Jealousy During Grief Is a Normal Reaction

Believe it or not, jealousy during grief is a normal reaction. Many of us have grieved over the loss of a close friend or relative. After such a loss, we do not always know what to think. It is normal to be in denial for awhile and then just out of the blue feel extremely bitter. In fact, we can feel so lonely that we might even feel jealous of everyone who still has their best friend or relative. After losing my father, jealousy, a normal reaction, has been a big part of my grieving process.
When I was 17, my father passed away unexpectedly. It was spring break of my junior year of high school—just one year away from graduation. When I heard the news, I broke down. He was my best friend, the one man who helped me go down the right path and encouraged me to always pursue my dreams. My heart stung like nothing I had ever felt before.

My Experience of Jealousy During Grief Began Almost Right Away

After the tragedy, I could not look at fathers with their children. When I was working at an amusement park on Father’s Day, I saw a father trying to win a prize for his children. I thought, “My dad should be here to win a prize for me. This is so unfair.”

In fact, it was even worse when an adult told me about her 80-year-old father who was helping her find a job. I thought, “I am 23 years old and looking for a job on my own. I wish I could just talk to my dad about interviews and careers. Why does this woman who is in her 40s get help from her dad when I can't get help from mine?"

Nine years since my father’s death, I still get so jealous. Social media does not help at all. My friends have wedding photos with their fathers. My father won’t be here to walk me down the aisle. My friends’ fathers had the chance to meet their grandchildren. My father will not be here to see my future children. I wish I could just go back in time, change things, and have what my friends have.

Will This Feeling of Jealousy During Grief Ever End?

If you can relate to my feeling of jealousy during grief, you might feel like it will never end. I sure do, and I feel very guilty about it because it sounds so selfish. How can I be this bitter and jealous when I was so blessed to have had an amazing father for 17 years? There are people who have not even had their fathers for that long (Comparing Yourself to Others Can Complicate Coping).

But one thing I learned in the last nine years is that this feeling of jealousy is completely normal. Do I know if it will ever end? No. I am thinking that to some extent, it will always be there. It might appear during other people’s milestones. But maybe over time, I will see how blessed I am through my own milestones. Hopefully, my future husband will be as great as my dad was. Hopefully, his father will be like a father figure to me. Maybe then I will see the jealousy fade. If it comes back at the most random and inconvenient times, maybe it will be a little less painful.

To hear more about my story and how I deal with jealousy in grief, check out the video below. If you have any stories about loss and jealousy or other emotions that you have experienced, please share in the comments.

Photo courtesy of Marianne Lueck

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