Some changes in our lives can bring feelings of grief and in the thanatology world, we call these non-death losses. In this blog I want to talk about Divorce, which is a significant loss. Recent research has suggested that going through a divorce can be more difficult to adjust to than the death of a spouse (D.Harris, 2020). People are very surprised when that is mentioned because how could that possibly be, of course a death is much harder! As a thanatologist I know that the death of a close attachment is one of the toughest experiences you will ever go through. However, to have the view that divorce was a choice between the couple (some are) and that there is not a great amount of pain felt is not accurate. A very close attached relationship has died...but they are still alive. We may need to see them, yearn for that attachment even if unhealthy, communicate with them or have unfortunate run ins while out.