When a parent dies, there are all kinds of emotions. But, one that doesn’t always get a lot of press is “relief”.
There might be feelings of relief that the parent is no longer suffering. However, for some, a parent’s death might bring about a sense of emotional freedom, especially when the relationship with the parent was conflicted:
But, with this relief might come feelings of guilt:
“We think it’s unseemly to ‘profit’ from a parent’s death, as though it means we’re glad they’re dead,” Safer says. “But research shows that a majority of bereaved adults report significant improvements in their lives after …read more