Disenfranchised Grief: When Grief and Grievers Are Unrecognized

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adoption and disenfranchised grief

Social Worker Evelyn Robinson has written and published about this: https://www.academia.edu/6240637/Long_term_outcomes_of_losing_a_child_through_adoption_the_impact_of_disenfranchised_grief

Jennifer M Speirs more than 3 years ago

Grief

The loss of a much loved pet is another type of grief that people tend to minimize. I know for myself I was not yet diagnosed with bipolar disorder and lost a dog who I loved SO much. The circumstance that took him were very traumatic. I went in to a deep depression after without having very much support, I heard things like "it was only a dog...just think if it was one of your kids!" as true as this was I still grieved deeply.

Cheryl Netter more than 3 years ago

Adoption loss

I know you could not include every unrecognized loss, but, because you brought up the loss of the prospective adoptive parents, it highlights for me one of the most unrecognized losses of all and that is the loss experienced by those separated by adoption. The families who lose a child and the child who loses a family face a multifaceted loss that lasts a lifetime and even into future generations. Recognition of this loss is a threat to a powerful adoption industry in which the social work profession has a long and vested interest and so it is intentionally unrecognized and dimished.

Kimlee Butterfield more than 4 years ago

Excellent Point

Thank you Kimlee. This is excellent example of a disenfranchised, unrecognized loss. Thank you for your input. These losses should be recognized and acknowledged.

Lisa S Zoll more than 4 years ago

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