In today’s episode, I’m joined by Annabelle Reynolds for an incredibly honest conversation about complex grief - the kind of grief we don’t often talk about publicly.

Annabelle shares the story of her father, a deeply kind and vibrant man whose life changed dramatically after the 2008 recession. Over the years, addiction, shame, and difficult family dynamics reshaped their relationship long before his death from esophageal cancer in 2019.

We talk about:

• What it’s like to “lose” a parent many times before they physically die
• Anger, rage, jealousy, and the emotions society rarely associates with grief
• Growing up fast and becoming the caretaker long before adulthood
• Navigating addiction, family fractures, and grief that doesn’t fit the traditional mould
• The first year after loss, anticipatory grief, and building a toolbox to survive it
• Healing as sisters, spirituality, signs, humour, and the messy truth of moving forward

This is the first time Annabelle has shared her story in full, and it’s a conversation I know will resonate deeply with anyone who has experienced complicated loss - or ever wondered whether their version of grief is “normal.”

A gentle content note: this episode includes discussion of addiction, self-harm, and complex family trauma.

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