Restfully 
We all experience grief differently. This short quiz can help you discover your natural style of processing grief so you can better care for yourself and grieve with others during tough times.
If you’re looking for a further explanation why we created this Grief Persona Quiz, check out the longer blog post here.
Instructions: It’s common for a few answers to resonate with you but please write down the answer that best reflects your feelings and behaviors.
Questions
1. When something painful happens, what’s your first instinct?
A) Reach out to someone I trust and talk about it
B) Stay busy with tasks or responsibilities
C) Reflect quietly and try to make sense of it
D) Pull away so I can be alone with my thoughts
2. What helps you feel more in control during grief?
A) Sharing honestly with others
B) Having a routine or a plan
C) Understanding the deeper meaning
D) Not being pressured to explain myself
3. When someone you love dies, how do you typically respond?
A) I cry or talk through it with others
B) I focus on helping or getting things done
C) I write, journal, or look for spiritual or emotional insight
D) I keep to myself until I feel ready
4. Which of these phrases feels most like you?
A) “Talking helps me feel lighter”
B) “If I stop moving, everything might fall apart”
C) “I need to understand what this means”
D) “I just need space to deal with it on my own”
5. What overwhelms you most during grief?
A) Feeling alone or misunderstood
B) Feeling helpless or unproductive
C) Feeling lost in the chaos of it all
D) Being pushed to talk before I’m ready
6. What do you often wish others understood about you when you’re grieving?
A) Just because I’m emotional doesn’t mean I’m not okay
B) Just because I seem okay doesn’t mean I am
C) I’m trying to grow through this, not just get through it
D) I’m grieving, even if I don’t show it the way others expect
7. What helps you start to feel like yourself again?
A) Honest conversations with people who care
B) Creating structure and accomplishing small things
C) Finding meaning through reflection, art, or faith
D) Time and space to move through things quietly
8. When you think about healing, what comes to mind?
A) Feeling safe enough to talk about it
B) Being able to function and support others
C) Discovering a new sense of meaning or direction
D) Feeling calm again in my own way
Scoring
Mostly A’s – The Open Heart
You lead with emotion. You heal through connection, honesty, and presence. Whether it’s talking, crying, or sharing memories, you find strength in being vulnerable.
Support tip: Surround yourself with people who can meet you where you are. You don’t have to carry it all alone.
Learn More Here
Mostly B’s – The Steady Hand
You cope through action. Doing gives you a sense of control and purpose. You often support others first and process your own grief in private moments.
Support tip: Give yourself permission to pause. Productivity can’t protect you from pain, and you don’t need to fix everything.
Learn More Here
Mostly C’s – The Seeker
You are reflective by nature. You look for meaning and growth through loss. You may write, read, create, or turn to faith or philosophy as part of your process.
Support tip: Don’t rush your search for answers. Grief isn’t a puzzle to solve. Let the questions be part of the journey. Click here for more advice for The Seeker Personas.
Learn More Here
Mostly D’s – The Quiet Anchor
You grieve privately and on your own timeline. You may not share much, but you feel deeply. You value time, space, and the right to process without pressure.
Support tip: Even anchors need support. Let trusted people know how to show up for you in quiet ways. Learn More Here
Summary
In summary, most people will identify with different personas in different ways. We invite you to read more suggestions for any of the personas to learn common strengths and weaknesses. If you’re interacting with different types of people during stressed periods, we recommend you read How to Avoid Conflict During Times of Stress.
