Discussion about this post

User's avatar
Michelle Spencer (she/her)'s avatar

An interesting and important conversation, thank you. I’ve seen it discussed as ‘disenfranchised grief’ - or grief when there isn’t a socially acknowledged or condoned mourning ritual eg the things there aren’t really cards for: chronic illness, heartbreaking disappointments, people missing who may not be dead etc.

Expand full comment
Lior's avatar

Thank you Emily, I look forward to seeing what direction you take this in.

I feel my illness grief support needs are fairly well met, by depending on particular Facebook support groups that it took me some time to come across. I agree that taking it more mainstream could help people. There are ideas already out there that are the answers people look for, it's just not always obvious how to access them.

I do wish that there was more film and TV with people with chronic illness, even if it's just incidental rather than part of the main story. (As long as it feels representative rather than a caricature.)

There are little known books and music that deal with illness including grief about it... maybe we could compile a list in a Google doc? I know of a couple of podcasts too. Maybe one way to get it more mainstream is by boosting what already exists? I might be able to help crowd source a list via my networks.

I'm glad you said the thing about being unpolished and imperfect. I find that easy in some contexts, hard in others - blogs are a space I find it harder. I hope that stating it makes it easier for you to not be perfectionistic in this space.

Well done and good luck!

Expand full comment
20 more comments...

No posts