Let’s talk about grief & loss

Grief is less of a linear journey with a finish line, and more like ocean waves—sometimes crashing over you, and other times receding into a gentle swell.

Grief is often described as the natural response to a deeply personal loss - and it’s experienced emotionally, physically and spiritually. While we often associate grief with intense sadness, it’s often much more than that and often includes other feelings such as anger, guilt, confusion, loneliness, and even relief.

Grief and loss is not just reserved for death, either. We can grieve the end of a relationship, the loss of a job, a change in our health, a country we have left, or the future we once imagined for ourselves. Grief is a complicated experience - it is not linear, and there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to process grief. Each person will experience grief differently. It’s not just in your thoughts and feelings, it can manifest as physical aches, crushing fatigue, brain fog, a change in appetite.

What is not widely talked about is something called disenfranchised grief - grief that is not openly or socially acknowledged, or publicly mourned, which can lead to feelings of isolation and difficulty processing the loss. Experiencing the loss of mobility, chronic health, disability, a loss of a pet, experiencing infertility, miscarriages - are some examples where this type of grief. You might feel a deep feeling of loss and soul wrenching emptiness that is often experienced internally and suffered in silence. It’s challenging and deeply personal to have to adapt to life after loss, one that is not openly mourned and having to find your way forward in a world that feels different now. It’s complex and messy to navigate.

If you’re experiencing a loss that feels invisible or hard to put into words—especially one that others might not understand or recognise—therapy can be a powerful source of comfort and understanding. Know that every part of your grief matters. No matter how unseen your grief may feel or how confusing it may seem, you don’t have to walk this journey alone—therapy is here to support you through this path toward healing.