Being grief illiterate refers to a lack of understanding, empathy, or awareness about the processes and realities of grief. It often involves societal misconceptions about how grief should be expressed, how long it should last, or what is normal. Grief illiteracy can lead to invalidating someone’s feelings, offering harmful advice, or expecting people to “move on” prematurely.
For example, saying, “You should be over it by now,” or avoiding someone because their grief makes you uncomfortable, are signs of grief illiteracy. To address it, educate yourself about grief and practice compassion.
My Voice Unchained 