Grief doesn’t wait to strike until a loved one passes away. A child with HD in their family experiences grief and losses in many ways. They may grieve the loss of a Grandparent, Aunts and Uncles. They may grieve the changes occurring in their own family when Mom/Dad acts differently or stops being able to play with them the way they used to.
Everyone shows their grief in different ways. Sometimes, children (or anyone) doesn’t show any grief and avoids the subject by pretending everything is ok. Some children put all of their energy into sports or schoolwork or hobbies. Some may take up antisocial or dangerous behavior. Teens are famous for not acting like they care about anyone else in the family. Remember, this may only be an act.
Some other signs of grief include these reactions:
- Sad
- Lonely
- Isolated
- Resentful
- Hopeless
- Angry
- Anxious
- Worried
- Embarrassed
- Guilty
- Tired
