When grief is not normal
- Daniela Scholl
- Aug 5
- 2 min read
Carol Zuniga, MS, LLP, CEO of Hegira Health, Inc.
August 2025
National Grief Awareness Day is Saturday Aug. 30. It’s a day dedicated to open communication on loss and bereavement to raise awareness about the experience of grief and the grieving process, to provide resources and remind us to support those who we know are grieving.
What is grief
Grief, the label we give to a cluster of expected responses to a significant loss, is an innate, painful and undesirable human experience. Grief knows no age, social status, religion or geography. It affects us all at some point. Because most of us recognize grief is a part of life, we can overlook its complexity and be unprepared for its impact. According to Boston’s Children’s Hospital, because the identified loss is the iceberg of many losses, that all result in change, the depth and scope of one’s grief can be much deeper than expected. The involvedness of grief, typically impacting a combination of emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual responses, is what makes it so disruptive to our normal equilibrium. Understanding the grieving process is not only helpful to get you through it but, on the other side, it can lead to positive personal growth, renewed purpose and resilience.
If you or someone you care about is struggling with mental health or substance use issues contact Hegira Health call 734-458-4601 or visit www.hegirahealth.org.
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About the author
Carol Zuniga, MS, LLP, CEO of Hegira Health, Inc. is a licensed psychologist with more than 30 years’ experience in the healthcare industry. Hegira Health, Inc., is a leading provider of behavioral healthcare services with clinic locations in Western Wayne and the Downriver communities. Visit www.hegirahealth.org.
