Surviving Grief

Anxiety influences millions of Americans, but what many of them don’t realize is that it can be a response to grief. In the first of three episodes, Kelley and Megs discuss a book—Anxiety: The Missing Stage of Grief—which helped them both navigate their own grief-based anxiety. In this introductory episode, they discuss recognizing grief-based anxiety, facing the physical manifestations, and how they begin taking steps forward.

Find Anxiety: The Missing Stage of Grief by Claire Bidwell-Smith here.
Join a Grief Support Group live or online here.
Share your story with us at [email protected] 

Grief doesn’t always express itself in easy-to-recognize ways. Case in point: anxiety. Grief Leaders, Kelley and Megs, were both surprised to find their own grief journeys passed through times of significant anxiety. It wasn’t until they were able to recognize it, and name it, that they began the process of healing. In this episode, they share their own stories, ideas on how to confront your own anxiety, and future plans to dive deeper into the topic of anxiety connected to grief. 

You can find the book Kelley and Megs referenced, Anxiety: The Missing Stage of Grief by Claire Bidwell-Smith, here.

Join a Grief Support Group live or online here.

Share your story with us at [email protected] 

Grief can be messy, complicated, and deeply personal—we move at our own speeds, and many days it feels like "one step forward, two steps back." Because of that, it's easy to feel like we're stuck. What do we do then? Grief leaders, Kelley and Megs, discuss how to recognize if you’re stuck in grief, and what you can do to get back on the path to healing. 

Join a Grief Support Group live or online here.
Share your story with us at [email protected] 

The first year after experiencing a loss is full of firsts—the first holiday without your loved one, the first anniversary of their passing, and the first time attending (or choosing not to attend) events that you once shared together. In this teaching episode, grief leaders Megs and Kelley offer empathy, wisdom, and practical insights into navigating the “Year of Firsts.”

Join a Grief Support Group live or online here.
Share your story with us at [email protected] 

When you are walking through grief, the holiday season can feel more demanding, more painful, and more exhausting than ever before. In this episode, Grief Leaders Megs and Kelley share a goldmine of proven strategies and tips to help you survive the holiday season. From ensuring you are getting enough sleep, to trying new traditions, to taking on less responsibility, this episode is filled to the brim with helpful information from two experts who have passed through grief and into new life on the other side. 

Join a Grief Support Group live or online here.
Share your story with us at [email protected] 

Recorded live during a recent weekend service at Crossroads Church, teaching pastor Chuck Mingo expounds upon the power of dealing with our emotions honestly, and including God in that process. Looking back at times of grief in his own life, and in learning to be more proficient with his feelings, Chuck found that God wasn’t put off by his emotions—rather, it was something that drew them closer together. Whether you’re currently going through grief, supporting someone who is, or just looking to grow in your emotional capacity, there is something for you in this live teaching. 

Watch Chuck’s teaching here. 
Access the feelings wheel here. 

Join a Grief Support Group live or online here.
Share your story with us at [email protected] 

Podcast host, and grief ministry leader at Crossroads, Megs Gelfgot, looks back on the loss of miscarriage. After a healthy first pregnancy, losing a baby was the last thing in her mind. In this teaching episode, Megs remembers what was helpful, what wasn’t, and how the grief of miscarriage influences not only the mother, but the father as well. 

Join a Grief Support Group live or online here.
Share your story with us at [email protected] 

Karen shares her powerful story of loss, hope, and finding purpose. 8 years after her son took his own life, she is volunteering in grief support, serving others, and continuing to grow. That doesn’t mean there aren’t hard days, but Karen’s story highlights the power of persistence in pursuing healing. 

Join a Grief Support Group live or online here.
Share your story with us at [email protected] 

The type of loss experienced can very often have a profound impact on the grief journey that follows. Counselor Mark Pruden returns to Surviving Grief to talk through the differences in unique grief types, how the grief process may look different for each one, and how loved ones can help support in each of these situations. 

Join a Grief Support Group live or online here.
Share your story with us at [email protected] 

At some point, we'll all walk alongside someone who is grieving. Grief Leader Megs gives us practical and tangible tools we can all use, and encouragement to stay the course when the going gets hard.