Did you know there are different types of grief? 💭
Let’s talk about one that often goes unseen — disenfranchised grief.
🕊️ What is it?
Disenfranchised grief is the kind of grief that’s carried quietly — often hidden — because others might not see it as a “real” loss. It’s the grief we feel but don’t feel allowed to express.
💔 Why does it matter?
When grief is done in isolation, it can deepen feelings of shame, depression, and anxiety. It can keep us stuck. Grief needs to be witnessed. Being seen and heard in our pain is a vital part of healing.
🌿 Examples of disenfranchised grief:
- Losses that aren’t socially recognized (a miscarriage, a pet, a friendship, a dream)
- Losses that others minimize (“you didn’t even date that long,” “you can just have another”)
- Grief that feels complicated or carries stigma (divorce, suicide loss, estrangement, addiction, mental illness, infertility)
- Cumulative or invisible losses (aging, identity changes, chronic illness, loss of safety or faith)
Your grief is valid — even if others can’t see it. 💚
✨ Healing begins when your story is witnessed.
