What does it mean to grieve the loss of someone who’s still alive?

Can we mourn the life we thought we’d have while still appreciating the one we’ve got?

Many Veteran Family members can relate to the experience of feeling grief, even when they haven’t actually lost a loved one. We can deeply grieve the person our loved one used to be, the people we used to be, or the lives we thought we would have. When we don’t acknowledge this grief and loss, it can make us feel isolated and lonely.

Polly Maher, Lived Expertise Lead – Families at the Atlas Institute, joins Brian and Laryssa to share how she has reconciled her own feelings of grief and loss. She reflects on how her relationships have flourished and strengthened as she has processed these complex emotions.