Grief Test
A confidential, gentle self-reflection informed by research on prolonged grief, including the PG-13 dimensions. It is not here to judge your grief or put it on a timeline. It simply helps you see whether what you are carrying looks like the natural, painful work of mourning, or whether some extra support might help. You will get a plain-language reflection and a professional PDF report you can keep or share with someone you trust.
Grief is not a problem to be measured, but support can help
Grief is a natural response to loss, not a disorder. This reflection does not score how much you loved someone or how 'well' you are coping. It gently looks at a few patterns that research links with grief that has become stuck, so you can decide whether to reach for extra support.
Yearning and longing
An intense, aching pull toward the person who died, a longing for their presence, and a sense of being preoccupied with them. This is the heart of grief, and it is entirely normal, especially early on.
Difficulty accepting the loss
Disbelief, feeling that it cannot be real, struggling to take in that the person is truly gone, or feeling that part of you died too. When this stays intense over a long time, it is one sign that support may help.
Life disruption over time
How much grief is making it hard to function, connect with others, or move through daily life, and how long it has been since the loss. Time alone does not heal everyone the same way, and that is okay.
| Feature | Typical free quiz | Psychology.com |
|---|---|---|
| Informed by prolonged grief research | Rarely | Yes, PG-13 dimensions |
| Distinguishes normal from prolonged grief | No | Yes, carefully |
| Respects that grief has no timeline | Often pathologizes | Yes, throughout |
| Accounts for time since the loss | No | Yes |
| Clinician-reviewed, compassionate tone | Rarely | Yes, reviewed |
| Downloadable PDF report | No | Yes, branded & shareable |
| Confidential (no data sent) | Often tracked | Runs in your browser |
Methodology & sources
This reflection is informed by research on prolonged grief disorder, in particular the dimensions captured by the PG-13 measure developed by Prigerson and colleagues (2009), which identifies grief reactions that remain intense and impairing well beyond the period most people would expect. The items are written in the spirit of that research, reworded to be gentle and readable while keeping their meaning, and grouped into yearning, difficulty accepting the loss, and life disruption. Time since the loss is included because the research distinguishes prolonged grief partly by its persistence, typically at least six to twelve months after a death. We deliberately keep interpretation conservative and supportive rather than diagnostic.
This is provided for education and gentle self-reflection, not as a clinical or diagnostic instrument. Grief is a natural human response to loss, not a mental illness. Most grief, even when it is agonizing, never needs a clinical label. A small number of people experience grief that stays stuck in a way that responds well to specialized support, and this reflection only aims to help you notice whether that might be worth exploring. There is no right way to grieve and no timeline you are supposed to follow.
- Prigerson HG, Horowitz MJ, Jacobs SC, et al. Prolonged grief disorder: Psychometric validation of criteria proposed for DSM-V and ICD-11. PLoS Med. 2009;6(8):e1000121.
- Shear MK, Simon N, Wall M, et al. Complicated grief and related bereavement issues for DSM-5. Depress Anxiety. 2011;28(2):103–117.
- Maciejewski PK, Maercker A, Boelen PA, Prigerson HG. 'Prolonged grief disorder' and 'persistent complex bereavement disorder', but not 'complicated grief', are one and the same diagnostic entity. World Psychiatry. 2016;15(3):266–275.
- Stroebe M, Schut H. The dual process model of coping with bereavement: a decade on. Omega (Westport). 2010;61(4):273–289.
Grief Test FAQ
Is there a 'normal' amount of time to grieve?
No. There is no set timeline for grief, and anyone who tells you otherwise is mistaken. Grief comes in waves that can return for years, especially around anniversaries and reminders, and that is a normal part of loving someone. This reflection looks at patterns, not deadlines, and it will never tell you that you are grieving for too long.
What is prolonged grief?
Prolonged grief, sometimes called complicated grief, describes a smaller group of people whose grief stays intensely painful and disabling far beyond what they or those around them would expect, in a way that makes daily life very hard to resume. Researchers usually look at this only after at least six to twelve months. It is not a sign of weakness or of loving someone too much, and it responds well to specialized support.
Does a high result mean something is wrong with me?
No. A higher result is not a diagnosis and does not mean you are grieving incorrectly. It simply means several of the patterns linked with prolonged grief are present right now, which can be entirely expected soon after a loss. It is an invitation to be gentle with yourself and to consider extra support, nothing more.
Is this test a diagnosis?
No. It is for gentle self-reflection only. Grief is a natural response to loss, not a disorder, and only a licensed clinician can assess prolonged grief or any related condition. If your results or your feelings concern you, a grief-informed therapist can help.
When should I reach out for support?
There is no wrong time to ask for support in grief, and you do not need a 'high enough' result to deserve help. It can be especially worth reaching out if grief is making it very hard to function months after the loss, if you feel unable to accept that the person is gone, if you are withdrawing from everyone, or if you have any thoughts of not wanting to be here. In that last case, please reach out right away.