How do I cope with losing someone I thought I'd have forever?
Grief & Loss
Grief for someone you expected to share your future with involves mourning not just who they were, but all the dreams and plans that died with them.
Losing someone you believed would be in your life forever—whether through death, divorce, or the end of a friendship—involves a unique kind of loss and grief" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Grief that goes beyond mourning the person themselves. You're also grieving the future you had planned together, the dreams that will never be realized, and the version of yourself that existed in relationship with them. This type of loss can feel particularly disorienting because it challenges your fundamental assumptions about permanence and security. You might find yourself not just missing the person, but missing the sense of certainty and stability they represented. The plans you made together, the inside jokes, the shared memories—all of these become painful reminders of what's been lost. It's important to allow yourself to grieve not just the person, but also the future that will never happen. This might mean mourning the trips you'll never take together, the milestones they won't be there for, or the conversations you'll never have. This loss and grief" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Grief is valid and necessary, even if others don't understand why you're struggling with something that 'only' existed in your imagination. healing involves gradually building a new vision of your future that honors what you've lost while remaining open to new possibilities and connections.