Anticipatory Grief: The Psychology of Grieving Before Loss
Psychology Today | 31.08.2026 18:44
When we experience anticipatory grief, we prepare for a future event while also mourning someone or something lost that still exists. Anticipatory grief takes countless forms. Sensing that a partner is cheating may trigger anticipatory grief, as can a loved one’s wartime deployment, a parent’s cognitive decline, a sick pet, or a friend’s serious illness. We may also experience anticipatory grief when we fear losing an identity, a sense of self, or an imagined future, whether due to aging, retirement, disability, job loss, or separation.
