Anticipatory Grief: What is it?
by John Kennedy Saynor
"When you think of it, much of life is spent anticipating events, both happy and sad,
that are about to happen. This is true when we learn that someone we love hasn't long to
live. What many people don't understand is that when we learn a loved one is dying we
begin to grieve the loss even while he or she is still alive. This experience is known as
anticipatory grief. It is important to recognize during this time that both the person who
is dying and those who will be left are grieving."
Tip: Take steps now to reduce the guilt later. You have been given
time to say things you may want to say to the one who is dying. It may be an apology or
one more time to say, "I love you."
It is a time to talk about what life will be like after he or she is gone. It may also be
a time when you can do some of the things you have always wanted to do together.
"When you think of it, much of life is spent anticipating events, both happy and sad,
that are about to happen. This is true when we learn that someone we love hasn't long to
live. What many people don't understand is that when we learn a loved one is dying we
begin to grieve the loss even while he or she is still alive. This experience is known as
anticipatory grief. It is important to recognize during this time that both the person who
is dying and those who will be left are grieving."