Grief doesn’t need perfect words—it needs real presence.

In Episode 69 of Female Voices, hosts Teresa Reiniger and Wayna Berry dive into one of the most uncomfortable yet universal human experiences: how to support someone who is grieving.

Most people don’t avoid grieving loved ones because they don’t care—they avoid them because they don’t know what to say. In this honest and heartfelt conversation, Teresa and Wayna break down the common phrases that often do more harm than good, and offer compassionate, practical ways to show up meaningfully—even when you feel unsure.

Wayna shares deeply personal experiences of losing her son, offering real-life insight into what actually helped during her most difficult moments—and what didn’t. Together, they remind us that grief isn’t something to fix—it’s something to witness.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone who wants to support others better, navigate grief conversations with care, or simply understand the power of presence.

About the Hosts

Teresa Reiniger is a grief and emotional healing expert who supports women through life transitions with compassion and clarity.

Wayna Berry is a transformational coach and speaker who brings lived experience, authenticity, and deep empathy to conversations around grief, loss, and healing.

💬 Memorable Quotes

● Teresa Reiniger: “Grief isn’t something that can be solved with the right sentence—it’s something that needs to be witnessed.”

● Wayna Berry: “People don’t avoid grieving individuals because they don’t care—they avoid them because they don’t know what to say.”

● Wayna Berry: “Silence can feel incredibly isolating… like people disappeared right when you needed them most.”

● Teresa Reiniger: “When we focus too much on the words, we miss the connection.”

● Wayna Berry: “Grief is so deeply personal—even shared loss is never the same experience.”

● Teresa Reiniger: “You don’t have to have the perfect words. Grief requires presence, not perfection.”

● Wayna Berry: “Your willingness to show up, even imperfectly, can make all the difference.”

● Teresa Reiniger: “People may not remember what you said—but they’ll remember that you were there.”

🔍 Topics Discussed

● Why people struggle to talk to someone who is grieving

● Common phrases that unintentionally minimize grief (“at least…”, “everything happens for a reason”)

● Why grief cannot—and should not—be “fixed”

● The emotional and physical toll of grief (including brain fog and overwhelm)

● The power of presence vs. saying the “right” thing

● Practical ways to offer real, tangible support

● Why support often fades—and why continued check-ins matter

● The importance of acknowledging the person who was lost

✨ Key Takeaways

● You don’t need perfect words—your presence matters more than anything you say

● Avoid minimizing statements, even if they come from a good place

● Grief is deeply personal—never assume you understand someone’s experience

● Specific support (meals, errands, time together) is more helpful than vague offers

● Grief doesn’t follow a timeline—keep showing up even after others stop

🙌 Shoutout & Mention

● Balcom Funeral Home – for supporting families with children’s funeral services

💡 Helpful Resources / Listener Reflection

● Ask yourself: “Am I trying to fix this—or simply be present?”

● Save 2–3 supportive phrases from this episode to use when needed

● Set reminders to check in on someone weeks or months after a loss

● Remember: showing up imperfectly is better than not showing up at all

💖 JOIN THE CONVERSATION

📩 Email: [email protected]

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/femalevoiceslifeandloss/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/femalevoiceslifelosspodcast/

🎵 TikTok: @femalevoiceslifeloss

🔔 Subscribe, share, and leave a review to help more women feel seen, supported, and less alone.

You’re not stuck because you’re failing… you’re stuck because you’re carrying more than you realize.

In this deeply honest and transformative conversation, Teresa sits down with board-certified nurse coach Alison Tindall to explore the hidden layers behind weight, grief, identity loss, and emotional burnout.

Alison shares her personal journey through pregnancy loss, infertility, postpartum depression, and losing her career identity—while also releasing over 160 pounds. But as she reveals, the real transformation had nothing to do with the scale.

Together, they unpack why so many women feel stuck even when they’re doing “everything right,” how grief lives in the body, and what it truly takes to rebuild your relationship with yourself.

