Grieving Your Disenfranchised Loss
Tue Feb 03 2026
Some grief gets welcomed with casseroles and open arms. Other grief is met with silence, side‑eye, or the sense that you don’t have the right to mourn. We go straight at disenfranchised grief—losses like suicide, overdose, miscarriage, pregnancy loss, or the death of an ex‑partner—naming how stigma shrinks support and deepens isolation, and how to reclaim the validation every mourner deserves.
We share Erin’s story of two very different deaths and the stark contrast in community response, then define disenfranchised grief and the “unwritten rules” that tell people to hide. Together with Colleen, we unpack sacred silence versus silent indifference, the suspicion that follows certain causes of death, and the internal self‑judgment many parents carry. You’ll hear practical ways to help kids and teens: simple scripts like “my dad died from a mental illness,” how to hold mixed feelings such as relief and sadness at the same time, and why honest conversations about complex relationships protect children from shame.
We also offer hands‑on tools you can use today. Learn expressive options beyond talk—art, music, storytelling with figurines, movement—and ceremony ideas when words fall short: lighting a candle, planting a tree after miscarriage, writing letters, and sharing one word that captures your person. We close with prompts that keep the whole person in view: what you’ll never forget, what you want others to know, and the qualities you’ll carry forward.
If this resonates, you’re not alone. Your grief matters, your bond was real, and healing grows in community. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a quick review so more families can find support. Have a topic you want us to explore next? Email info@jessicashouse.org and join the conversation.
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For more information on Jessica’s House or for additional resources, please go to jessicashouse.org
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Some grief gets welcomed with casseroles and open arms. Other grief is met with silence, side‑eye, or the sense that you don’t have the right to mourn. We go straight at disenfranchised grief—losses like suicide, overdose, miscarriage, pregnancy loss, or the death of an ex‑partner—naming how stigma shrinks support and deepens isolation, and how to reclaim the validation every mourner deserves. We share Erin’s story of two very different deaths and the stark contrast in community response, then define disenfranchised grief and the “unwritten rules” that tell people to hide. Together with Colleen, we unpack sacred silence versus silent indifference, the suspicion that follows certain causes of death, and the internal self‑judgment many parents carry. You’ll hear practical ways to help kids and teens: simple scripts like “my dad died from a mental illness,” how to hold mixed feelings such as relief and sadness at the same time, and why honest conversations about complex relationships protect children from shame. We also offer hands‑on tools you can use today. Learn expressive options beyond talk—art, music, storytelling with figurines, movement—and ceremony ideas when words fall short: lighting a candle, planting a tree after miscarriage, writing letters, and sharing one word that captures your person. We close with prompts that keep the whole person in view: what you’ll never forget, what you want others to know, and the qualities you’ll carry forward. If this resonates, you’re not alone. Your grief matters, your bond was real, and healing grows in community. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a quick review so more families can find support. Have a topic you want us to explore next? Email info@jessicashouse.org and join the conversation. Send us a text For more information on Jessica’s House or for additional resources, please go to jessicashouse.org