5 Underacknowleged Life Experiences That Can Cause Grief

This article was developed via a partnership with BetterHelp.

Grief can result from a variety of situations, not just when someone passes away. Here are a few examples of life experiences that can cause you to feel immense sorrow for what was, what is, and what could have been:

1. Diagnosis Of A Terminal Or Chronic Illness

An out of the blue diagnosis can do more than catch you off guard, it can also cause you to grieve. You and your family may grieve the loss of your old life, grieve for the things you may no longer be able to do, or grieve the hopes you had for the future that you may no longer be able to achieve. There is no reason to beat yourself up feeling this way— your grief is warranted! Rather than trying to stuff your emotions away, acknowledging and exploring these feelings can help you to prevent them from continually resurfacing in the future.  

2. Death of a Pet

Our pets are family and losing any part of your family is profoundly difficult. There is no need to feel silly about experiencing extreme sadness when a pet dies. It is completely normal to feel those emotions and cry— doing so can even be healthy. If you are struggling with the loss of a pet, BetterHelp offers a wealth of resources for this type of grief as well as other life experiences that can cause grief. For example, this article offers strategies on how to cope when a pet dies.

3. Miscarriage

You absolutely have the right to grieve a miscarriage, no matter the circumstances or length of the pregnancy. A loss is a loss is a loss. Period. It’s often overlooked that many people go through a period of intense grief after a miscarriage but that doesn’t mean it isn’t justified or should be overlooked.

4. Divorce or Separation

As a widowed mom explains in this Dallas News article, divorce can sometimes be just as mentally challenging as a spouse passing away. So those feelings of grief? Totally and completely warranted. Keep in mind that children will also need space and time to grieve during this time— as they are experiencing a deep loss as well.

5. Losing A Job

Even if the loss of a job is personal, like a company-wide layoff, it can trigger intense feelings of loss. It’s ok to take time to grieve after you lose your job but be careful to avoid internalizing rejection. A job does not define you and this loss is something you can work past. If you are continuing to struggle with the loss of a job for weeks or months— make sure to reach out for help!

These are just a few examples of under-acknowledged life experiences that can cause grief and it is by no means an exhaustive list. If you are grieving, there is probably a valid reason why and it’s important to validate your own emotions. Whatever you are going through, hang in there and continue to move forward— the days will start to get easier.