This episode goes beyond awareness—it opens the door to real, embodied healing.

Guest Introduction:

Alison Tindall is a board-certified nurse coach and founder of Thriving Willow Coaching, with 19+ years of experience supporting patients through life’s most vulnerable moments.

Through both her professional expertise and lived experience—including pregnancy loss, infertility, and identity shifts—Alison now helps women bridge the gap between knowing what to do and actually living it out in their everyday lives.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

● Why weight loss alone doesn’t lead to healing

● How grief, stress, and identity loss are stored in the body

● The connection between emotional health and physical health

● Why women feel guilty prioritizing themselves—and how to shift that

● A simple “red light, yellow light, green light” method to reconnect with yourself

● How breathwork can unlock emotional release without words

💬 Memorable Quotes:

● Teresa Reiniger: “You can’t pour from an empty cup.”

● Alison Tindall: “What I thought was weight loss became a complete overhaul of my life.”

● Alison Tindall: “You can’t have physical health without emotional and mental health.”

● Alison Tindall: “It’s not just about losing weight—you’re releasing what you’ve been carrying.”

● Teresa Reiniger: “Healing isn’t just something we think through—it’s something we have to feel.”

● Alison Tindall: “Your body doesn’t know the difference between grief and danger—it just goes into survival mode.”

● Alison Tindall: “You can’t tie your worth to something that can be taken away.”

● Teresa Reiniger: “Awareness opens the door—but release is what creates change.”

🧠 Topics Discussed:

● Pregnancy loss, infertility, and postpartum depression

● Emotional eating and coping mechanisms

● Identity loss (career, motherhood, self-worth)

● The mind-body connection in healing

● Nervous system regulation and survival mode

● Breathwork as a tool for emotional release

● Mom guilt and self-care struggles

● Alignment vs. external validation

🌱 Key Takeaways:

● Healing requires addressing both emotional and physical layers—not just one

● Feeling stuck is often a result of unprocessed emotional weight

● Small, consistent actions are more powerful than overwhelming life overhauls

● Your worth is not tied to your job, body, or productivity

● True transformation happens when you align with what actually matters

Try This Simple Exercise:

Start tracking your day using:

🔴 Red Light: Drains your energy

🟡 Yellow Light: Neutral obligations

🟢 Green Light: Fills your cup

This helps you identify what needs to shift in your life.

🔗 CONNECT WITH THE GUEST

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581128165429

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivingwillowcoaching

📧 Email: [email protected]

🌐 Website: https://thrivingwillowcoaching.com/

💖 JOIN THE CONVERSATION

📩 Email: [email protected]

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/femalevoiceslifeandloss/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/femalevoiceslifelosspodcast/

🎵 TikTok: @femalevoiceslifeloss

🔔 Subscribe, share, and leave a review to help more women feel seen, supported, and less alone.

What if grief isn’t just emotional—but financial, physical, and deeply tied to your identity?

In this powerful episode of Female Voices: Life and Loss, Teresa sits down with Financial advisor and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst, Terri Schneider, to unpack the often-overlooked realities of grief—especially during life-altering transitions like divorce and losing loved ones.

From losing both parents at a young age to navigating a divorce during COVID, Terri shares her deeply personal journey of independence, survival, and eventually… healing.

This conversation dives into the “financial fog”, the pressure to “push through,” and how unprocessed grief can live in the body—until we finally learn how to release it. If you’ve ever felt lost, overwhelmed, or unsure how to rebuild after loss… this episode will remind you: you don’t have to do it alone.

👩‍💼 Guest Introduction

Terri Schneider is a financial advisor and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA) who specializes in helping individuals navigate major life transitions, including divorce, retirement, and the loss of loved ones.

Her work is deeply personal—shaped by her own experiences of losing her parents at a young age, going through a divorce, and rebuilding her life from the ground up.

Today, she combines financial expertise with compassion to guide others through both the practical and emotional complexities of life after loss.

