Embracing Grief, Cultivating Resilience, and Reclaiming Mental Health
Dear brothers and sisters, it's been a while. I've been deep in my grief, and I've finally come out to share my experiences of loss. I've lost my childhood home, experienced miscarriages, lost family members, and, sadly, my first dog and family member, Bruno. I know that if you come from our culture and Balkan heritage, goodbyes become a part of your childhood and your life story. Whether you were born in the homeland or abroad, you're all too familiar with this feeling.
I hesitated to share this because it's vulnerable, but I thought, why only share life when it's good and not when it's challenging? In this episode, I discuss my hardships and offer practical tips on how to navigate tough days. I also explore the topic of toxic positivity and emphasize the importance of compassion and embracing your feelings.
In our culture, we often don't allow ourselves to fully feel our grief and tend to compare our pain to that of others. However, I'm here to break those patterns and foster an open dialogue, even when it's difficult. If you're currently going through a tough time, whether as a parent or an individual, I hope this episode can provide you with support.
Despite not coming prepared and with notes scattered everywhere, I decided to show up because sometimes, presence is the most important thing. In life, showing up is often what matters most, and the rest will unfold naturally.
The past 2.5 years have brought many losses, from the loss of freedom and the ability to travel to see loved ones, to the loss of making our own choices. Life has felt incredibly heavy during this time, but I've chosen to share these personal challenges with you.
Finally, here are some useful resources that have helped me navigate my grief. Remember, there's no set timeline for grieving, and your loss is valid no matter the circumstances. If you're struggling, don't hesitate to seek the help of a professional. Although mental health is still not widely discussed in our cultures, I hope this episode can help change that.
- GriefLine (https://griefline.org.au/)
- Good Mourning (https://www.goodmourning.com.au/)
- Star Register (https://starregister.org/)
Thank you for listening and for your support!
Grief, Resilience, and Mental Health
Draga braćo i sestre, prošlo je neko vrijeme. Duboko sam se suočavala s tugom i konačno sam odlučila podijeliti svoja iskustva gubitka. Izgubila sam svoj djetinjski dom, prošla kroz pobačaje, izgubila članove obitelji i, nažalost, svog prvog psa i člana obitelji, Bruna. Znam da ako potječete iz naše kulture i balkanskog naslijeđa, oproštaji postaju sastavni dio vašeg djetinjstva i životne priče. Bez obzira jeste li rođeni u domovini ili inozemstvu, svi su vam poznati ti osjećaji.
Ovdje sam kako bih prekinula te obrasce i potaknula otvoreni dijalog, čak i kada je teško. Ako trenutačno prolazite kroz teško razdoblje, bilo kao roditelj ili pojedinac, nadam se da će vam ova epizoda pružiti podršku.
Naposljetku, evo nekoliko korisnih resursa koji su mi pomogli u suočavanju s tugom. Sjetite se, ne postoji unaprijed određeni rok za tugovanje, a vaš gubitak je valjan bez obzira na okolnosti. Ako se borite, nemojte oklijevati potražiti pomoć stručnjaka. Iako se mentalno zdravlje još uvijek široko ne raspravlja u našim kulturama, nadam se da će ova epizoda pomoći promijeniti tu situaciju.
Hvala vam na slušanju i na vašoj podršci!