Grief management and migration-related loss
“Grief is a painful, natural process of processing a loss, aimed at adaptation and at aligning our internal and external state in response to a new reality.”
Grief management is a natural process experienced after a loss. It occurs when a person can no longer have someone or something important close to them. It may refer both to living beings (such as the loss of a person, the death of a loved one, or a separation) and to inanimate objects, such as the loss of a job, money, a support system, or even one’s routine and way of life.
Grief is the way a person responds to loss and the effort they make to manage and integrate it.
Each person has their own way of experiencing and expressing grief; however, there are some common emotional responses such as sadness, sorrow, and psychological pain. The impact of grief on an individual’s life may be psychological, physical, spiritual, professional, or social. Its manifestations may range from physical pain, numbness, and palpitations to feelings of despair and meaninglessness, as well as a strong tendency toward withdrawal and social isolation.
If grief is not given the necessary attention in a person’s life and remains unprocessed, it may lead to more long-term consequences such as depression, anxiety, panic attacks, physical disorders and illnesses, frequent accidents, substance use, and more.
Grief process and management
Grief management is often a painful and demanding process, during which visiting a specialist can be beneficial.
It is very important not to block the grieving process or the healthy expression of our emotions. Likewise, it is very helpful to be able to seek support from people who can or are trained to provide it.
Pain and grief, the memories that overwhelm us, and persistent thoughts about the person or what has been lost are signs that our body is trying to process a difficult experience and still needs to devote a significant amount of energy to it.
The stages of grief
There are five common stages of grief that people experiencing a loss go through. These stages do not have the same duration for everyone and do not necessarily occur in a strict order.
- Denial Initially, in order to protect themselves from the shock of the loss, the individual may question the reality of the event or feel confused.
- Anger Pain and initial shock turn into anger, aggression, and emotional outbursts, as the individual tries to find someone to blame for the loss, either others or themselves, often accompanied by feelings of guilt. Questions such as “Why me?” or “Why now?” are common.
- Bargaining At this transitional stage, the individual begins to realize the loss and processes it more cognitively than emotionally. They focus inward, trying to gain time and mentally adjust to the reality of the irreversible situation.
- Depression This stage is considered completely natural and is usually the most painful but necessary part of the grieving process. The realization of the loss becomes fully conscious both cognitively and emotionally. The person may experience intense sadness, melancholy, or hopelessness and may withdraw from others.
- Acceptance In this final stage, the individual gradually accepts the new reality and learns to live without what or who has been lost. It involves the reorganization of life and reconciliation with the loss. Sadness and pain may still be present, but they are often accompanied by a sense of calm and inner peace.
Migration-related loss
The 7 Griefs of Migration & the Ulysses Syndrome
Migration, beyond being a social and economic process, is a deeply emotional and psychological experience. Just as when we lose a loved one and go through stages of grief, moving away from our country of origin is accompanied by multiple losses.
Specifically, migrants experience seven different types of grief (known as the 7 griefs of migration):
- Loss of family and friends
- Loss of native language
- Loss of culture: customs, religious elements, values
- Loss of land: landscapes, colors, smells, sensory memories
- Loss of social status: legal documents, employment, stable housing
- Exposure to racism and xenophobia
- Exposure to existential risks: dangerous journeys, threat of deportation, feelings of helplessness
These losses are not always visible or easily recognized, but they accumulate and affect the individual’s mental health.
In cases of intense and prolonged migratory grief, the so-called Ulysses Syndrome may appear—a form of reactive stress that occurs when the individual is unable to psychologically process these losses. This syndrome has specific characteristics:
- It is partial (the loss is not complete or final)
- It is recurrent, as nostalgia and difficulties persist
- It deeply affects the individual’s identity
- It is multiple, reflecting the 7 parallel losses
- It develops in stages
- It may have an intergenerational impact, transferring stress and pain to future generations
Understanding this psychological reality is essential for supporting migrants. Recognizing their grief is the first step toward empowerment and adaptation to a new reality.