Grief Uncensored Podcast

In this week's minisode, we confront the whirlwind of existential thoughts and questions that come with being in your 20 somethings. As 20-somethings, we are trying on so many different hats, exploring new paths, and choosing & changing our minds a million times. How scary of a thought is it to realize you have to power to make decisions that will impact your life? And how do we deal with the impact of situations that were out of our control? Trying to figure out your identity and place in this world is hard enough, then adding grief & loss on top of that is a while other thing. Talk about feeling lost! Join us as we talk about how losing a parent at this young age, amid self discovery, changes EVERYTHING. We discuss the void that created is so massive it impacts who we are & who we will become. It's okay to question why we're here, why these things happen, and what we would be like if they hadn't. It's okay not to have all the answers and have everything figured out. It's okay to take risks, try new things, and learn from failures along the way. Embracing the uncertainty and understanding that plans may not always unfold as expected are all part of the journey. Experiencing the profound impact of a life-altering loss only adds another layer of complexity to this transformative time.

Welcome back to Season 3 of Grief Uncensored, the podcast where we navigate the uncharted waters of loss, pain, and healing. Your hosts, Julia Gallegos and Yako Shirasuna, are back after a much-needed hiatus. During our break, we took the time to reflect, recharge, and analyze how this year will bring a different perspective to both our personal grief journeys and the podcast itself. Join us in this candid catch-up session as we share our experiences, the lessons we've learned, and how the landscape of grief has evolved in our lives. Year 3 of grief has brought new challenges, unexpected twists, and, of course, moments of profound growth. We're here to lay it all out on the table, discussing the highs, the lows, and everything in between. It's an emotional journey, but we're not holding back. This season promises to be more honest, more vulnerable, and more comforting than ever before. So grab your headphones, find a cozy spot, and join us as we embark on another season of Grief Uncensored. Let's navigate the complexities of grief together, finding solace in shared experiences and embracing the healing power of open, unfiltered conversation. Welcome to Season 3; we've missed you, and we can't wait to explore the depths of grief with you once again.

With summer over and the days getting shorter, the worst time of the year for us grievers is approaching. Holiday season is just around the corner along with its endless parade of reminders of our dead loved ones. It’s possible to feel joy, but it often feels bittersweet. This bittersweet feeling is experienced all the time with grief especially during holidays and big ceremonious events like weddings. On top of that, seasonal depression is real and we’re definitely feeling it. This week we’re talking about mentally preparing for this time and what we’re expecting. This is one of our first minisodes. Stay tuned for more minisodes throughout the holiday season. As always, much love.

Compounded or cumulative grief is when a person experiences several losses in a short period of time. It when when the grief and loss in ones life seems to pile-on, causing bereavement overload. It could mean losing several loved ones, or losing a loved one, then a relationship, then a pet, etc. No matter where your losses are coming from, it is a grief overload that is hard to deal with. Our guest this week, Hanna Normandeau, experienced the loss of her Dad, grandmother, and grandfather, all within an 8-month period. Hanna lays out her experience losing her dad tragically and traumatically to COVID-19, and shortly after losing her elderly grandparents more “naturally” but devastating nonetheless. We learn about how compounded grief feels overwhelming and creates longer periods of denial, how our grief looks differently depending on the relationship we had with the person while they were still on earth, and the intricacies of the effects of bereavement overload. Watch the video version of this podcast on YouTube. Want to be a guest? Want to join our Facebook group for other grieving young adults? Want to submit your person for our "Feature of The Week" Instagram series? CLICK THE LINK BIO!! https://linktr.ee/griefuncensoredpodcast

World Mental Health Day is October 10th according to the World Health Organization. In honor of that, we dedicated this week's episode to mental health struggles through the lens of grief. For those of us who experience mental health struggles, we know how it feels to live in an unequal world. There is often a stigma and shame when it comes to mental illnesses. This episode is our attempt to normalize talking about the hard stuff. In this episode, we cover how grief changed our journey with mental health, how COVID-19 impacted mental health, derealization & depersonalization, and struggling with anxiety & depression. Lastly, we talk about the difference between suicidal ideation and thoughts and speak from the heart about wanting to end the pain.  Our goal is to normalize asking for help, going to therapy, having bad days (not everyday can be great), showing emotions, taking a break/not pushing your limits, not being ok (knowing it'll pass or come in waves), speaking up and telling people about your grief/depression/suicidal thoughts.  Resources: If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts please call the Suicide and Crisis line 988 OR 1-800-273-8255 is the phone number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. You can also text “TALK” to the Crisis Text Line at 741741, a trained crisis counselor will receive it and respond within minutes. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call 1-800-273-8255. The Crisis Text Line: Text “TALK” 741741 Nonprofits: LGBTQ resource The Trevor Project, National Alliance for Mental Health (NAMI), The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, International Association for Suicide Prevention - IASP Health Care providers can be found through your primary care physician, employee assistance or school (many universities offer free mental health care) Apps such as Better Help, Talkspace, Cerebral, etc. Podcasts Therapy Thoughts with Tiffany Roe Let’s Talk About Mental Health with Jeremy Godwin Click the link below for more Grief Uncensored resources including our Facebook group for other young adults grieving a significant loss: https://linktr.ee/griefuncensoredpodcast

