Action) and POW (Prisoner Of War)
- Loss of approval
- Loss of control of my body
- Loss of faith
- Loss of hopes and dreams for the future
- Loss of meaningful objects/belonging
- Loss of safety
- Loss of trust
- Major mortgage
- Marital reconciliation
- Marital separation
- Marriage
- Miscarriage
- Minor mortgage or loan
- Minor violation of law
- Moving/loss of community
- Outstanding personal achievement
- Personal injury or illness
- Pregnancy
- Retirement
- Revision of personal habits
- Sexual difficulties
- Spouse starts or stops work
- Stillbirth
- Trouble with boss
- Trouble with in-laws
- Vacation
If you have had a loss that is not listed on this page feel free to add it to the comments or write us and we will update this list.
Chris Donner, Chris@Cee-Chris.com
Cee Neuner, Cee@Cee-Chris.com
