bereaved mother

Anorexia nervosa: an eating disorder characterized by attempts to lose weight to the point of starvation.

Hannah believed she was destined to suffer in silence. Her obsession with food, body image, and a strive for perfection began in middle school. She was always the tallest in her class and developed early on as well. Hannah would go through periods of starving herself followed by an episode of bingeing. This went on through college and into her 20s when she finally "got sick and tired of being sick and tired." One email to an author led to learning about a support group for those who are struggling with an eating disorder. This group opened her up to support, and a sense of community that aided her in dismantling the shame that had consumed her for so many years.

Years later, and married, it was a miscarriage that taught @hannahmhoward how to have compassion for herself in a way she hadn't fully practiced.

One book, email, a phone call -- action, can change your entire life.  Now 10 years into recovery, Hannah learned and wants to share that you're not alone, and going through challenges alone doesn't help with shame, if anything, it perpetuates it.

We all have a relationship with food, whether we have an eating disorder or not. And, like grief, there are so many ways we are misinformed and there are false beliefs we have been raised with that shape the rest of our lives.

CONNECT:

• Website
• Instagram
• Book, Plenty

______

NEED HELP?

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
• Crisis Text Line provides free, 24/7 support via text message. Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a trained Crisis Counselor

If you or anyone you know is struggling with grief due to any of the 40+ losses, there are free resources available HERE.

Are you enjoying the podcast? Check out my bi-weekly newsletter, The Unleashed Letters.

💛 Would you like to Learn Your Energy Type? Free Quiz ➡️ HERE! ⬅️

SUPPORT THE SHOW:

• Rate & Review: Apple Podcasts
• Purchase my published book about my grief journey.

CONNECT WITH VICTORIA: 

• Instagram
• Website

This episode is sponsored by Do Grief Differently™️, my twelve-week, one-on-one, in-person/online program for grievers who have suffered any type of loss to feel better. Click here to learn new tools, grief education, and the only evidence-based method for moving beyond the pain of grief.

Would you like to join the mission of Grieving Voices in normalizing grief and supporting hurting hearts everywhere? Become a supporter of the show HERE.

Speaking with Author Lisa Espinoza about the loss of her son, grieving in general and her new book, "First, Brush Your Teeth - Grief and Hope in Real Time".  Lisa's son passed away after being hit by a car while he was riding his bike.

Bio:
Lisa Espinoza is a writer, speaker, certified grief counselor, and NEW grandma! Her first book Days of Whine and Noses—Pep Talks for Tuckered Out Moms was a like a cheerleader on paper for young moms, inspiring them to embrace the joy and profound life lessons to be found in the midst of dirty diapers and runny noses. Her newest book First, Brush Your Teeth—Grief and Hope in Real Time is a trusted companion for those of us who have experienced loss, inspiring us with a voice of comfort, strength, and hope.

Connect with Lisa:
Website:  https://www.lisaespinoza.com/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/lisa.espinoza/?hl=en
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/lisachandlersmom

Follow me on
instagram & facebook:  @tammylcymbalisty

You are invited to join the Podcast Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/imstillherewithtlc

I have many colouring books/journals on Amazon.  There are two entitled:  This Stage of Grief.  There is room for you to colour, to journal and to record your most cherished memories.  Click this link to  my books here (amazon.ca) or click here (amazon.com)

Credits:
Music by Kevin MacLeod
 
Disclaimer:
I'm Still Here:  Messages from the other side podcast is for informational and/or entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment.
Please seek the advice of a medical professional if you are struggling with loss and grief.

Mental health matters  
 https://ontario.cmha.ca/documents/understanding-and-coping-with-loss-and-grief/

The heartbreak of a parent losing a child is a pain like no other. But what about the sibling(s) left behind of the child who dies?  When her son, David, was four years old, he was diagnosed with cancer. After a 2 1/2-year battle, he died when his younger sister was 3 years old. Michele shares her perspective of guiding her daughter through sibling loss while navigating her own.

Michele of @goodgriefparenting shares how grief is an unavoidable part of life that we will carry forward, and we can still live well and enjoy life. She adds her thoughts about appearing strong for others, which often leaves grievers feeling isolated because, although they may seem strong, that doesn't mean support isn't needed.

Michele's work focuses on offering support for parents of child loss who also have other children navigating sibling loss. She offers three suggestions as well as many other helpful and supportive suggestions for parents who desire to be positive grief role models for their other child(ren) experiencing loss.

