Grieve That Shit — Feelings Reference

Grief isn't one feeling.
It's a whole vocabulary.

“Sad.” “Mad.” “Fine.” Grief needs more words than that. This sheet holds over 200 words, sorted into 11 emotional families, so you can name what's actually happening instead of settling for the closest thing.

Sadness

The weight that shows up when something is gone.

Sad Lonely Heartbroken Empty Hopeless Discouraged Disappointed Hurt Rejected Defeated Miserable Sorrowful Depressed Grieving Isolated Forgotten Abandoned Lost Crushed Devastated Blue Gloomy Despairing Melancholy Homesick Unwanted Unloved Fragile Drained Deflated

Anger

The heat that shows up when something isn't fair.

Angry Irritated Frustrated Bitter Resentful Annoyed Furious Enraged Impatient Defensive Offended Agitated Outraged Hostile Jealous Mad Fed up Disgusted Contemptuous Provoked Vengeful Indignant Cross Irritable Heated Explosive Critical Sarcastic Cynical

Fear

The alarm that shows up when the ground feels unsteady.

Afraid Worried Nervous Anxious Terrified Uneasy Uncertain Helpless Vulnerable Unsafe Panicked Overwhelmed Insecure Hesitant Apprehensive Alarmed Scared Frightened Cautious Suspicious Dreadful Timid Shaky Restless Tense Intimidated Threatened Concerned Startled Doubtful

Shame & Guilt

The voice that shows up telling you it's your fault.

Guilty Ashamed Embarrassed Regretful Humiliated Worthless Inadequate Defective Unlovable Blamed Self-conscious Remorseful Broken Exposed Powerless Inferior Small Stupid Weak Disgraced Dishonored Foolish Self-critical Unworthy Condemned Disappointed in myself Like a failure Filled with regret

Joy

The lift that shows up when something goes right.

Happy Hopeful Peaceful Thankful Excited Loved Encouraged Proud Content Optimistic Calm Delighted Inspired Connected Comfortable Safe Cheerful Playful Grateful Relieved Energized Confident Blessed Fulfilled Satisfied Appreciated Free Refreshed Uplifted Lighthearted

Love & Connection

The pull that shows up when you belong to someone.

Loved Accepted Valued Appreciated Connected Needed Understood Supported Trusted Respected Cared for Welcomed Compassionate Affectionate Close Secure Included Cherished Comforted Admired Encouraged Loyal Faithful Kind Gentle Forgiven Empathetic Nurtured Warm Belonging

Peace & Acceptance

The steadiness that shows up after the storm passes.

Peaceful Calm Relaxed Content Settled Grounded Balanced Patient Hopeful Trusting Accepting Centered Secure Confident Comfortable Quiet Present Rested Clear Focused Stable Thankful Open Flexible Safe Restored Renewed Whole Harmonious At ease

Surprise

The jolt that shows up when nothing lines up as expected.

Surprised Shocked Amazed Stunned Startled Confused Curious Speechless Astonished In disbelief Bewildered Awestruck Dumbfounded Perplexed Intrigued Fascinated Caught off guard Baffled Flabbergasted

Disgust

The recoil that shows up when something crosses a line.

Disgusted Repulsed Revolted Sickened Appalled Grossed out Nauseated Horrified Disturbed Offended Turned off Repelled Disapproving Ashamed Contemptuous

Confusion

The fog that shows up when nothing adds up yet.

Confused Uncertain Lost Unsure Bewildered Puzzled Distracted Foggy Torn Indecisive Mixed up Disoriented Conflicted Questioning Hesitant Overthinking Doubtful Stuck Unclear Scattered

Overwhelm

The flood that shows up when there's too much at once.

Overwhelmed Burdened Exhausted Drained Burned out Pressured Swamped Stressed Defeated Overloaded Flooded Maxed out Suffocated Tense Frantic Frazzled Pulled apart Weighed down Emotionally spent Mentally exhausted

Next time you reach for “sad” or “mad,” check this list first. The right word won't fix the grief. But it will help you feel less alone in it, and that's a real step toward healing.

Sharon Brubaker, GS
The Grief School
Grieve That Shit

Grief isn't one feeling. It's a whole vocabulary.