Some losses are not easily recognised by the people around us: a friendship that ended, a job that disappeared, a plan that will not happen, a country you left, or a relationship that never had an official label.

When a loss is not recognised, you may even struggle to explain why it hurts. Feelings, however, do not need social permission in order to exist.

A first step can simply be naming what changed. What was there before that is not there now? What did it represent for you?

This content is informational. If grief or distress is intense, persistent or significantly affects daily functioning, appropriate professional healthcare support is important.