Grief Haven

Anger...it was one of my top emotions that I felt intensely and for a long time, but it's one of those emotions we feel we shouldn't experience with grief. Anger is very common amongst many grievers and there are so many reasons to feel anger following the death of a loved one. In life, we often get angry when we can't control what is happening to us or we don't like the outcome of...

Losing someone you love changes you forever. It instantly changes how you look at life and learning who you are now and all the lessons that go along with grief had a life long effect on you. It feels like for the worst in the beginning when you're navigating unknown waters. Julie dives into her journey with dealing with all the changes that she's faced along her grief journey and how she&...

A question we all ourselves in grief....will I ever be ok again? It doesn't feel like you will when you're sliding into that deep dark hole of grief. Everything is so raw, painful and overwhelming. It just doesn't seem possible. Join Julie on today's episode as she shares why it's so hard to feel ok again and some simple tools she used to start allowing herself to feel ok again...

What does coming to acceptance really mean in grief? On today's episode, Julie talks about how the blocks she built up around acceptance kept her stuck in her healing. Through her personal experience of navigating the aftermath of her husband's passing, Julie sheds light on the transformative power of acceptance and the significant role it played in her healing process. Stay tuned as she s...

We all experience emotions. They are a huge part of our lives and we spend a lot of time thinking about them and reacting to them. In grief, they tend to consume us like a tidal wave and your left with feeling your drowning especially if you have never been taught how to deal with these intense hard emotions. I was one of those people who only knew how to run away from their emotions and find copi...

In this episode of Grief Haven, Julie delves into the complex ripple effect of secondary losses that often follow the initial loss of a loved one. They are often overlooked but add multiple layers to your grief journey. Drawing from her personal experience as a widow, Julie compassionately explores the multitude of secondary losses that can manifest gradually and unexpectedly. Through heartfelt sh...

The concept of the five stages of grief, popularized by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, has been widely accepted as the standard model for understanding the grieving process. However, in today's episode of Grief Haven, Julie challenges the idea that everyone experiences grief neatly in these five stages. While the stages—denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance can provide a framework for...

In today's powerful episode of Grief Haven, we delve into the universal experience of grief triggers. These triggers can be anything that holds significance to our lost loved ones, catching us off guard and intensifying our pain. Julie compassionately explores the overwhelming nature of grief triggers, especially during the initial stages of loss, where it seems that everything around us serve...

We don't always get a say in the cards we are dealt in life, especially when a loved one dies. So after a death, we often feel like we have no more control over our emotions or life. But in this episode I want to talk about the choices you can still make for yourself. Implementing small positive choices for myself were pivotal in my healing journey and still continue to be. Choosing to heal is...

In today's episode, Julie sits down with Carla Mitchell from Puddle Jumper Publishing, an author and illustrator of a collection of bereavement stories for children, death doula and social worker. As the conversation unfolds, Carla generously shares her wealth of knowledge and profound wisdom on children coping with loss. We explore the importance of open communication, validating emotions, an...

In this episode, Julie dives into the deeply emotional experience of grief during the Christmas holidays. She explores how the holiday season can magnify the intensity of mourning and how it may feel even more challenging to navigate this time of year. Drawing from personal experiences and empathetic insights, Julie offers guidance on how to address grief during the festive season. Focusing on the...

Join Julie as she sits down with Chelsea who shares her transformative journey as she navigates the depths of grief after losing her husband. In this episode there is invaluable insights, experiences, and profound wisdom gathered from their individual grief journeys. Through heartfelt conversations, Julie and Chelsea offer solace, compassion, and hope to anyone grappling with loss. From the initia...

Condolences, they can leave you feeling speechless and unsure of how to provide comfort & support to someone who has lost a loved one. In this episode, Julie offers valuable insights to help navigate through the uncomfortableness of not knowing what to say. Reflecting on her own personal journey and experiences, Julie shares strategies to avoid inadvertently causing more pain and highlights be...

In this episode, Julie shares her experience navigating her boy's grief. Navigating the unpredictable terrain of children's grief can present a multitude of challenges. These young hearts are often ill-equipped to understand the complexities of death and the flood of emotions it brings. As caregivers, it is crucial to approach their grief with patience, sensitivity, and age-appropriate com...

In this episode, Julie dives into her own experience and challenges with death dates. Death dates are a unique and profound challenge that we all face. They carry an undeniable weight, reminding us of the finite nature of our existence. They evoke a myriad of emotions, from sorrow and grief to contemplation and reflection. The difficulty of death dates lies not only in the pain and loss they bring...

In this episode, discover how your emotions can be so entangled within each other. Gain a deeper understanding of the rollercoaster of emotions that weave their way through the fabric of your life during times of loss and transition and help to understand how to untangle them and understand what they are trying to tell you about your grief. If you like this episode... Make sure to share it with so...

In this episode, I talk about how there in no guidebook to help us on our journey, as grief does not have a blueprint; everyone grieves differently. Recognizing these raw and real truths about grief will help you navigate your grief journey and break down your own blocks you may be placing on your own grief.

In this episode, I open up about my personal journey through grief after losing my husband, Jason. With raw vulnerability, I recount the early days of incomprehensible pain, when every step seemed insurmountable and hope appeared out of reach. Through intimate conversations, I reflect upon the early days and how the stigma that society holds on grief, impacted me. Follow me on IG here @juliederks_...