"Grief is in two parts. The first is loss. The second is remaking of life." - Anne Roiphe

RESOURCES:

• Good Grief Parenting
• Facebook Group

CONNECT:

• Website
• Instagram

______

NEED HELP?

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
• Crisis Text Line provides free, 24/7 support via text message. Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a trained Crisis Counselor

If you or anyone you know is struggling with grief due to any of the 40+ losses, there are free resources available HERE.

Are you enjoying the podcast? Check out my bi-weekly newsletter, The Unleashed Letters.

💛Would you like to Learn Your Energy Type? Free Quiz ➡️ HERE! ⬅️

SUPPORT THE SHOW:

• Rate & Review: Apple Podcasts
• Purchase my published book about my grief journey.

CONNECT WITH VICTORIA: 

• Instagram
• Website
• LinkedIn
• Facebook

This episode is sponsored by Do Grief Differently™️, my twelve-week, one-on-one, in-person/online program for grievers who have suffered any type of loss to feel better. Click here to learn new tools, grief education, and the only evidence-based method for moving beyond the pain of grief.

Would you like to join the mission of Grieving Voices in normalizing grief and supporting hurting hearts everywhere? Become a supporter of the show HERE.

We have more agency over our physical, emotional, and spiritual bodies than we would like to admit.

Admitting that we have power and control over ourselves is admitting that it’s also our job to do something about the issues that plague our physical, emotional, and spiritual bodies.

The energy of grief can be like cancer and invade every fiber of your being. It can destroy your relationships, finances, will, and break your spirit. But, what it can’t do is choose for you. You always have a choice.

In this episode, I talk about the energy of grief and I ask you to challenge the long-held beliefs that may be the very thing that could be keeping you emotionally stuck.

Life is so much harder when you go it alone. But, you don’t have to and this episode also shares an idea to explore if a deeper connection, not only to others but also yourself, is what you long to feel.

Care to explore your emotional energy more deeply? Check out my contact info below to look into Reiki Energy Healing. What do you have to lose?

RESOURCES:

• Ep 79 | Corchele Smith
• Ep 80 | David Richman

______

NEED HELP?

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
• Crisis Text Line provides free, 24/7 support via text message. Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a trained Crisis Counselor

If you or anyone you know is struggling with grief due to any of the 40+ losses, there are free resources available HERE.

Are you enjoying the podcast? Check out my bi-weekly newsletter, The Unleashed Letters.

💛Would you like to Learn Your Energy Type? Free Quiz ➡️HERE! ⬅️

SUPPORT THE SHOW:

• Rate & Review: Apple Podcasts
• Purchase my published book about my grief journey.

CONNECT WITH VICTORIA: 

• Instagram
• Website
• LinkedIn
• Facebook

This episode is sponsored by Do Grief Differently™️, my twelve-week, one-on-one, in-person/online program for grievers who have suffered any type of loss to feel better. Click here to learn new tools, grief education, and the only evidence-based method for moving beyond the pain of grief.

Would you like to join the mission of Grieving Voices in normalizing grief and supporting hurting hearts everywhere? Become a supporter of the show HERE.

Grief can either suck the life right out of you or, it can build you into the most compassionate heart for others who will look to you to lean on for support in their grief.

They say grief shared is grief diminished, but many people find sharing their grief difficult. Some turn to writing as a way to express and soothe the soul like I had and like my guest, Faith shared, in episode 59. Or, they turn to others in support groups or friendships, only to be let down or disappointed, as my guest Sherrie was and talked about in episode 58.

There is one question I encourage you to ask yourself; one that I challenge you to ask yourself. If you have listened to episode 59, then you may already know what it is. If you haven't, then listen to this week's episode because I mention it again.

Also, this episode is dedicated to the founder of The Grief Recovery Method®, John James, who passed away on 8/10/2021, only three short months following his cancer diagnosis. GRM changed my life and, I will forever be grateful to James for creating this beautiful gift out of his own grief. What a gift to humankind he was and will continue to be to the many hurting hearts who feel led to doing the deep, inner-work through GRM. His legacy will endure; I do not doubt that. Love + Light, John. 💛

RESOURCES:

• Ep 58 | Sherrie Dunlevy
• Ep 59 | Faith Wilcox
• The Grief Recovery Handbook
• The Wheel of Life by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross
• Grief Recovery Online or One-on-One Program

______

NEED HELP?

