Let’s Talk About Grief!

If we had it our way, most of us would like to have the opportunity to say goodbye to the people in our lives before they die. However, in a lot of instances, this is not the case. The sudden death of a loved one can throw your life in a tailspin. Even though grief from a sudden death is not greater than an anticipated death, the capacity to cope with sudden death is diminished. Tune in today to hear La Tanya Cobb and Shandra Summerville tell their stories of grief, heartbreak and resilience after the sudden death of a loved one. What they have to say might be just what you need to help you on your grief journey.

Today's show explores the intersection of race, gender and grief, specifically looking at Black men and the grief process. Although grief is a natural social process, it is often misunderstood and can have negative implications for one's psychosocial development if left unattended or if inadequately processed. Because Black men not only experience normal grief, but are susceptible to egregious injustices and senseless acts that result in grievous experiences; understanding the social, cultural and psychological aspects of Black men’s grief process deserves attention. Join us today as we take a look at gender differences in response to grief, and as we discuss various social and cultural implications related to the Black man's grief experience. Tune in and learn ways that you may be able to help care for a Black man's grieving heart.

Today's show explores how to deal with death and grief with our children. From deciding how to talk to children about a sick loved one before their death, to making decisions about children going to funerals, to how grief looks different and unexpected in kids, we discuss tips and strategies for parents. This is part of parenting that we usually feel unprepared for and do not talk about like we do so many other parenting milestones. Our impulse is often to protect our children from sadness and loss, but we can also give them the gift of experiencing death in a supported way that will better equip them to manage loss as they grow up. Tune in and learn what to say to kids about death and dying, what to do to support kids in their grief, and what to expect in their grief process.

Prior to his death, nurse and artist, Joan Cantwell was one of the caretakers and the main coordinator of medical services for her 90-year old father. This entailed keeping track of the numerous appointments he had with his eight doctors, reading and explaining prescriptions, and frequent trips to the pharmacy. The shear complexity of it all required that she be diligent and precise in fulfilling her role. Joan found solace in her art. She began to focus her art on her father’s failing body parts by collaging pieces of medical bills, benefits statements, prescription labels, etc., that she collected during her medical journey. In this episode, Joan will share with us how art has allowed her to work through existential questions about life and how it has made it possible for her to move beyond feeling stuck.

Lois Hall was the first person to do AIDS epidemiology in Ohio back in 1981 when the disease was first recognized. The grief she witnessed was immense! During that time, she met, John James, one of the founders of The Grief Recovery Institute, and invited him to Ohio to share his work with grievers with people working in the AIDS field. What she learned changed her life! In this episode, Lois will talk about her experience as a Grief Recovery Specialist and share how using the Grief Recovery Method has helped to heal the emotional pain of grievers for decades.

The death of a loved one, the loss of a job, or the end of a relationship are all losses that could result in feelings of sadness, anger, and resentment. Acupuncture might be a way to find relief from this emotional pain. If you’re wondering how acupuncture helps with grief and loss then listen to this show. My guest, Nick Arestopoulos, will tell us how acupuncture heals the emotional body as well as the physical body. He’ll explain how certain emotions are linked to specific organs. Tune into this show and learn how acupuncture can help release pent-up emotions from your body.

When a loved one dies, the family is left with the privilege of making funeral arrangements. However, navigating this task can be mystifying to downright frightening. Today’s guest, Charles (Chuck) Hitzeman, will demystify the funeral home business. He is a fifth-generation funeral director and owner of Hitzeman Funeral Home. You’ll learn how funeral homes help people during this difficult time in their lives. As a funeral director, what is it like to be exposed to so much death? Tune in as he shares his experience of caring for the deceased and their families.

On today’s show, we will talk about “The Hidden Experience of Grief and Loss”. Many people are not aware of the hidden grief that occurs in relationships. As a result, the ability to respond to the experience in a supportive way is stifled. Because the experience is hidden – meaning, not being aware this is happening – many sufferers are not getting the support that they need to move through it well. Cordelia will share how she assists her clients who are dealing with relationship grief and loss, what prompted her to work with relationship grief and loss, and a few thoughts on how to move through the experience.

Loss is universal and grief is a natural reaction to loss. Recognizing that we all will be faced with death someday, it’s important that we get our affairs in order. There are many issues related to grief and death that could confront us. One is hospice. Hospice is a form of care that we frequently hear about but may not fully comprehend. To shed light on this subject, Toni Sanders will help us better understand the ins and outs of hospice and palliative care. Another aspect to consider is advance planning. Advance care planning is making decisions about the care you would want to receive if you become unable to speak for yourself. In this episode of Let’s Talk About Grief! learn about healthcare power of attorney, living wills, and advance directives.

Losses that occur at the prime of our lives can bring great challenges. Whether it’s the loss of a job or the decision to end a marriage, the accumulated losses at midlife can create havoc for people. But it also provides an opportunity for redemption. In her book, Midlife Maze, Dr. Janis Clark Johnston focuses on midlife development and recovery from losses that can flood adulthood. As troubling and unwanted as these losses may be, Dr. Johnston believes there is tremendous learning from the grieving process. In today’s show, she will explain what these lessons are and what it takes to get on track to live the life you’ve always wanted!

When Pamela Hagens 19-year old son, Samuel Christopher died in 2013, it was more than her family could stand. She likened it to being thrust onto a movie set with no time to prepare or rehearse. How do you go on after the death of a child? Making the choice to find strength in an unbearable situation, Pamela found it in her faith, family, friends, and fitness. In her beautiful Reflections, she shares what life has been like for her since that devastating morning in 2013. Now she shares what she learned with us.