Types of Grief
Types of Grief
The descriptions offered here are not meant to diagnose or rigidly define the grief experience. Instead, they are meant to help normalize the range of grief experiences, and to act as helpful starting points for exploring grief more fully.
Disenfranchised Grief
Disenfranchised grief refers to a loss that is not acknowledged or validated by our social networks or larger culture, which often increases the griever's sense of isolation or loneliness. The grief is not considered valid because the relationship, the cause of death, or the type of loss is stigmatized or minimized. Examples include the loss of a pet, the death of an ex-spouse or former partner, the death of an abuser, loss from overdose or suicide, estrangement from substance abuse, or the loss of identity that can occur in response to chronic illness, unemployment or displacement.
Suffocated Grief
Suffocated grief occurs when natural grief reactions or expressions are silenced, judged or penalized. Expectations on the 'appropriate' way to express grief vary across cultures. In modern American culture, the common expectation is that bereavement is a largely inner experience, with funerals and other communal memorials characterized by a somber atmosphere in which louder expressions of grief would likely be considered disruptive or burdensome. Yet in a range of cultures around the world, loud wailing, colorful celebrations, and even dancing with the silk-wrapped bones of the deceased are considered normal expressions of grief. Suffocated grief can be experienced when a minority culture's expression of grief is at odds with the norms of the dominant culture, or when an individual's needs in grief expression are at odds with their own culture.
Traumatic Grief
Traumatic grief occurs when the loss is characterized by violence, trauma, or unexpected circumstances and results in persistent trauma symptoms in addition to the grief response. Feelings of intense anger, anxiety or guilt can complicate the grieving process, and can lead to long term challenges to mental and physical well being. Examples include loss from gun violence, homicide, suicide, car accident, overdose or natural disasters.
Anticipatory Grief
Anticipatory grief is the impending sadness, anxiety and other emotions felt when we know a loss is coming. Examples include in situations involving terminal illness and hospice, dementia, divorce, releasing a child to adoption, and becoming an empty nester. Depending on the circumstances, it is common to experience guilt, resentment, numbness and pre-rehearsing or excessive ruminating on the impending loss.
Ambiguous Loss
Ambiguous loss is a type of unresolved grief that lacks closure or clarity. It can occur when a loved one is physically present but psychologically absent, for example due to dementia, chronic mental illness, brain injuries or substance abuse. It can also occur when a loved one is psychologically present but physically absent, for example due to kidnapping, mass population displacement, incarceration, adoption, divorce or becoming an empty nester. This loss is sometimes called 'frozen grief', as the lack of clarity or finality can prevent the griever from fully processing their grief and adapting to life after the loss.