I help people on their ambiguous grief journey because I’ve experienced what it’s like to navigate the ambiguous grief process first-hand.

Grieving the loss of a loved one who is still living is no easy feat. There are no traditional ceremonies or societal understandings that tell us what to do when the person we love is no longer who they once were and/or the relationship has changed.

While at first I found no one else was talking about this kind of loss, I soon came to understand that the nature of the loss was often rooted in feelings of shame, embarrassment or guilt—not exactly choice topics of discussion for friends night! But the more I told my story without shame, the more others told me theirs, and through posting and data mining anonymous surveys, as well as opening countless email responses to my online essays, I found that ambiguous grievers have a lot to say and need even more support!

Finding “My People” changed the trajectory of my path toward healing. Dealing with ambiguous grief has no template—it’s different for everyone. However, knowing how others have overcome their challenges can provide a beacon of hope, as well as draw parallels that may help you make progress. While we are all different, and we all face unique challenges, it’s important to know that you’re never alone, and that others have dealt with similar obstacles.

We hope these stories help you. These are from members of our community who graciously shared them in the hope that it would provide perspective, hope and maybe even some practical ideas. If you feel that your story may help someone else and would like to share it, please do.