ABSTRACT
Distinguishing normal grief from pathological grief is primarily related to the intensity of a response or the duration of a response rather than to the presence or absence of a specific characteristic of mourning. A difficult, yet important task for the helper is to be able to differentiate normal grief from pathological grief is impossible. So many individual differences and cultural variations exist in mourning process that to clearly define what is normal and what is impossible. The reason for the confusion is that what is normal behavior in times of grief is often contrary to what is generally thought to be normal, healthy, adjustive behavior. In chronic grief the person demonstrates a persistent pattern of intense grief that does not result in appropriate reconciliation. In absent grief no apparent feelings of grief are expressed. Prolonged feelings denial indicates a complicated grief response that demands attention.
