Home for grief
i am grievingsupport a griever
The Lantern RoomThe CommunityWorld MapThe Calendar
Counsellor's CornerUnderstanding GriefCredible ArticlesWhere to Find More Help
Children's BooksFictionNon-fictionFilmsMusicFor Supporters
Our StoryLove, NunuDonateContact
Sign in

An infographic

Things No One Tells You About Grief

Grief holds many surprises that few people warn you about. None of these mean you are grieving wrongly, they mean you loved.

An infographic titled 'Things no one tells you about grief,' from Home for Grief, arranged as speech bubbles. It can feel heavy, slow, and messy, and it is not linear, it loops and circles back long after you thought you'd moved on. It is exhausting and lives in the body, affecting sleep, appetite and health. 'Grief brain' (fog and forgetfulness) is real and can last a long while. Anger is part of mourning, not a detour from it. You grieve secondary losses too: routines, roles, and the future you imagined, not only the person. Missing them is love still looking for somewhere to go, and you can feel guilty experiencing joy, though laughter does not betray them. Everyone grieves differently, with no right pace. You learn who shows up. Quiet heals you most, and grief changes rather than ends, you grow around it. The admin of death is relentless. None of this means you're grieving wrongly. It means you loved.
Download PDFDownload PNG

From the glossary

This image illustrates Grief brain (grief fog).

← Back to the glossary

The Erin Foundation

A South African non-profit company, created in honour of Erin. A soft place to land for the bereaved and those who walk alongside them.

instagram
our storycounsellor's cornerbook clubcontactdonate
© 2026 the erin foundation npc · south africa
Edit with