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Chronic illness grief differs significantly from the grief experienced after death—it's complicated, ongoing, and often invisible to others. Shawn Whitney, a licensed therapist specializing in trauma-informed care, explains how this "complicated grief" compounds daily as individuals continue to face their illness while support typically fades away after just a few weeks.

• Chronic illness grief is "complicated grief" because the person isn't gone but continues living with daily challenges
• Unlike death, chronic illness grief lacks visibility—"you look fine" becomes a painful dismissal of real suffering
• Initial support after diagnosis typically disappears within 3-4 weeks, while the illness remains
• Complicated grief compounds over time as new challenges emerge and previous losses remain unprocessed
• The ongoing nature of chronic illness means individuals must face their grief daily without the closure that comes with finality

If this episode resonated with you, check out episode 62 where Shawn shares more insights about healing through trauma and chronic illness. Send your questions by using the link in the episode description, emailing [email protected], or visiting the endobattery.com contact page.

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