Grief is as natural as the wind through the trees or the changing of seasons. When I was struggling through loss, I drew upon the strengths and solace from nature, often finding the language of grief mirrors the earth itself-unpredictable, cyclical, and layered with meaning.
Whether you’re navigating the early moments of raw loss or carrying sorrow that has lingered for years, it can be healing to understand how grief evolves. The different expressions of grief—acute, integrated, prolonged, and complicated—alongside the lessons the natural world offers us, go hand in hand.
Acute Grief: The Storm Just Passed
In the earliest days or months after a loss, grief can feel like a storm that has upended everything. Overwhelming sadness, disbelief, or shock occurs. We may feel fatigued and notice changes in appetite or sleep. Deep emotional waves are triggered by reminders of the person and feelings of being detached or adrift happens. These are common signs of acute grief and just like the aftermath of a storm, the forest floor is scattered and still. Healing begins quietly, but nothing is expected to bloom right away.
Integrated Grief: The Tree That Keeps Growing
Over time, many people find their grief begins to settle. This is integrated grief where the natural process of carrying loss with you while continuing to live fully happens. A deeper acceptance of the loss occurs, and the emotional pain softens. We become more reflective than when the storm just passed and the ability to recall memories are mixed with love and sorrow. A renewed sense of purpose or meaning is reflected within us and just like trees have the ability to grow around wounds, remember that the broken branch does not stop the tree from reaching light. The wound becomes part of the tree’s unique shape.
Prolonged Grief: When the Ground Stays Frozen
Some grief does not ease over time. When yearning or distress continues intensely a year or more after the loss, it may be prolonged grief or Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD). In nature’s reflection, winter can linger longer. The soil stays frozen, and it takes extra warmth and care to help things begin to thaw again. Consider reaching out for support if persistent sorrow interferes with daily life, if there is difficulty accepting the reality of the loss, or if you feel “stuck” or unable to engage with life meaningfully.
Complicated Grief: When the Roots Are Tangled
Sometimes grief becomes entangled with trauma, guilt, or unresolved relationships. Known as complicated grief, this form may require deeper support. It may be felt as intense anger, guilt, or emotional paralysis, avoiding reminders—or becoming consumed by them, or it overlaps with PTSD, depression, or anxiety. When roots grow around stone or into fractured soil, the tree may struggle. But with care—pruning, support, time—even tangled roots can loosen…
Grief and Nature: Companions in Change
Grief doesn’t disappear. Just like nature, it becomes a companion in change. Dormancy and stillness give way to slow renewal, floodwaters recede, leaving space for wildflowers. Fallen leaves nourish the soil for what comes next. Grief, like nature, changes form. I have often said that “nature doesn’t ask anything from us; it is one place we can surrender control,” and by letting go of control, we can begin to see that transformation is possible, even after deep loss. Nature also does not ask us to rush or fix; there’s no timeline for love—and there’s no single ‘right’ way to grieve.
In closing, whether your loss is new or many seasons old—know that you are not broken. You are becoming. Grief is not something to “get over”; it is something to grow with, something to carry, something to integrate with love and tenderness. As a grief counselor, I walk this path with many—each journey unique, each heart deserving of care. Let this be an invitation to soften, to feel, to rest. And if your grief feels too heavy to hold alone, there is support. You don’t have to do this in isolation.
May you find solace in the rustling leaves, comfort in the rising sun, and strength in the slow resilience of nature. Grief and nature-a quiet walk together.
Lisa Story, MSCP, LPC, CT
Guest Columnist
Lisa Story, a nature enthusiast, is the founder of Hope Grows, a non-profit organization Cultivating Caregiver Wellness. A Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Thanatologist, Lisa’s professional experience in grief & bereavement and the connection to the natural world has led her to the path of the non-profit. She also holds Certificates in Addictions Counseling and Horticultural therapy.