Sisterhood Through Grief

In this episode, Kris, Melanie, and Patti discuss the differences between the pain from divorce and the loss of a spouse. Many times, people compare divorce with spousal loss, where in fact they are NOT the same.

In this episode, Ami and Christina welcome Jan, who lost his wife to cancer, to discuss the similarities and differences in the female/male grieving process.

The candid, raw, and heartfelt conversation covers the importance of support from others, offers advice for men going through grief, and other topics that may provide an understanding that promotes hope and healing.

It may seem like an impossible task to find gratitude when you are in your darkest moments. In this episode, Ami and Christina discuss the benefits of finding gratitude, how to recognize the good things in your life, and how this practice helps change your path towards healing.  Speaking from their own experiences and sharing what they have learned can provided listeners with understanding and support during their time of grieving a loved one.

Having support during your grief journey is priceless. For the first time, the Sisterhood welcomes a guest in this episode. Patrice Austin was the Executive Director and facilitator at Hearts and Hope, the grief support group where the Sisterhood met. Patrice states that while others may be in a different stage of their grief or experiencing a different type of loss, the major connection is pain. Witnessing other's pain and grief-journey provides understanding, empathy, and healing.

The million-dollar question is when to date and/or to date or not to date.  In this episode, Ami, Brenda, and Christina discuss their experiences regarding the dilemma around dating after the loss of a spouse.  Informative and honest, the women speak about the guilt, pressure and other factors they were confronted with when they considered dating again.

In this episode, Ami, Christina, and Kris discuss how friendships change during the grief process.  It was surprising to find, how along with life situations changing, many of the friendships, that we thought were forever, changed too.  But, at the same time, new friendships developed that are just as meaningful and special. The women speak openly and honestly about their experiences in hopes that whoever is experiencing grief may feel the understanding and empathy that comes with knowing that others can relate and have survived this journey. 

Elisabeth Kübler-Ross has Anger as the 2nd Stage of Grief. While anger is a very uncomfortable emotion, it is one that you must go through while grieving to get to healing. In this episode, Ami, Christina, Kris, and Melanie discuss how they experienced and dealt with their anger in a raw, honest, informative, and even humorous way. 

One emotionally daunting decision that is eventually tackled is figuring out what to do with the deceased's things. When should you pack up the belongings; what should you do with the things; and can you part with the sentimental items, are all discussed in this episode: Packing Up Their Things. Ami, Melanie, and Patti discuss their experiences in hopes to support anyone encountering this challenging situation.

Adjusting to a new normal is part of the grief journey. Ami and Christina discuss how they navigated their new lives and provide advice and ideas to help create a new existence.  Sometimes knowing others are going through your same pain is a priceless gift.  Empathy and validation can provide healing for anyone suffering a loss.

In this episode, Ami, Christina, Kris and Melanie discuss the challenges, expectations and assumptions that can come about in the second year of grief.  In a support group-like format, the women offer truth of their experiences and empathetic advice on how to continue to manage grief after the 1st year.  Whether you are on the journey of grief or you are looking to help someone with their journey, this episode can provide hope, understanding and advice to ease the pain.