Dr. Katherine Shear, Professor of Psychiatry in Social Work at Columbia University, stopped by Big Think this week to discuss her research on anxiety, panic, and grief disorders.

The many mysteries surrounding grief (how does it help us, if at all? how long is it "supposed" to last?) can make it harder to cope with. As she explained in our conversation, however, Dr. Shear's studies have provided both clinical and practical insight into the grieving process, easing the burden on those who experience it. Dr. Shear's work was also featured recently in the New York Times.