We really need to work on making space for people to just be with one another without trying to fix it, without trying to put timelines on it.

My perspective changed when I looked at other people and realized that I didn’t have any idea what someone else might be going through because there was no outward sign of loss.

For me, it’s been important to recognize the challenges and grief from this experience and to learn how to be an advocate for others who are going through the same thing.

Lack of recognition, understanding, or acceptance of your loss brings additional challenges when you’re grieving. When you don’t have support from your family, friends, or community, the sense of isolation that many grieving people feel can increase.

Even with support, you’ll still need to find your own way through grief; no one else can tell you what to do or how to do it. It’s important that you begin by recognizing and acknowledging both your loss and your grief. The better you understand these, the more you’ll be able to accept your experience as real and valid.

When you take some time to reflect on your grief, you may realize that you’ve already found things that help you to feel stronger and more hopeful. You may be able to use past experiences with loss and grief to guide you now, and you may also find new ways of coping by strengthening your inner resources and connecting or reconnecting with supportive others.