Types of Grief and Loss
The Nystrom & Associates provider consulted for this article is Anne Allen, CSW, LMFT, Clinic Director, Outpatient Therapist.
Coping with grief and loss is a tough feat. You might be overwhelmed with unexpected emotions that make it difficult to think clearly or get a good night’s sleep.
Everyone experiences grief differently. However, what you may not know is that there are several types of grief and loss that can affect the grieving process.
For more information on grief and loss, visit the grief and loss specialty page.
What is Grief?
Grief is a powerful emotion that is in response to a loss. For example, the loss can include the loss of a loved one, your health, a pet, or the loss of a relationship or friendship. Essentially, grief can form whenever we experience the loss of something we have an emotional attachment to. Grief can manifest in many ways and affect your physical well-being as well. Insomnia, sleeping too much, and changes in appetite can occur.Grief is often experienced as one of the most difficult of our emotions. It visits everyone a little differently. I like to remind people that there is no one right way to experience grief. - Anne Allen, Outpatient TherapistWhile there are many types of grief, we are going to focus on three of them in this article. Related: How Mental Health Affects Physical Health
Anticipatory Grief
Anticipatory grief plays out exactly how the name suggests. The grief starts to develop before the actual loss of what is important to you. If you have a grandparent ill suddenly in a nursing home, for example, or you are aware of a job loss coming up, you may begin the grieving process before the loss has taken place. Anticipatory grief can bring about anger and not wanting to accept that a loss is on the horizon. However, this type of grief also opens the door for saying goodbyes and preparing (as much as you can or are able to) for an upcoming loss. Anne Allen shares a message that may be helpful if you're struggling with grief and loss.I heard a quote from the Marvel comic series Wanda Vision, that has stuck with me. In this series, a character named Vision shares a thought about grief to someone who has had many losses. He says, "But what is grief if not love persevering." How beautiful it is to remember that when we remember those we have lost, we are actually remembering and feeling that love in real-time.
Disenfranchised Grief
Disenfranchised grief can happen when your loss is:- Devalued
- Stigmatized
- Cannot be openly mourned
