In this episode I talk about the loss of a life partner and something I came across recently called the widowhood effect.

When I read about it, it didn’t just make sense in my head, I felt it. It helped me understand why this kind of loss can feel so overwhelming and so all consuming.

The widowhood effect is a term used in research that shows how losing a partner can impact not just how we feel, but our physical health, our sense of safety, our identity and our whole life.

In this episode I share some of that research, but also what it actually looks like in real life.

Because losing a partner is not just losing a person. It is losing the life you built together. The routines, the roles, the shared responsibility, the future you thought you were walking into.

I talk about the emotional impact, the physical toll grief can take on the body, the financial pressure that often comes with this loss, and the reality of becoming a solo parent while grieving.

Supporting children through their grief whilst carrying your own is something that is hard to put into words, but I try to here.

This episode is not about comparing grief.

It is about understanding why this loss can feel so different, and why it can touch every part of your life.

If you have lost a partner and have found yourself questioning why this feels so overwhelming, I hope this helps you feel seen.

If you are here to understand someone in your life, I hope this helps you understand what they may be carrying.

If you know someone else who may benefit from listening to this episode please feel free to share.

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