Children Quote by Gilly Macmillan
““There’s a term we use for it: “ambiguous grief.” It can be a life sentence. It’s a kind of unresolved grief. You might feel it if you have a child or another family member who is mentally impaired. You might mourn the person you think they could have been if things had turned out differently. That person is physically present but psychologically absent. Conversely, and this is what happens in cases of abduction, or more commonly in divorce, the child or the person is psychologically present but physically absent.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: Discussion on grief and loss, 2021
Ambiguous grief describes the lingering, unresolved sorrow for someone physically present but emotionally absent, often seen in families of disabled members, abductions, or divorce.
In simple terms: Grief can persist when a loved one is emotionally missing.
Key Takeaway
Acknowledge and process ambiguous grief for healing.
Themes
grief
family
psychology
loss
absence
mental health
Mood
somber
reflective
Type
psychological
therapeutic
When to use this quote
- family counseling
- divorce support groups
- disability advocacy
- abduction recovery programs
- mental health therapy
Key Concepts
ambiguous grief
unresolved sorrow
psychological absence
emotional presence
Questions to Reflect On
- What steps can help someone confront ambiguous grief?
- How can families support members experiencing this type of loss?
A Different Perspective
Unaddressed ambiguous grief can lead to chronic emotional distress.
![“[S]ociety often tends to make those of us in grief feel shame and embarrassment about our feelings of grief. "Shame can be described as feeling that something you are doing is bad. And you may feel that if you mourn, then you should be ashamed. If you are perceived as 'doing well' with your grief…” quote by Alan D. Wolfelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/232/alan-d-wolfelt-77279_grief_s-ociety-often-tends-to-make-those-of-us_1331641.jpg)