💬 Memorable Quotes

● Teresa Reiniger: “Loss doesn’t only affect our hearts—it can impact every part of our lives.”

● Terri Schneider: “I had no other choice but to push through.”

● Terri Schneider: “When you’re sitting in it, you feel like you’re in a fog—you don’t even know where to start.”

● Teresa Reiniger: “We’re not supposed to hold it in—we’re supposed to process and release it.”

● Terri Schneider: “Grief is a sticky thing… it doesn’t ever really go away.”

● Teresa Reiniger: “Do they really need me, or do I need to be needed?”

● Terri Schneider: “It felt like a weight of the world lifted off my shoulders.”

🧠 Topics Discussed

● Grieving the life you thought you would have

● Navigating divorce during isolation (COVID)

● Financial decision-making under emotional stress

● Childhood conditioning around emotions (“don’t cry”)

● The body’s role in storing trauma and grief

● Healing modalities like somatic breathwork

● Boundaries, people-pleasing, and emotional burnout

✨ Key Takeaways

● You don’t have to navigate grief or major life changes alone

● Financial clarity is a powerful (and often overlooked) part of healing

● Suppressing emotions can lead to long-term physical and mental stress

● Healing requires safe spaces where you can fully express yourself

● Setting boundaries is not selfish—it’s necessary for your well-being

🎯 Who This Episode Is For

● Women navigating divorce, loss, or major life transitions

● Anyone feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or emotionally “foggy”

● Those struggling with people-pleasing or setting boundaries

● Listeners seeking both emotional and practical support after loss

❤️ What You’ll Walk Away With

● A deeper understanding of how grief shows up beyond emotions

● Permission to slow down and process instead of pushing through

● Tools and perspective for rebuilding your life with intention

● Hope that healing—on every level—is possible

🔗 CONNECT WITH THE GUEST

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/terrijoschneider

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/schneider.terri/📧 Email: [email protected]

💖 JOIN THE CONVERSATION

📩 Email: [email protected]

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/femalevoiceslifeandloss/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/femalevoiceslifelosspodcast/

🎵 TikTok: @femalevoiceslifeloss

🔔 Subscribe, share, and leave a review to help more women feel seen, supported, and less alone.

What if your grief isn’t just something you feel… but something your body is carrying?

In this deeply moving and eye-opening episode, Teresa is joined by integrative holistic nurse and neuro -transformational leader, Dena Woulfe, to explore the powerful connection between grief, trauma, and the body.

From childhood wounds to miscarriage, loss of loved ones, and identity struggles, Dena shares her personal journey through grief—and how those experiences shaped her work helping women release subconscious patterns and emotional pain stored in the body.

Together, Teresa and Dena unpack how unresolved emotions can manifest physically as weight gain, chronic tension, health issues, and overwhelm—and more importantly, how healing is possible. They also introduce their upcoming transformative experience, “The Bond That Remains”, a healing space for women navigating loss, grief, and emotional weight.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, heavy, or like you’re just “surviving” your days… this episode will help you understand why—and what you can begin to do about it.

Guest Introduction:

Dena Woulfe is an integrative holistic nurse with over 20 years of experience, a neuro-transformational leader, and co-creator of powerful healing spaces for women. She blends neuroscience, faith, emotional healing, and identity work through her “Sweet Liberation” method to help women break subconscious patterns and step into alignment with who they were created to be.

Memorable Quotes

● Teresa Reiniger: “You do not have to carry grief alone.”

● Dena Woulfe: “Sometimes we use our body as a storage locker for unprocessed emotions.”

● Dena Woulfe: “You cannot change what you’re not aware of.”

● Dena Woulfe: “Weight is often a protective layer—it’s not just physical.”

● Teresa Reiniger: “It’s not the grief that brings me joy—it’s walking with people as they heal.”

● Dena Woulfe: “If we don’t process emotions, they will find a place in the body.”

● Teresa Reiniger: “You don’t have to fight your body anymore.”

