Antje Randow-Ruddies | Akateeminen Kirjakauppa

The grief over the loss of the old parents is also the grief over the final loss of one's own childhood. If this was emotionally filling, women and men can cope well internally with this turning point. However, if there has been an unsatisfied longing for affection and attachment since the beginning of one's own life, the "orphaning" of children that have long been grown up can trigger a crisis through the death of their parents. The realization that there will be no more opportunity to make up for what has been missed then has a shocking effect. Emotions such as anger, guilt, and shame can come onto the inner stage. Or an unsettling feeling of "finally free" spreads. In this way, grown children in the grief for their deceased parents remain connected to them in a blocking way. This prevents the important step towards full adulthood. Grief counselors, therapists, family counselors can support those affected in a loving way to address the unprocessed pain, to integrate the loss and, in the end, to make peace with themselves.