Grief and Sadness Sadness and grief are experienced when we perceive we have lost something important to us, whether that is our chances at achieving a goal, a cherished possession, or a close relationship. Though some types of sadness can help us learn to avoid bad outcomes or connect with others, much of the grief of loss we experience remains unexplained. We don’t fully understand why we suffer so deeply when a loved one passes away, and some believe it to be an unfortunate byproduct of other emotional mechanisms.
