In this deeply personal solo episode, therapist and hos, Malisa Hepner, shares an honest update on her grief journey after the loss of her son, Jake. She reflects on the emotional fluctuations of grief, how the nervous system responds to profound loss, and the coping practices helping her move through the pain. Malisa also shares meaningful ways she plans to honor her son's birthday while learning to hold both sorrow and moments of joy. This conversation offers compassionate insight for anyone navigating grief, supporting someone who is grieving, or learning how to live alongside loss.
Grief is not linear, and experiencing moments of peace or even joy does not mean you are forgetting your loved one. Allow yourself to honor both the pain and the life still moving through you. One simple practice is to create a small ritual that keeps your loved one present in your life—whether that's lighting a candle, speaking their name, writing to them, or engaging in something they loved. These intentional moments can transform grief from something you carry alone into a relationship you continue to hold.
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