This shift can be overwhelming and add an extra layer of stress during an already difficult time. It could include taking care of their affairs, managing financial matters, or assuming caregiving duties for other family members. 5. A reminder of mortality: Grief can also make us confront our own mortality and the finite nature of life. Losing someone can remind us that life is unpredictable and fragile, leading to feelings of vulnerability and anxiety about our own mortality or the mortality of other loved ones.