When Grief Doesn’t Look Like Grief

We usually associate grief with death—but grief takes many forms. Sometimes grief doesn't look like grief.

It can arise after a breakup. After leaving a job that shaped your identity. After fertility struggles, a missed opportunity, or even growing apart from a version of yourself you once loved.

a person processing emotions

These experiences often bring grief that’s hard to name—let alone talk about. And because others may not recognize it as grief, you might feel like you’re overreacting or being “too sensitive.”

This is what we call ambiguous grief—a deep, often unspoken emotional response to loss that doesn’t have clear cultural rituals or language around it.

In therapy, especially through a trauma-informed and Internal Family Systems lens, we make space for this kind of grief. We honor the parts of you that are carrying sadness, confusion, or regret. And we work toward self-compassion—not minimizing what you've been through.

Grief doesn't always follow a neat timeline. It doesn’t always come with tears. But it always deserves to be seen.

If you’re grieving something that feels invisible, you deserve support. Let’s talk about making space for that grief together.