Grief does not wait for the “right” time and it definitely does not pause just because we move to a new country. We start with a gentle content warning and an important reminder: we’re both mental health professionals, but this is education, not therapy. From there, we follow the thread that so many immigrants know too well, the moment you realize you have to become your own parent, make your own plans, and learn a whole new set of unspoken rules that no sitcom ever prepared you for. 

We talk about culture shock in everyday life, why long distance friendships can start to feel strained, and how the time zone gap turns small check-ins into complicated emotional decisions. Then the conversation shifts into something heavier: what happens when people back home die, traditions continue, and you cannot be there for funerals or communal rituals. We explore the unique pain of grieving from abroad, the “vacuum” that can follow, and why the lack of shared mourning can leave your mind and body stuck searching for closure. 

We also get practical. We unpack avoidance as a normal grief response, how it can quietly morph into “I don’t like it anymore,” and what helps instead: naming the feeling, sharing in small doses, finding even one person who gets the nuances, and creating personal rituals that honor the person you lost. If any part of this resonates, listen, share it with someone living far from home, and subscribe, leave a review, or send the episode to a friend who needs language for what they’re carrying.

We would love to hear from you! write to us

Thanks for listening! we would love to hear from you, write to us, 

Your hosts, 

Malika & Gitika 

Malika is the Founder of Ik Aas Counseling, know more at https://malikabains.com/ 

Gitika is the Founder of Pranh Healing & Wellness, know more at https://www.pranhwellness.com/