AMBIGUOUS LOSS: PHYSICAL ABSENCE
Having someone physically missing can have a huge unexpected impact. Maybe the person has always been absent in your life. Sometimes people feel despair and worry, or perhaps guilt, shame or anger. Or you may be shocked, relieved, frustrated or confused about the situation and possibly in a state of disbelief. A disappearance may have been planned and they left a note, or you fear abduction or suspect a crime has been committed. You may know where they are but they don't want contact, or it is not possible.
Some days with a missing loved one may be full of hope and then hopelessness as you wait for news and sightings. Endless searching is emotionally tiring and the people close to you may struggle to know what to say as time goes on. It might have been days, months or years, and without any resolution you may feel stuck, don’t know whether to grieve, try to move on or cling to hope. Perhaps you are worried about what might happen if the person returns. The stress of the situation can take its toll on close relationships and perhaps you feel overwhelmed or out of control.
It may feel like the world you know is changing due to our ecological, biodiversity and climate crises and are aware of our natural world 'missing'. Perhaps you feel you are missing out by choosing not to have children in fear of what the future holds. You might relate to some other losses below:
Some days with a missing loved one may be full of hope and then hopelessness as you wait for news and sightings. Endless searching is emotionally tiring and the people close to you may struggle to know what to say as time goes on. It might have been days, months or years, and without any resolution you may feel stuck, don’t know whether to grieve, try to move on or cling to hope. Perhaps you are worried about what might happen if the person returns. The stress of the situation can take its toll on close relationships and perhaps you feel overwhelmed or out of control.
It may feel like the world you know is changing due to our ecological, biodiversity and climate crises and are aware of our natural world 'missing'. Perhaps you feel you are missing out by choosing not to have children in fear of what the future holds. You might relate to some other losses below:
- Missing person or pet
- Living, travelling or working away from home or in the forces
- Divorce or relationship breakdown, including domestic abuse
- Someone moving into a care home, hospice, or in prison or hospital
- Children leaving home
- Emigration/Immigration
- Missing in action due to war
- Catastrophic tragedy, such as an accident e.g. building collapse
- Natural disasters such as earthquake, flood, and tsunami
- Absent parent/s or loss of contact and estrangement
- Child in foster care or adoption
- Being displaced
- Ecological, biodiversity and climate crises, loss of our natural world
- Miscarriage, not being able to have children or missing out
- Terrorism, ethnic cleansing, genocide
