Examples of Disenfranchised Grief

Unrecognized relationships

experiencing grief for someone you may not have met becuase they died before you were born or in infancy (such as a grandparent, sibling, or parent)
death of a pet
someone you did not know well, at all (like a celebrity), or have not been in touch with for years
death of an online friend
divorce
death of a past partner or estranged relative
death of a client or patient
death of a service provider
loss of foster care family when returning to the biological home
believing someone is not capable of grieving (a child, or someone with a cognitive impairment)

Loss that’s considered “less significant”

loss of an elderly person (becuase it is often seen as “to be expected”)
death of a friend
job loss
miscarriage or stillbirth
estrangement of family
a person who is still living (ex. brain injury, Alzheimer’s or dementia, disappearance, incarceration, substance use, severe mental illness)
loss of family due to being separated and entering the foster care system
support networks, such as family, friends, and faith groups, not being there for you
infertility
moving/loss of a home/community (including when it leads to “better opportunities", such as leaving your country as a refugee)
loss of culture, language, etc. (including cultural genocide)
developmental loss (not being where you thought you might be in life)
loss of hopes or dreams for the future
change in faith
loss of possessions with sentimental value
finding out someone isn’t who you thought they were
loss of physical health, mobility, independence, lifestyle
lack of a positive relationship with someone in your family

being in recovery for substances, eating disorders etc and missing the substance, behaviour, or social network that came with it
grieving loss of freedom or identity once a person has children
loss of identity

Loss surrounded by stigma