Grief is one of the most complex emotional experiences we face as human beings. Whether it follows the death of a loved one, the pain of separation, or the loss of one’s home or sense of belonging due to immigration, grief changes not only how we feel — but also how our brains function.

Grief impacts individuals and families on emotional, relational, and biological levels.

When my mom passed away in October, years ago, I was legally an adult, emotionally raw and completely unprepared. Until then, I thought “heartbreak” was something that only came from romantic loss — crying in your car to sad music over a crush who didn’t text back. But losing my mom taught me that heartbreak can also come from something much deeper: the absence of someone who helped shape your entire world.

That loss was my first crash course in grief