Why does grief feel traumatic? Why does your body feel on edge after someone dies?
In this episode of the GRIEF Ladies Podcast, Kelly Daugherty and Karyn Arnold talk with Ramona Kossowan about the connection between grief, trauma, and the nervous system. We explore why emotional safety matters after loss, how trauma can show up in sleep disturbances, hypervigilance, and identity shifts, and what "gentle trauma release" really means.
You'll learn: • Why grief can feel like trauma • How the nervous system responds to loss • What emotional safety actually looks like • The role of movement and self-care in grief • Practical steps to begin feeling safer in your body
This conversation is especially helpful if you've been wondering why you still feel on edge, numb, or overwhelmed long after the death.
Guest Bio: Ramona Kossowan is a Gentle Trauma Release Practitioner and empowerment coach who supports individuals navigating both acute loss and long-standing traumatic grief.
She distinguishes between grief — a natural and necessary process — and trauma, which can keep the nervous system looping and stuck long after the loss has occurred. Through gentle, body-based work with the unconscious nervous system, Ramona helps clients experience restorative relief: a settling in the body that allows grief to move rather than remain frozen.
In the early days of loss, this may mean stabilization and grounding — creating enough safety to function and feel supported. In more chronic or traumatic grief, her work focuses on releasing the patterns that interfere with healing, not to erase what happened, but to restore resilience, self-trust, and the capacity to experience meaning, connection, and even joy again.
With years of experience coaching women in sustainable movement and nourishment, Ramona brings a deep understanding of physical, emotional, and nervous system well-being to the rebuilding process. Her approach helps clients lay a solid, embodied foundation for their next chapter — one rooted not in forced positivity or "moving on," but in feeling safe, worthy, and open to life again.
Connect with Ramona:
Ramona's Free Download: When Grief Feels Stuck: When Grief Feels Stuck
Ramona's free download "Is it trauma?" (self guided Gentle Trauma Assessment)
https://ramonakcoaching.com/gentle-trauma-assessment/
Links:
ramonakcoaching.com
gentletraumacoach.com
[email protected]
facebook.com/ramonakcoaching
instagram.com/ramonakcoaching
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramona-kossowan-380ba66a/
https://www.youtube.com/@RamonaKCoaching
Books:
Confident You - The Raw Conversations (New bestseller):
https://a.co/d/0hOSaoMp Paperback (Canada)
https://a.co/d/0ikwm8UF Kindle (Canada)
https://a.co/d/0hOSaoMp Paperback (U.S.)
https://a.co/d/06Y3yLXF Kindle (U.S.)
Life Lit Up bestseller
https://www.lulu.com/shop/mary-holland-and-sophia-manarolis-koulikas-and-jamie-beringer-and-donald-dy/life-lit-up/paperback/product-emnj85.html?page=1&pageSize=4
GRIEF Ladies: Your Guide to What Comes Next
If you're ready to move forward without moving on—this show is for you.
🎧 Follow and connect: https://www.griefladies.com/
Kelly Daugherty: https://www.kellydaugherty.com/ Karyn Arnold: https://www.griefincommon.com/
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The GRIEF Ladies podcast offers education and support for people living with grief after someone they love has died. Our content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care or crisis services. If you are in crisis or concerned about your safety, call 988 in the U.S. or contact local emergency services.
Guest perspectives shared on this platform are their own and may not reflect the views or positions of The Grief Ladies.
