What's Your Grief Podcast Eleanor Haley & Litsa Williams
-
- Health & Fitness
-
In this podcast Eleanor Haley, MS and Litsa Williams, MA, LCSW-C, the mental health professionals behind the website and book 'What's Your Grief', leave no stone unturned in demystifying the complicated and messy world of living life after loss.
One digestible topic at a time, Haley and Williams distill topics ranging from grief theory to coping. Grievers and grief professionals alike will find their approach practical, relatable, informative and engaging. Grief is sad and confusing, but your grief support doesn't have to be.
-
Grieving When the Relationship was Complicated
People are complicated. Human relationships are complicated. There are many people in our lives with whom we have love-hate relationships with. We don't just grieve when the people we have positive relationships die. We can also grieve people who harmed us, caused us pain, and were abusive. There are many reasons why grieving these people can bring up unique challenges. In this episode we talk about those difficulties and what you can do to cope.
If you like the podcast, you'll love WYG Grief Support Hub (it's our griever member community - think of it as our Patreon, but a zillion times better). Support the podcast and get TONS more grief support. You can learn more here.
Visit whatsyourgrief.com for hundreds of free articles we've written about all things grief and loss.
If you're a grief professional, we have a community for you too. https://whatsyourgrief.com/grief-professionals-community/
You can also make a donation here at any time to help us keep the lights on.
Get Lessons to Write On: A Guided Grief Journaling Intensive here. https://whatsyourgrief.ck.page/products/lessons-to-write-on-grief-journaling
Pick up the What's Your Grief Book
Bookshop.org Barnes & Noble Amazon Books A Million IndieBound -
The Ebbs and Flows of Grief Over Time
You hear all the time that grief isn't linear, but that doesn't change the surprises in the ways it ebbs and flows over time. In this episode we talk about the predictably unpredictably cycles of grief and the ways grief continues wax and wane as it intersects with so many other aspects of life. But we start with a good old chat about trying to get our sh*t together and just how hard that can be.
If you like the podcast, you'll love WYG Grief Support Hub (it's our griever member community - think of it as our Patreon, but a zillion times better). Support the podcast and get TONS more grief support. You can learn more here.
Visit whatsyourgrief.com for hundreds of free articles we've written about all things grief and loss.
If you're a grief professional, we have a community for you too. https://whatsyourgrief.com/grief-professionals-community/
You can also make a donation here at any time to help us keep the lights on.
Get Lessons to Write On: A Guided Grief Journaling Intensive here. https://whatsyourgrief.ck.page/products/lessons-to-write-on-grief-journaling
Pick up the What's Your Grief Book
Bookshop.org Barnes & Noble Amazon Books A Million IndieBound -
Grieving a Friend
In this episode, we talk about grieving a friend. Litsa has had four friends die in the last four years. As a grief therapist and someone who is not new to grief, it has left her reflecting on some of the unique and unexpected aspects of these losses. Though we're primarily focusing on when a friend dies in this episode, you can check out this article about grieving a friend following a falling out or estrangement.
If you want to read more about the death of a friend you can check out these articles:
https://whatsyourgrief.com/when-your-best-friend-dies/
https://whatsyourgrief.com/30-quotes-about-the-loss-of-a-friend/
If you like the podcast, you'll love WYG Grief Support Hub (it's our griever member community - think of it as our Patreon, but a zillion times better). Support the podcast and get TONS more grief support. You can learn more here.
Visit whatsyourgrief.com for hundreds of free articles we've written about all things grief and loss.
If you're a grief professional, we have a community for you too. https://whatsyourgrief.com/grief-professionals-community/
You can also make a donation here at any time to help us keep the lights on.
Get Lessons to Write On: A Guided Grief Journaling Intensive here. https://whatsyourgrief.ck.page/products/lessons-to-write-on-grief-journaling
Pick up the What's Your Grief Book
Bookshop.org Barnes & Noble Amazon Books A Million IndieBound -
Revisiting the Continuing Bonds Theory of Grief
Continuing Bonds Theory is both one of our favorite grief theories and also a griever favorite. And yet it's been ages since we've done an episode about it. So long, in fact, that a new book and a fair bit of new research has come out that has further shaped how with think about continuing bonds. If you're grieving and you haven't heard of continuing bonds, we think you'll probably like it. And if you're familiar with continuing bonds, we hope it will remind you of some of your connections and also bring a few new insights.
