Original 16 items grounded in the DSM-5-TR criteria domains (yearning, identity disruption, avoidance, difficulty moving forward, numbness/trust) and the Prigerson et al. (2009) psychometric validation of those criteria — not the copyrighted Inventory of Complicated Grief (Prigerson et al. 1995), which we do not administer.
Grief Check-In, Free 16-Question Self-Reflection
Grief has no timeline. A gentle 16-question self-reflection on yearning, avoidance, and identity since a loss. A self-reflection tool, not a clinical diagnosis.
What is the Grief Check-In?
This check-in looks at grief through five domains drawn from the DSM-5-TR's criteria for Prolonged Grief Disorder: intense yearning or longing for the person who died, disruption to your sense of identity or role since the loss, avoidance of reminders, places, people, belongings, that bring the loss back too sharply, difficulty picturing or reengaging with a meaningful future, and emotional numbness or difficulty trusting others since the loss. It also asks how long it's been since the loss happened, because that context matters more than any single answer: the same intensity of yearning can be an entirely expected part of early mourning or, months and years later, a sign that grief has settled into a harder, more stuck pattern.
Keep readingShow less
There is no fixed timeline for grief, and it looks different for everyone depending on the relationship, the circumstances of the loss, and the person grieving. This check-in is not about telling you that you're grieving wrong or on the wrong schedule. It exists to help notice the difference between grief that continues to move and change, even while it still hurts, and grief that has become clinically stuck, what the DSM-5-TR calls Prolonged Grief Disorder. That distinction is specifically about duration and proportion, not about how much someone loved the person they lost: symptoms need to stay this intense for 12 months or more after the loss in adults (6 months for children and teens) and go well beyond what's expected for the situation before they're considered a clinical concern.
This check-in is a self-reflection tool, not a diagnostic instrument, and it does not replace an evaluation by a licensed professional. It's built on the DSM-5-TR's published diagnostic criteria for Prolonged Grief Disorder, not on any single proprietary questionnaire, and it does not attempt to diagnose you. If your results and your timeline both point toward a stuck pattern, a therapist experienced in grief, ideally one familiar with prolonged or complicated grief treatment specifically, is a reasonable next step. If your loss was more recent, ongoing support, from a friend, a support group, or a grief counselor, can still help even without any clinical concern.
What You'll Discover
You Might Also Like
Explore related assessments to deepen your self-understanding.
Trauma Response Check-In
A self-reflection across 4 trauma-response clusters: intrusive memories, avoidance, negative shifts in mood and thinking, and hyperarousal. 20 questions, instant summary. This is a self-reflection tool, not a clinical diagnosis.
20 questions
4 minComplex Trauma & Relationship Patterns Check-In
Trauma that was prolonged or repeated, not a single event? A 24-question self-reflection on core trauma responses plus affect, self-worth, and relationship patterns. A self-reflection tool, not a clinical diagnosis.
Emotional Intensity & Relationships Check-In
A self-reflection across 8 domains linked to emotional intensity and relationship patterns: fear of abandonment, relationship instability, identity, impulsivity, self-harm urges, mood swings, emptiness, and anger control. 24 questions, instant summary. This is a self-reflection tool, not a clinical diagnosis.
Mood Check-In
A short self-reflection on recent mood, energy, and interest. 12 questions, instant summary. This is a self-reflection tool, not a clinical diagnosis.
Loneliness Check-In
Lonely in a crowd, or lonely in a relationship? A 21-question self-reflection on isolation, connection quality, and belonging. A self-reflection tool, not a clinical diagnosis.