● Dena Woulfe: “We can help you remember your loved one without the heaviness.”

🧠 Topics Discussed

● The connection between grief, trauma, and physical health

● How unprocessed emotions get stored in the body

● The link between weight gain and emotional protection

● Childhood experiences and how they shape subconscious patterns ●Miscarriage, parental loss, and identity grief

● The role of neuroscience in emotional healing

● Creating safe spaces for women to process grief

● The power of community and shared healing

● Transformational breathwork and emotional release techniques

🌿 Key Takeaways

● Healing begins with awareness—what you don’t acknowledge, you can’t change

● Your body is not working against you—it’s communicating with you

● Emotional pain can manifest as physical symptoms like tension, weight gain, or illness

● You don’t need to rush grief—but you also don’t have to stay stuck in it

● Safe, supportive spaces can accelerate healing in ways you can’t do alone

✨ Resources & Links:

👉 Join Teresa’s 8-Week Grief Recovery Method® Program: https://stan.store/strongmedicine/p/link-to-authority-and-income-

📍 Upcoming Experience:

💛 The Bond That Remains – A Transformational Day Retreat A healing space for women navigating grief, loss, and emotional healing. (Check details in this episode & follow for updates)

🔗 CONNECT WITH THE GUEST

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HolisticDenaWellness/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/denawoulfern/

📧 Email: [email protected]

💖 JOIN THE CONVERSATION

📩 Email: [email protected]

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/femalevoiceslifeandloss/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/femalevoiceslifelosspodcast/

🎵 TikTok: @femalevoiceslifeloss

🔔 Subscribe, share, and leave a review to help more women feel seen, supported, and less alone.

What if the hardest grief you carry… is the one no one else can see?

In this deeply honest and emotional episode, Teresa Reiniger and Wayna Berry close out their series “The Hidden Layers of Grief No One Talks About” by exploring a powerful and often overlooked truth—grieving the life you thought you’d have.

From infertility and divorce to career disappointments, identity loss, and unmet dreams, this conversation dives into the invisible griefs that shape our lives daily. Together, they unpack what it means to mourn not just people—but futures, expectations, and versions of ourselves.

If you’ve ever felt like your life didn’t turn out the way you planned… this episode will remind you: your grief is valid, and your story isn’t over.💬

Memorable Quotes

● “We’re not always grieving a person… sometimes we’re grieving a future.” — Teresa

● “There’s multiple losses that we don’t give space around.” — Wayna

● “Who am I? That question can be the beginning of rebuilding your life.” — Teresa

● “Vulnerability is the strength.” — Wayna

● “You’re allowed to grieve what never came to be.” — Teresa ● “There is joy and grief… at the same time.” — Teresa

● “You never get over your child… there’s nothing wrong with you.” — Wayna

🧠 Topics Discussed

● Invisible grief and why it often goes unrecognized

● Grieving unmet expectations (marriage, children, career, identity)

● Infertility, miscarriage, and silent losses

● Identity shifts after divorce, loss, and life transitions

● Comparison grief and societal expectations on women

● Rebuilding your life after loss

🌱 Key Takeaways

● Not all grief is visible—but it is still real and valid

● You can grieve a future, identity, or dream—not just a person

● Healing is not about “moving on,” but rebuilding

● Joy and grief can coexist at the same time

● Vulnerability is not weakness—it’s a pathway to healing📣

Shoutouts & Mentions

● Coaching clients and women navigating grief and identity transitions

● Mothers experiencing child loss and infertility

● Women navigating divorce, career pivots, and life transitions

🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

This episode goes beyond traditional grief conversations and highlights the unspoken emotional weight many women carry. From silent disappointments to life paths that didn’t unfold asexpected, Teresa and Wayna normalize the grief of “what could have been.”Listeners will walk away with language, validation, and tools to begin processing their own invisible losses.

💡 Listener Reflection Prompts

● What future am I grieving right now?

● What part of me is still alive underneath this loss?

