Which type of grief is characterized by prolonged duration and difficulty returning to living?

• A. Masked grief
• B. Delayed grief
• C. Chronic grief
• D. Disenfranchised grief

Answer: (C)

Chronic grief is grief that lasts a long time and continues to interfere with daily life. When the sorrow, longing, and preoccupation with the loss persist well beyond what is typically expected and keep you from resuming routines, returning to work, or enjoying relationships, that pattern describes chronic grief. It isn’t about a delayed onset or about symptoms being hidden or socially invalidated; it’s about the persistent, enduring nature of the mourning and its ongoing impact on functioning. In contrast, delayed grief involves a later-than-expected reaction, masked grief refers to grief symptoms that show up as other problems, and disenfranchised grief involves mourning that isn’t recognized or supported by others.