Effects of Disenfranchised Grief
The effects of disenfranchised grief and consequent poor grief resolution are displayed in a variety of ways and in varying degrees. Depression, emotional disturbances, withdrawal from society, psychosomatic illnesses and low self-esteem are all symptoms. Many of those affected succumb to substance abuse and have difficulty in forming healthy relationships. Jeffrey Kaufmann is quoted in Disenfranchised Grief, "The loss of community that may occur as a consequence of disenfranchised grief fosters an abiding sense of loneliness and abandonment". Furthermore, people with disenfranchised grief often have trouble in coping with subsequent losses. Doka states "..the old disenfranchisement will affect the new situation and may enforce a repetition of the earlier inhibited grief pattern". In other words, how a natural mother learned to grieve for what was probably the first major loss in her life, she will most likely use, however ineffective, for the next loss.

Resolution of Disenfranchised Grief
Ms. Robinson believes, that because the disenfranchised grief of relinquishing mothers is complicated and deep, it is difficult, but not impossible, to resolve. First of all, a natural mother, starting with herself, needs to acknowledge and validate the loss in order to address her grief.

Current adoption policy and practice, however, complicates the matter. One way for a natural mother to establish the reality of her adult child is to retrieve any and all documentation, from the relinquishment paper to the original birth certificate, if available. Also, letters and pictures from the time of the pregnancy and relinquishment might be helpful. In addition, Ms. Robinson believes that all natural mothers should search, if only to establish that their child is indeed alive and very much a reality. She understands that a successful search and/or reunion is not a panacea for grief resolution, since reunion is often traumatic in its own right.
Many natural mothers find healing in creating rituals surrounding the loss of the relationship. They make memorials from the very simple to the complex to validate their grief and "let it go". Many find solace in a ceremonial burial of their grief.
Ms. Robinson strongly emphasizes the need for post adoption services for natural mothers. These services, which she firmly believes should not be provided by an agency that arranges adoptions, should assist natural mothers in coping with the long lasting effects of their grief. The social workers or therapists must be completely familiar with the issue of disenfranchised grief and realize how difficult it is to resolve.
To quote Ms. Robinson directly, "The role of support groups cannot be overstated. Natural mothers have felt for many years marginalized and abandoned by society. It is very empowering for them to meet even one other woman who has also lost a child to adoption". To have someone else validate your pain and loss through understanding is often one of the first steps toward healing.