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
• Crisis Text Line provides free, 24/7 support via text message. Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a trained Crisis Counselor

If you or anyone you know is struggling with grief due to any of the 40+ losses, there are free resources available HERE.

Are you enjoying the podcast? Check out my bi-weekly newsletter,

This episode is sponsored by Do Grief Differently™️, my twelve-week, one-on-one, in-person/online program for grievers who have suffered any type of loss to feel better. Click here to learn new tools, grief education, and the only evidence-based method for moving beyond the pain of grief.

Would you like to join the mission of Grieving Voices in normalizing grief and supporting hurting hearts everywhere? Become a supporter of the show HERE.

As a former news anchor, Sherrie Dunlevy delivered bad news on a daily basis.

However, it was the news of a personal matter that would shatter her heart. Sherrie knew she would be delivering her son who would be born with complications and quickly swept away for medical care immediately after being delivered via cesarian. She and her husband would then spend the next 29 days holding their son until he passed away.

The years that followed led her on a path of trying to understand why people abandon those who are grieving. And, set the wheels in motion of a journey that would lead her to write a book and doing everything she could for herself to not live the rest of her life as nothing more than a grieving mother.

Wanting more for her life, she's found a way to live fully into who she was called to be, and even after the death of her beloved pet during the pandemic, learned the power of addressing and feeling the grief when it comes.

RESOURCES:

• Website
• Book
• Graduating Grief Podcast
• Graduating Grief Facebook Group

CONNECT WITH SHERRIE:

• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Instagram

______

Need help?

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
• Crisis Text Line provides free, 24/7 support via text message. Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a trained Crisis Counselor

Are you ready to feel better? Learn more about how I can help your hurting heart HERE.

If you or anyone you know is struggling with grief due to any of the 40+ losses, there are free resources available HERE.

Are you enjoying the podcast? Check out my bi-weekly newsletter, The Unleashed Letters.

💛Would you like to Learn Your Energy Type? Free Quiz ➡️HERE! ⬅️
______

SUPPORT THE SHOW:

• Rate & Review: Apple Podcasts
• Follow & Listen  Spotify |  Stitcher |

This episode is sponsored by Do Grief Differently™️, my twelve-week, one-on-one, in-person/online program for grievers who have suffered any type of loss to feel better. Click here to learn new tools, grief education, and the only evidence-based method for moving beyond the pain of grief.

Would you like to join the mission of Grieving Voices in normalizing grief and supporting hurting hearts everywhere? Become a supporter of the show HERE.

In this episode, I dig more into the topic of faith and spirituality that Lizzy and I touched on in her episode.  Communication and support were a huge influence on her grief, whereas, I share how my experienced differed, despite both of us having the exact same losses which occurred in the same order, too.

From Margo's episode, I talk about how hope greatly influences our outlook. Also, because it hasn't been talked about a whole lot yet on the podcast, I wanted to talk more about grief in the workplace that Margo and I discussed in her episode. With Covid-19, there is plenty of grief in the workplace. I describe various reasons why our personal grief impacts the workplace as well - plus more!

Resources:

• Ep 34 Lizzy Flavin | Never Fatherless
• Ep 35 Margo Fowkes | Lessons From My Beloved Son, Jimmy
• Grief Recovery Method 

______

Need help?

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
• Crisis Text Line provides free, 24/7 support via text message. Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a trained Crisis Counselor

If you or anyone you know is struggling with grief due to any of the 40+ losses, there are free resources available HERE.

If you'd like to share your grieving voice on the show or want to share your thoughts about an episode, please send an email to victoria@theunleashedheart.com.

Are you enjoying the podcast? Check out my bi-weekly newsletter, The Unleashed Letters.
______

WAYS TO SUPPORT THE SHOW:

• Tell Your Friends & Share Online!
  • Subscribe, Rate & Review: Apple Podcasts
  • Follow & Listen  Spotify |  Stitcher | Google Podcasts | Pandora
  • Share on Social
    • Instagram
    • Facebook
    • #GrievingVoicesPodcast
• Read & Review my published book about my grief journey.

This episode is sponsored by Do Grief Differently™️, my twelve-week, one-on-one, in-person/online program for grievers who have suffered any type of loss to feel better. Click here to learn new tools, grief education, and the only evidence-based method for moving beyond the pain of grief.

