In the case of death of someone you love, you may find the most difficult stage of grief will occur six months to a year afterward. When the death is of a violent or sudden nature, anger, shock, and helplessness may predominate as the initial response. When in mourning, behavior changes. Sleep can be interrupted or become prolonged. Normal eating patterns may change.
Some people become forgetful and confused.
Others withdraw from social supports and avoid all reminders of these who died. Thinking it will numb the pain, some individuals drink heavily and abuse drugs. At many points after a loss, the grieving person can benefit from the support of others. Individual grief reactions can vary widely, not only from person to person, but also within the same person over time. Accordingly, friends need to be ready to accept and support the griever through a wide range of emotions.