How to cope with Ambiguous Loss from Severe Mental Illness

[@dahliafully]

Thank you for this. "You cannot fix the ambiguity." That is part of complexities of the ambiguity itself because there is such a strong need to heal, a strong sense of what is helplessness and where there is help and purpose. The strategies you're offering here are both sensible and sensitivity. Your embrace of ambivalence and the complexities of such intense experiences and living through "worst case scenarios" in real time. I really appreciate that each sentence is stated with slow, careful clarity. It's like you have taken the oars to guide a rocky boat of folks with calm, steady rowing. So thank you. More of this for all.

[@tmeade6465]

Thank you for this. We have lived for 25 years of vowing to never giving up hope. For a cure, for our son to return. As we age it is clear that we need to learn to cope. I actually found your site and beginning to do some work to advocate for changes.

[@brentladd]

Thank you. This is so well done. And you have lived it. It has been 5 yrs of a roller coaster from hell with my daughters SMI and severe substance abuse disorder, and recent incarceration. It is validating to learn about ambiguous loss, and a pathway through understanding and learning both/and thinking and being in the world, and the futility of fixing the relationship. It is deeply agonizing as a parent to navigate my love for my adult child, yet having arrived at a threshold of not being able to help her.

[@user-ne7zt6ft8u]

Thank you for this! My therapist told me I was codependent because I was grieving my sons onset of schziophrenia. I quickly fired her as she clearly didn’t understand I was grieving! This video gives me so much validation.

[@taccommunicate]

So sorry to hear about your struggle to find understanding and support during such a hard period. Hope that you have found a compassionate support network since then and that your son is doing well. So glad to hear you feel validated from the video!

[@dahliafully]

Thank you for firing her! I had a similar experience. Many therapists are way too quick to label their clients and over-diagnose with cookie cutter analysis. I wish you solid, informed support that isn't so quick to give a report as opposed to understand the nuances and the complexities involved in loss and coping with our experiences of tragedy.

[@user-bh7tt5hg6k]

Thank you Jerri.

[@taccommunicate]

Thank you! We're lucky to have Jerri at TAC