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What Is Psychic Separation in Grieving?

Grieving is a recognized process. In her book "On Death and Dying," Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross describes five distinct stages of grief. There can also be a grieving process for life-changing events other than a death, according to the Encyclopedia of Death and Dying. One stage of grief is described as "psychic separation."

  1. Psychic Attachment

    • Psychic separation cannot exist without a preexisting psychic attachment---a strong emotional connection by one person to the mind and spirit of another. When any deep human bond or relationship is created, a psychic attachment is formed, according to the University of Missouri.

    Psychic Separation

    • Psychic separation occurs when a psychic attachment ends, according to the Encyclopedia of Death and Dying. The person experiencing the loss must recognize and accept that a relationship is over---emotions and spirit can no longer be linked in the same way and it is time to move on.

    Death Trauma

    • A need for psychic separation is most often triggered by the trauma of death, according to Memorial Hospital. Both the person who is dying and those affected by the death will go through a form of psychic separation.

    Divorce Trauma

    • The trauma of divorce or separation from a loved one is another major cause of grieving. Like grieving for a death, this ending of a relationship includes the process of "psychic separation," or "Psychic Divorce," according to the University of Missouri.

    Reasons to Separate

    • Death, divorce and other types of extreme loss create the need to be "psychically" separate as well as physically, so that healing can begin on all levels, according to the University of Missouri. Another reason for recognizing and accepting a relationship is over is to be able to create the possibility for new psychic attachments.

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