Grief and Loss: Validating the Pain We Often Minimize

It’s easy to overlook or minimize our own experiences of loss—especially when the change was something we chose, like starting a new job, moving, or becoming a parent. But even positive life transitions can bring unexpected feelings of grief, disorientation, and emotional fatigue.

So, what’s the difference between loss and grief?

Loss is the experience of being separated from something meaningful—whether it’s a person, a role, a pet, a home, a job, or even a sense of identity. Grief is our emotional response to that loss, which can include sadness, numbness, fatigue, anger, or isolation. Everyone experiences grief differently, and there’s no right or wrong way to feel it.

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One of the first steps in therapy is simply validating your experience of loss. It's common to downplay your grief—especially when comparing it to others' pain—but comparison often leaves us feeling more alone, not less. Through compassion and acceptance, we can begin to explore your emotional response and gently find ways to move forward, one step at a time.

If you’re navigating a loss—big or small—I’m here to support you. Grief doesn’t need to be carried alone.📧 Email me info@transformingtidestherapy.com or 💻 book a free 15-minute consultation to see how we can work together.