THE ENCOUNTER WITH ONESELF IN THE LOSS OF THE OTHER

Rethinking the Boundaries Set for the Experience of Grief

Abstract

Grief is an inevitable process in the human experience. Individuals are constantly encountering both material and symbolic losses throughout life. This paper, recognizing the complexity of the topic and the need for an expanded discussion on it, proposes reflections on how modern society—and, particularly, psychology—views the grieving subject. Grief is a personal experience that should not be limited or regulated; thus, each individual’s timeline is unique, and the way in which they choose to experience their process should always be respected. This work advocates for a reflection on the de-pathologization of the experience of pain, as well as the broadening and humanization of psychology’s approach to this delicate moment.