When will I be over this?

Odysseus, the legendary warrior, had a long journey home after the war – because being a warrior isn’t just about the battle; it’s about the journey back afterwards. And grief is part of that journey. - Military Veteran

I was like I didn’t know what was wrong with me, you know what I mean? Like I suddenly realized that I was grieving. And then that changed everything because that was a tangible hook upon which I could hang my emotional hat, so to speak. Like I knew where my hat was, I could go and find it and I could say, “This is grief, don’t forget.” - Family Member

It is natural to want to know when you will be “over” this. When we are in pain, we want the pain to end. Some losses may be easier for you to deal with than others. Some losses we don’t “get over”. Grief changes over time and life goes on and grows around it. Over time, grief takes up less room as we re-engage in life. Most people find that grief gets easier with time. However, feelings of grief can surprise us months or years later, but it happens with less frequency and intensity.

Many find that grief can change who they used to be. This is another loss that can be very difficult to manage and acknowledging it may be an important part of moving forward.

When grief occurs with psychological trauma, it may be more complicated. For more information, see Grief and trauma.

The thing is that grief takes time, and it’s a constant process that involves your military family, your civilian family, and lots of avenues for discussion. - Military Veteran