● What values from that dream still matter to me?

● What could rebuilding—not replacing—look like?

🤝 Why This Episode Matters

In a world that often minimizes anything that doesn’t look like “traditional grief,” this conversation gives voice to the quiet pain so many carry.Because grief isn’t always about death. Sometimes, it’s about the life you didn’t get to live.

🔗 Call to Action

If this episode resonated with you:

● Share it with someone who needs to feel less alone

● Leave a review to support the show

● Connect with the hosts and share your story

💖 JOIN THE CONVERSATION

📩 Email: [email protected]

📘 Facebook: Female Voices: Life & Loss Podcast

📸 Instagram: @femalevoiceslifelosspodcast

🎵 TikTok: @femalevoiceslifeloss

🔔 Subscribe, share, and leave a review to help more women feel seen, supported, and less alone.

What if the hardest part of grief isn’t sadness… but fear?

In this deeply honest conversation, Wayna Berry and Teresa Reiniger unpack a side of grief that often goes unspoken—anxiety after loss. From panic attacks and hypervigilance to the fear of feeling happy again, they explore why the nervous system shifts into survival mode after losing someone you love.

Wayna shares her personal journey after the loss of her son, revealing how grief reshaped her sense of safety, identity, and even joy. Together, they normalize the overwhelming thoughts and physical responses many experience—and offer gentle, practical ways to begin feeling safe again.

If you’ve ever felt restless, on edge, or afraid something bad is about to happen after loss… this episode will help you understand why—and remind you that you are not alone.

Wayna Berry is a licensed professional therapist, certified grief counselor, speaker, and coach who supports individuals navigating life after profound loss. Through her work and personal experience, she brings compassionate, real-world insight into grief, healing, and resilience.

Teresa Reiniger is a grief coach and specialist dedicated to helping individuals and families process loss, rebuild emotional safety, and move forward with support, tools, and understanding.

In this episode, we explore:

● Why grief often shows up as anxiety, panic, and fear

● What “hypervigilance” after loss really means

● The fear of happiness and why joy can feel unsafe

● How your brain tries to protect you after trauma

● Simple grounding tools to calm your nervous system

💬 Memorable Quotes

● Wayna Berry: “After loss, your brain shifts into scanning mode—what else could go wrong?”

● Wayna Berry: “Joy itself became dangerous.”

● Wayna Berry: “This does not mean you are broken. It means your body is trying to protect you.”

● Teresa Reiniger: “You’re comparing to something you see—but you don’t know how they feel.”

● Wayna Berry: “You don’t calm the storm by shaming it.”

● Wayna Berry: “Safety after loss is rebuilt moment by moment.”

● Teresa Reiniger: “If the anxiety is too great, make sure you get the support that you need.”

● Wayna Berry: “Fear after loss doesn’t mean you’re weak—it means you’ve loved deeply.”

● Teresa Reiniger: “Let’s teach your body that you are safe again.”

🧠 Topics Discussed

● Anxiety as a natural response to grief and trauma

● Hypervigilance and the nervous system after loss

● Fear of happiness and emotional suppression

● Comparison in grief and social perception vs reality

● Physical vs emotional symptoms (panic vs health issues)

● The role of therapy, support systems, and faith in healing

🌱 Key Takeaways

● Grief is not just sadness—it often includes fear, panic, and anxiety

● Your brain is trying to protect you, not harm you

● Feeling unsafe after loss is a normal nervous system response

● Healing happens in small, quiet shifts—not dramatic breakthroughs

● You don’t have to handle intense anxiety alone—support is available

💡 Helpful Listener Takeaways / Tools Mentioned

● Intentional breathing

● Grounding exercises (engaging senses)

● Saying: “Right now, I am safe”

● Recognizing fear as memory, not current danger

● Asking: “What small signal of safety can I offer myself today?”

📣 Call to Action

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who may need support in their grief journey.

Follow Female Voices: Life & Loss and reach out via their Facebook page for guidance and connection.