How the f*** are we supposed to “go back to normal” after we have just experienced a life-changing loss? Our world stops yet, time keeps ticking away. The world keeps going on without us as we watch from the sidelines. Grievers are asked TOO often to put on a mask for the outside world and pretend everything is ok. Know that it’s normal to feel like a zombie or to numb-out on auto-pilot.  In this episode, we layout all the difficulties of having to go back to normal after the initial loss and provide 5 different tools to add to your “going back to normal” toolbox:  1. Be transparent with people who can be on your side. 2. Protect your peace by having a list of pre-written responses you can “copy and paste” when people ask you questions that are inconsiderate or ignorant.  3. Find how YOU like to self soothe: walks, yoga, etc.  4. Don’t feel guilty for choosing you & speaking your truth.  5. KNOW YOUR WORTH & that you deserve grace & space to heal.  Watch the video version of this podcast on YouTube. Want to be a guest? Want to join our Facebook group for other grieving young adults? Want to submit your person for our "Feature of The Week" Instagram series? CLICK THE LINK BIO!! https://linktr.ee/griefuncensoredpodcast

Another life talk with your hosts, Julia and Yako. In this episode, we’re just catching up about all that’s happened since Season 1. We talk about the ever-changing nature of being in your 20’s while simultaneously dealing with the crushing weight of grief. Julia talks about moving to a new city and starting a new life, and Yako talks about visiting home and transitioning into adulthood. Also, we dive into how to deal with disappointment when people in your life fail to show up for you.    Watch the video version of this podcast on YouTube! Want to be a guest? Want to join our Facebook group for other grieving young adults? Want to participate in our "Feature Your Loved One" series on Instagram? CLICK THE LINK BELOW!!   https://linktr.ee/griefuncensoredpodcast

Funerals are the worst. They’re awkward, traumatic, and exhausting. Is there really any way to mentally prepare for one, especially one for your parent? *TRIGGER WARNING*: Today’s episode dives deep into certain details about our funeral experiences. Please don’t listen to this episode if this is a triggering topic for you. Additionally, as seen evidently in this episode and throughout our whole podcast, we use humor to cope with trauma so please do not think we are taking this topic lightly. https://linktr.ee/griefuncensoredpodcast

People often say that grief comes in waves. Sometimes the water is calm, and at other times, it is overwhelming. Some days you learn to float, and on other days, you are fighting not to drown. Today, we talk about how the waves of grief look in our own lives. Join us for another vulnerable conversation where we discuss this duality in grief, the highs and lows and everything in between. https://linktr.ee/griefuncensoredpodcast

This episode, we're having a heart to heart directly with you: the ones who have been profoundly impacted by loss. These are the words we wish were said to us in the early days of our grief... words that we would've wanted to hear. When we say "early", please know that there is no specific time frame for how a loss feels to you. Whether that's years, months, or days is completely up to you. If you resonate with this title or description, please listen to this because this episode was meant for you.  https://linktr.ee/griefuncensoredpodcast

We wanted to do things a little differently this week and take this opportunity as a chance for you guys to get to know us a little better. In this episode, we answer some questions from viewers submitted through Instagram and our Google Form, and just sit and talk to you guys about our grief journey, our friendship, and our opinion on certain grief-related topics. https://linktr.ee/griefuncensoredpodcast

We’re back after a much needed mental break. This week we’re diving into one of the most difficult topics: Grief-induced anxiety and potential triggers. Prominent losses in our lives create big changes in a short amount of time, creating a surge in our feelings of chaos and fear. When big life changes come out of no where, we feel like we aren’t safe or in control, bringing forth a fear of the unknown and uncontrollable. We often ask ourselves who we might lose next, will this be the last goodbye, or will I have to accept the same cancer diagnosis one day? There is no rationalizing with your anxious thoughts, and you can’t just “talk yourself out of it.” We get it. https://linktr.ee/griefuncensoredpodcast

We're back this week to talk more in depth about some of the other secondary losses that are less physical. In Pt. 2, we focus on the loss of what once was and what will never be. Some examples of this include things like the loss of all future possibilities with our loved ones, grieving our past selves, the loss of our identity, loss of motivation, and loss of confidence. https://linktr.ee/griefuncensoredpodcast