My spouse tries to be supportive but I can see the grief in their eyes when they look at me. We both mourn the person I used to be but we can't talk about it without it feeling like a betrayal.
More people experience this than they realize.
Mutual mourning for a lost version of the self remains unexpressed to protect the relationship.
“Where Are You with Chronic illness — living with a long condition?”
If this sounds familiar, the Library can help you find the bigger picture.