💖 JOIN THE CONVERSATION

📩 Email: [email protected]

📘 Facebook: Female Voices: Life & Loss Podcast

📸 Instagram: @femalevoiceslifelosspodcast

🎵 TikTok: @femalevoiceslifeloss

🔔 Subscribe, share, and leave a review to help more women feel seen, supported, and lessalone.

Can you love someone deeply… and still feel relief when they die? It’s one of the most misunderstood emotions in grief — and almost no one talks about it out loud.In this episode of Female Voices: Life & Loss, hosts Teresa Reiniger, grief specialist, and Wayna Berry explore the complicated emotional landscape of anticipatory grief — the grief that begins long before a loved one actually dies.From watching a parent decline with Alzheimer’s, to caring for someone through years of illness, to the emotional toll caregivers carry silently, this conversation sheds light on why grief often begins months or even years before loss occurs.Teresa and Wayna also unpack something many grieving people experience but feel ashamed to admit: relief when the suffering finally ends.If you've ever wondered whether it's normal to feel peace, exhaustion, sadness, and even guilt at the same time after losing someone, this episode offers compassionate clarity. Grief is rarely simple.And sometimes the most healing thing we can hear is this:Nothing about your grief makes you a bad person.Memorable Quotes“Anticipatory grief happens before someone dies… you’re grieving someone who is still alive.” — Teresa Reiniger“You’re still showing up, still loving, still caring… but inside you’re already mourning that person.” — Wayna Berry“The relief is not a lack of love. It simply means the suffering has ended.”— Teresa Reiniger“People expect grief to look like uninterrupted devastation… but grief is layered.” — Wayna Berry“Two emotions can exist at the same time.” — Wayna Berry“Grief isn’t something you get over. It’s something you learn to carry differently.” — Teresa ReinigerTopics Discussed • What anticipatory grief is and why it often begins long before a loved one dies• The emotional and physical toll caregiving can take on families• Why caregivers often live in a constant state of high alert and chronic stress• The complicated emotion of relief after loss and why it’s biologically normal• How grief can contain contradictory emotions at the same time• Personal stories of loss involving parents, cousins, and childrenKey Takeaways• Anticipatory grief is real. Many people begin grieving long before a loved one dies.• Feeling relief after someone passes away does not mean you loved them less. Often itreflects the end of suffering or emotional strain.• Caregivers often carry a silent emotional burden that others may not see.• Grief is not one emotion — it’s layered, complex, and sometimes contradictory.• It is emotionally healthy to hold multiple feelings at once: sadness, peace, love, exhaustion, and relief.Listener Reflection QuestionsIf this episode resonated with you, consider reflecting on these questions:• Have you ever experienced anticipatory grief?• Did you feel relief after a loved one passed away — and struggle with guilt afterward?• What would it look like to give yourself more compassion in your grief?💖 JOIN THE CONVERSATION📩 Email: [email protected]📘 Facebook: Female Voices: Life & Loss Podcast📸 Instagram: @femalevoiceslifelosspodcast🎵 TikTok: @femalevoiceslifeloss🔔 Subscribe, share, and leave a review to help more women feel seen, supported, and lessalone.Share This EpisodeIf this conversation helped you understand your grief more deeply, consider sharing it with someone who may also need to hear: You are not alone in what you’re feeling.

Why do we miss someone who hurt us?

In this deeply honest episode of Female Voices: Life & Loss, hosts LaWayna Berry and Teresa Reiniger explore one of the most confusing layers of grief: grieving someone who caused you pain.

Leaving a relationship that isn’t healthy should feel like freedom — but often it doesn’t. It can feel like loss, heartbreak, and the death of the future you thought you would have. LaWayna shares her personal story of divorce, trauma bonding, and the painful realization that love and harm can exist in the same relationship. Together, she and Teresa unpack the emotional complexity of attachment, the grief of lost dreams, and why protecting yourself doesn’t mean you didn’t love deeply.

