Let's Talk About Grief & Homelessness 09.30

Let’s Dive Deeper in our Talk About a Loss of Identity & Detachment from Reality by Discussing the Following 2 Points…

Loss of Purpose, Direction, and Significance

For some experiencing homelessness, self-destructive behaviors can lead to a loss of purpose, direction, and significance (Wu et al., 2021). Being homeless can be associated with devastation of the assumptive world of an individual; the meaning and spirituality that existed may be destroyed. For many, before encountering the trauma of homelessness, the assumptive world was considered safe. After becoming homeless, many individuals have experienced a loss of personal significance, purpose, and direction. My research concluded that for the homeless population, they are seeking out their purpose, some know who they are, some are still trying to seek out their purpose. Many from the homeless population focus on daily survival and do not think about short and long-term goals. This daily struggle prevents the homeless from working towards their future. Moreover, my research pointed out that for some the only goal is to survive in that current moment. They are not thinking about moving towards future goals.

Having personal significance is essential and leads to short-term and long-term goals. The research affirmed that a loss of a supportive network, no viable plan to build upon or financial stability, and a feeling of being stuck in a downward cycle can occur. One participant in the study pointed out that it is definitely a loss of significance because every time you lose something, you lose a sense of yourself.” The magnitude, implications, and trauma of grief and loss associated with homelessness must be identified before taking the necessary steps to address it.

Intersectionality of Negative Self-hood and Low Self-Esteem

Individuals are born with innate value and worth; however, when the assumptive world is shattered by grief and loss (like during the experience of homelessness), an individual may struggle with negative self-hood and low self-esteem. Many identify this intersectionality association with a house, job, family, or socioeconomic status as an essential component of their self-concept (Blankenship & Stewart, 2017). Unfortunately, many people define or value their self-worth by their occupation, family, education, and socioeconomic status. However, when this is lost from dissociative experiences, a loss of a sense of identity and detachment from reality can occur (Jones et al., 2020). My research concluded that some who are experiencing homelessness are not saying they don’t have an identity, but a very negative versus very positive identity.

Understanding the inner conflict of grief, loss, and homelessness and the intersectionality of negative self-hood and low self-esteem helps provide insight and awareness. The complexity of these concepts must be considered in terms of the loss of the assumptive world. One participant stated, "A negative identity versus a positive identity. There is a lot of shame associated with the homeless, so their identity is, you know to me, is mostly negative, saying well I’m a loser, I can’t keep a job; all these bad, different things that go on in their identity is negative."

Intersectionality of negative self-hood and low self-esteem can lead to a distorted perception of an individual’s worldview. Frequently, this stigma and rejection can hinder the homeless individual from reintegrating back into the mainstream of society (Tsai et al., 2019).

Perhaps, by addressing the core issues and providing secure housing, the loss of a sense of stability and security can be ameliorated.

Family, I know this was a lot of information to digest. Let's think about it and meet here again in 2 weeks. Until then, do what you can to make the world a better place in which we all must live!

All the best,

Dr. Cynthia B. Brown MSW

Founder CEO