Well, I’ve never been estranged by my birth children, but I’ve had various assorted estrangements, by others, and watched my late husband bought to his knees by his own ACs.☹️
Which was painful to watch.
But, losing DH has bought me a special kind of hell, much on a par to when I lost a GD, many years ago.
I suppose both have similarities - that powerlessness to change things, and that sense of loss. With estrangement, there is sometimes hope, but that can be damaging, There can also be anger.
With spousal bereavement there is no hope. Death cannot change. It alters your entire life in every way. Theres no real anger though, just sorrow.
The main difference, I would say, is that, with bereavement, most people are sympathetic and there’s no judgements bandied about.
With EP estrangement, there are always some who assume all sorts of things, and that can be hurtful. Strangers pontificating endlessly. We see it on here. Unkindness for the sake of it. The so called “happy and healed” don’t usually appear to be either at times.🤷♀️
But, both “bereavements” are a process to get through. I chose to do it “cold turkey” - I just didn’t want counselling or medication. I still get through the days and nights, trying to alter my life and adjust. And, you do adjust, although it’s hard work at times.
But, on here there’s a lot of bereaved people, estrangement or death related, that find a way, and start enjoying life again.👍
So, enough of my rambling, which are just my thoughts lol - and I hope everyone has a nice day. 💐