If you’ve ever questioned why leaving still hurts, or why you miss someone who didn’t treat you well, this conversation will remind you that your grief is valid — and you’re not alone.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• “You’re not grieving the person. You’re grieving the potential.” — Wayna
• “To grieve something that didn’t happen doesn’t make you weak. It makes you human.” — Wayna
• “You can miss someone and still protect yourself.” — Teresa
• “Grief does not validate the harm that you experienced.” — Teresa
• “It takes strength to turn and leave a relationship that isn’t healthy.” — Wayna
• “Grief isn’t something to get over. It’s something you learn to carry differently.” — Teresa

🧠 Topics Discussed in This Episode

● The emotional complexity of grieving someone who hurt you

● The grief of divorce and relationship endings

● Trauma bonding and emotional highs and lows

● Identity shifts after leaving a relationship

● Parenting and protecting children during conflict

● The difference between missing someone vs. needing them

🌱 Key Takeaways

● Grieving a relationship doesn’t mean the relationship was healthy.

● You can love someone and still recognize they are not good for you.

● Trauma bonds can create emotional confusion that makes leaving difficult.

● Protecting yourself and your children is a powerful act of self-respect.

● Grief often includes mourning the future you imagined, not just the person.

❤️ Why This Conversation Matters

Many people feel confused or ashamed when they still miss someone who hurt them. This episode validates those complicated emotions and reminds listeners: Grief doesn’t mean you made the wrong decision.It simply means you cared.

⭐ Support the Podcast

If this episode helped you:

✔ Follow the podcast

✔ Share it with a friend

✔ Leave a reviewYour support helps more people find healing conversations.

💖 JOIN THE CONVERSATION

📩 Email: [email protected]

📘 Facebook: Female Voices: Life & Loss Podcast

📸 Instagram: @femalevoiceslifelosspodcast

🎵 TikTok: @femalevoiceslifeloss

🔔 Subscribe, share, and leave a review to help more women feel seen, supported, and lessalone.

If you’ve tried staying busy, staying strong, staying positive — and you’re still hurting — this episode is for you.

In Episode 61, Teresa and Wayna begin a powerful new series called “The Hidden Layers of Grief No One Talks About.” Today’s focus is one of the most searched grief questions online: “How do I deal with grief when nothing seems to help?”

Together, they unpack why grief isn’t something you fix, conquer, or “win.” It’s something you learn to carry. From nervous system survival mode to brain fog, anger, delayed grief, and the pressure to “get back to normal,” this episode gently normalizes what so many women are silently experiencing.

If you’ve ever thought:

● “Why am I still like this?”

● “Shouldn’t I be past this by now?”

● “What is wrong with me?”

This conversation will remind you: Nothing is wrong with you. You are grieving.

💬 Memorable Quotes

Teresa: “You’re not broken. You are grieving."

Teresa: “Grief is not a problem to solve.”

Teresa: “You don’t make it stop. You learn how to carry it differently.”

Wayna: “I did everything right… and I still feel like I’m drowning some days.”

Teresa: “Grief doesn’t respond to logic. It responds to loss.”

Wayna: “Instead of asking ‘What’s wrong with me?’ say, ‘This is normal. I’m still grieving.’”

Teresa: “What if you stopped trying to win at grief?”

Wayna: “Some days, eat, bathe, hygiene — that’s the win.”

🧠 Topics Discussed

● The hidden and complicated layers of grief

● Why the “five stages” are often misunderstood

● Survival mode & nervous system responses

● Brain fog, exhaustion, and physical grief symptoms

● Delayed grief and feeling fragile years later

● The pressure to return to “normal”

● Self-judgment as a hidden grief layer

● Why grief cannot be fixed — only carried

🌿 Key Takeaways

● Grief is not linear and not a competition.

● Physical symptoms (brain fog, fatigue, pain) are normal trauma responses.

● You cannot “outwork” grief.

● Self-compassion is not weakness — it’s necessary.