Would you like to join the mission of Grieving Voices in normalizing grief and supporting hurting hearts everywhere? Become a supporter of the show HERE.

In this conversation, Margo shares the lessons she learned from her son, Jimmy, as he battled brain cancer for eight long years. 

His cancer took his life at the young age of 21. What is a little different about Margo's share is that, prior to her son's death, loved ones close to her who had passed had all lived long lives; close to or in their 100s. 

Her own father had passed away, also peacefully, in his home. The loss of her son jolted her beliefs around death and also taught her the importance of having hope to the very end. 

Margo also shares some practical things that others did that helped her family get through the years of treatments Jimmy went through and after he died. 

We also chat about the importance of grief communication in the workplace, and how, through Covid, it's even more important to acknowledge the struggles of those with whom we work. Also, to recognize that even happy workplace situations can cause grief, such as promotions. 

• This episode is for you if you're not sure how to support someone you know who is going through a challenging time. 
• 
  
• This episode is for you if you want to hear wonderful insight into how, as parents, they communicated and updated Jimmy's progress with friends/family. 
• 
  
• This episode is for you if you or your company could use some insight into the topic of grief in your company. 

Mentions:

• David Woods Bartley Grieving Voices Episode
• Grief Recovery

Connect with Margo:

• On Target Consulting
• Find Your Harbor (i.e. Salt Water)
• Instagram

______

If you or anyone you know is struggling with grief due to any of the 40+ losses, there are free resources available HERE.

Are you enjoying the podcast? Check out my bi-weekly newsletter, The Unleashed Letters.
______

WAYS TO SUPPORT THE SHOW:

• Tell Your Friends & Share Online!
  • Subscribe, Rate & Review: Apple Podcasts
  • Follow & Listen  Spotify |  Stitcher | Google Podcasts |

This episode is sponsored by Do Grief Differently™️, my twelve-week, one-on-one, in-person/online program for grievers who have suffered any type of loss to feel better. Click here to learn new tools, grief education, and the only evidence-based method for moving beyond the pain of grief.

Would you like to join the mission of Grieving Voices in normalizing grief and supporting hurting hearts everywhere? Become a supporter of the show HERE.

There were some wonderful insights shared by guests Susay Ways on Episode 15 and Danielle Duffey on Episode 16. 

In this episode, I share some highlights and dig a little more deeply into some of the topics we only scratched the surface of during the interviews. 

Learn more about how I got through my grief, shifting energy and perspective, and how we want others to perceive us can actually hurt us more than help. 

Moving on to Danielle's episode, I dig a bit more into the importance of allowing ourselves to feel, how expectations can be a detriment to a marriage, in general, but particularly during grief and, how we're all really not that different. 

I feel like this episode could have been longer, so if there is a topic you want me to cover more deeply about these or any other episodes, please email me at victoria@theunleashedheart.com. 

Also, in today's episode, I mention that today, Tuesday 10/20-10/27, there's also a 2-Book Giveaway going on over at theunleashedheart.com The link to register is below! 

Episode Mentions:

• www.sudc.org
• Grief Recovery Method Support
• Registration Link for the 2-Book Giveaway (ended)

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If you or anyone you know is struggling with grief due to any of the 40+ losses, there are free resources available HERE.

If you'd like to share your grieving voice on the show or want to share your thoughts about an episode, please send an email to victoria@theunleashedheart.com.

Are you enjoying the podcast? Check out my bi-weekly newsletter, The Unleashed Letters.
______

WAYS TO SUPPORT THE SHOW:

• Tell Your Friends & Share Online!
  • Subscribe, Rate & Review: Apple Podcasts
  • Follow & Listen  Spotify |  Stitcher | Google Podcasts | Pandora
  • Share on Social
    • Instagram
    • Facebook
    • #GrievingVoicesPodcast
• Read & Review my published book about my grief journey.
• Donate | Buy Me A Coffee

CONNECT WITH VICTORIA (@theunleashedheart):

This episode is sponsored by Do Grief Differently™️, my twelve-week, one-on-one, in-person/online program for grievers who have suffered any type of loss to feel better. Click here to learn new tools, grief education, and the only evidence-based method for moving beyond the pain of grief.

Would you like to join the mission of Grieving Voices in normalizing grief and supporting hurting hearts everywhere? Become a supporter of the show HERE.