The uniqueness of twin loss and grief

Abstract

Loss of a twin unexpectedly in adulthood can leave the remaining twin feeling lost, devastated, and empty. The surviving twin can question the normalcy of these feelings and their response to the grief experience as compared to other losses. A literature review on adult twin loss followed by a review on sibling loss produced a sparse amount of information relevant to my questions. Both reviews centered around losses in childhood with little evidence of support for losses during adulthood. Guidance to assist with coping after this type of loss did not reveal specific coping strategies for the twinless twin. The coping strategies identified may be valuable for any person in their grieving process. The unique loss may benefit from future research on the most effective coping strategies. Grief therapists need further resources specific to singleton grief.  Further research and clinical work would improve grief experiences during adult twin loss.