● Healing begins when the nervous system feels safe.

● Small daily wins count.

● Professional support is not optional for many — it’s essential.

❤️ Reflection Questions for Listeners

● Where am I trying to fix something that needs to be felt?

● Am I judging myself for how long this is taking?

● What does my nervous system need today?

● Who feels emotionally safe for me right now?

If this episode resonated:

✔ Share it with someone who needs to hear they’re not broken

✔ Leave a review on Spotify

✔ Follow Female Voices so you don’t miss the next episode in this series

✔ Connect with Teresa & Wayna on Facebook and send your feedback

💖 JOIN THE CONVERSATION

📩 Email: [email protected]

📘 Facebook: Female Voices: Life & Loss Podcast

📸 Instagram: @femalevoiceslifelosspodcast

🎵 TikTok: @femalevoiceslifeloss

🔔 Subscribe, share, and leave a review to help more women feel seen, supported, and less alone.

Grief isn’t something you get over.

It’s something you learn to carry.

And you don’t have to carry it alone

What happens when the life you built… disappears overnight?

In this deeply honest and moving conversation, host Teresa Reiniger sits down with author Patti Sauer to talk about the kind of grief we don’t often name—the loss of identity that comes with chronic illness.

After nearly two decades as a middle school teacher, Patti was forced to step away from the career she loved due to Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)—a rare and debilitating neurological condition known as one of the most painful diseases in the world. What followed was not just physical suffering, but a profound identity crisis.

Who are you when the titles fall away? Through therapy, journaling, and unexpected encouragement, Patti rediscovered a long-buried part of herself: the writer. Her poetry collection, Brave Bird, was born from grief—but grew into something much bigger.

This episode is for anyone navigating chronic illness, career loss, depression, identity shifts, or the quiet grief of becoming someone new.

💬 Memorable Quotes

-“I felt like I failed at a job. I failed at a career that I loved.” — Patti

-“The worst that’s going to happen is someone is going to tell you no. And no is an okay thing.” — Patti’s counselor

-“I didn’t have this career, and I did not know where I was going from there. I had no other piece of me.” — Patti

-“Who I really am inside is not the teacher, not the wife, not the mom… it’s the integrity, the empathy, the caring.” — Patti

-“Healing doesn’t mean becoming who you were. It means rediscovering who you are now.” — Teresa

-“Grief does slowly heal. It never goes away… but hope is on the other side.” — Patti 🧠

Topics Discussed

● What Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) really is

● The grief of losing a career due to chronic illness

● Identity collapse after diagnosis

● Midlife identity shifts and empty nesting

● Dissociation and emotional shutdown

● Depression vs. grief: understanding the difference

● The power of therapy and professional support

● Journaling as emotional processing

● Fear of failing again after loss

● Rebuilding identity beyond titles

🌿 Key Takeaways

● You can grieve the loss of your life—even if you’re still living it.

● Chronic illness impacts more than the body; it reshapes identity.

● Depression and grief can feel similar—but naming grief matters.

● Your worth is rooted in character, not career.

● Asking for help is strength, not weakness.

● There is hope beyond identity loss—even if it comes slowly.

📖 Get Patti’s Book

Brave Bird by Patricia Sauer

Available:

● Bookshop.org (choose a local bookstore to support)

● Belleville Books in Belleville, Illinois

🙌 Shoutouts & Mentions

● RSDSA (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome Association) – vital resources for CRPS patients and caregivers

● Belleville Books – local independent bookstore in Illinois

● Patti’s writing community & publishing team

💛 If This Episode Resonated

If you’re navigating chronic illness, mental health struggles, or identity shifts:

● You are not alone.

● Your grief is valid.

● Professional support can change everything.

Please share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. Leave a review to help more women find these conversations. And remember: you are more than your titles.

🔗 CONNECT WITH THE GUEST

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patricia.v.sauer

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pattis.2012/

📧 Email: [email protected]

💖 JOIN THE CONVERSATION

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