Books referenced in the episode:
Continuing Bonds: New Understandings of Grief
Continuing Bonds in Bereavement
If you like the podcast, you'll love WYG Grief Support Hub (it's our griever member community - think of it as our Patreon, but a zillion times better). Support the podcast and get TONS more grief support. You can learn more here.
Visit whatsyourgrief.com for hundreds of free articles we've written about all things grief and loss.
If you're a grief professional, we have a community for you too. https://whatsyourgrief.com/grief-professionals-community/
You can also make a donation here at any time to help us keep the lights on.
Get Lessons to Write On: A Guided Grief Journaling Intensive here. https://whatsyourgrief.ck.page/products/lessons-to-write-on-grief-journaling
Pick up the What's Your Grief Book
Bookshop.org Barnes & Noble Amazon Books A Million IndieBound -
How Do You Categorize Grief?
If you've ever wondered why our grief support isn't broken down by type of loss, today you'll find your answer. In this episode we talk about the question "what's your grief?". Specifically, we break down why, for us, this question has always had less to do with who died and more to do with the unique nature of your relationship with that person and the specific experiences and challenges of your grief.
If you like the podcast, you'll love WYG Grief Support Hub (it's our griever member community - think of it as our Patreon, but a zillion times better). Support the podcast and get TONS more grief support. You can learn more here.
Visit whatsyourgrief.com for hundreds of free articles we've written about all things grief and loss.
If you're a grief professional, we have a community for you too. https://whatsyourgrief.com/grief-professionals-community/
You can also make a donation here at any time to help us keep the lights on.
Get Lessons to Write On: A Guided Grief Journaling Intensive here. https://whatsyourgrief.ck.page/products/lessons-to-write-on-grief-journaling
Pick up the What's Your Grief Book
Bookshop.org Barnes & Noble Amazon Books A Million IndieBound -
The Many Complicated Feelings Around Final Goodbyes
In this episode, we address a question from a bereaved mom who didn't see her daughter after her daughter's death. She finds herself wondering if she should have fought harder to see her daughter. This brings up so many questions held by grievers no matter what decisions they made around a death -- often some variation of "should I have done something differently and would that have eased this pain?"
***
The WYG Hub (it's our griever member community - think of it as our Patreon, but a zillion times better) is open for new members from now through March 1st! Support the podcast and get TONS more grief support! https://whatsyourgrief.com/online-grief-community/
Visit whatsyourgrief.com for hundreds of free articles we've written about all things grief and loss.
If you're a grief professional, we have a community for you too. https://whatsyourgrief.com/grief-professionals-community/
You can also make a donation here at any time to help us keep the lights on.
Get Lessons to Write On: A Guided Grief Journaling Intensive here. https://whatsyourgrief.ck.page/products/lessons-to-write-on-grief-journaling
Also, if you like the podcast we're pretty sure you'll love our book! Available in print, ebook, or on audible.
Bookshop.org Barnes & Noble Amazon Books A Million IndieBound
Customer Reviews
Audio needs improvement
Great content and such a novel, important concept! Loved the episode on losing “home.” There is a persistent “buzz” in the background that makes it hard to listen; perhaps invest in a better mic, as this content is great and would be wonderful for people to be able to listen to.
Overdose Explanation
I grew up with 2 mothers, my biological mother and her partner, and they are both addicts. I lost my step mother to a heroin overdose while I watched my mother overdose in my arms countless times. I wanted to point out a few things that were missed in this podcast .. setting aside the emotional / psychological reason behind the loss of my stepmom, the sciencfic reason behind her death was the amount of fentanyl in the heroin she purchased.. the intention behind her use was to get high, not to die however this does not qualify under “unintentional death due to excessive use” .. also something more important that was missed, I belong to a Nar-Anon Program now for 2 years which has changed my life drastically. Nar-Anon is a 12 step program for those affected by an addicted loved in, family member or friend. We need more awareness that this program is put in place to help with grief, guidance and turning the power back to yourself while learning how to detach with love.
My experience with drug addiction is very intense and not a topic I take lightly. I suggest bringing in a speaker who can tell that story to help listeners reach out to a program.
-Taylor Caiafa
Grief follow up
Love the show! Can y’all talk about a person losing abilities earlier in life because of a condition such as MS? I’m living it at 40 years old and some days are mentally hard.