Living loss: Grieving for a life changed by illness

The concept of ‘living loss’ describes the process of grieving for a person or a version of oneself that still exists but has fundamentally changed due to illness, disability, or significant life alterations. Unlike traditional grief following a death, which has a definitive end, living loss involves a continuous process of adaptation and adjusting expectations regarding one's future.

Nardia Jansen, who experienced three strokes, describes this phenomenon as the death of her former self, noting that she is a ‘new person with a very different life, only in the same body.’ Experts such as Renate Boerop-de Vries from Het Troosthuis explain that this type of grief occurs when individuals must cope with chronic diseases, psychological conditions, or the impact of a disability on themselves or loved ones.

In Zeewolde, organizations like Welzijn Zeewolde aim to provide support by connecting individuals facing similar circumstances to help them find mutual understanding and coping mechanisms.