Which category describes grief that is postponed or suppressed and resurfaces later?

• A. Masked
• B. Delayed
• C. Exaggerated
• D. Chronic

Answer: (B)

Delayed grief is a pattern where the mourning response is postponed or suppressed at first and then reappears later. People may appear to cope and function for a time, but the sadness and sense of loss stay below the surface and surface again when a trigger occurs—an anniversary, a reminder, or a new stressor can bring the grief to the fore. This differs from masked grief, where the pain shows up as physical or behavioral problems rather than as open mourning; from exaggerated grief, where the response is excessively intense or disruptive from the start; and from chronic grief, where intense sorrow persists over a long period without a clear onset and resolution. In delayed grief, the key idea is the postponement of the healing process, with the hurt resurfacing later.