Ambiguous loss

A physical ambiguous loss means that the body of a loved one is no longer around, such as a missing person or unrecovered body from war, but is still remembered psychologically due to the chance of coming back, for example in missing person cases.[6] A physical ambiguous loss can occur across generations, such as the families of victims of the holocaust, and can cause as traumatic distress as Posttraumatic stress disorder.[10]

The second type of ambiguous loss is where a person is still physically there, but is psychologically absent.[6] This happens in cases where the brain is affected, therefore affecting the behavior or well-being of the individual. Psychological ambiguous loss does not just occur to family and friends of the person affected. Psychological loss can happen personally in terms of one losing sense of who they are. This can stem from having a traumatic brain injury and not knowing who they are, causing a lost feeling and uncertain identity issues.[11]

Resilience and hope are important in the case of an ambiguous loss because paired together, they are able to allow the individual to come to terms with the loss and continue moving forward in life.[12][13] One way to tell that someone is resilient in a case with ambiguous loss is that they actively seek out help when they know it is needed.[14] Uncontrollable factors such as culture, age, socioeconomic status, and genetics are all factors that contribute to resilience.[15] Trauma and ambiguous loss often co-exist together and if the trauma is not dealt with it can trigger unresolved emotions.[8] Therapy will address a case of ambiguous loss by restoring resilience, and reconnecting with the loss and the relationship with whom the loss is associated.[8]

The difference between regular grief and grief from an ambiguous loss is the type of loss creates the type of grief experienced.[9][16] Grief in ambiguous loss can be both beneficial and difficult. Since the grief in an ambiguous loss differs than the linear stages of grief there is no pressure to move on or achieve closure, and this allows for people to remember the lost loved one and move on with relationships and life.[9] There are three specific types of grief that can develop from the type of ambiguous loss.

Anticipatory grief occurs before bereavement, mourning after death occurs, and upon realizing that death may be imminent for a loved one, anticipatory grief sets in.[17][9] This type of grief is common among families who have a loved one living with Alzheimer's disease. The grief becomes anticipatory due to the knowledge that the loved one's mental state will only become worse, so the grieving process can start very early.[9]

The second type of grief that can develop from an ambiguous loss is disenfranchised grief.[9][18] It is also known as unrecognized grief because it often occurs in the loss of a beloved pet and the grief is not taken seriously.[9][18] Ecological Grief or Climate Grief has also been identified as a form of disenfranchised grief.[19][20]

Frozen grief is the third type of grief, it is a result of the ambiguity of death because of the physical or psychological disappearance and therefore one's grief is frozen since they do not get a chance to let grief run a normal course.[9][21]