Grief serves as a natural healing mechanism after losing someone to suicide, but certain thought patterns and behaviors can transform it from a healing tool into an obstacle that keeps us stuck.

• Grief is love with nowhere to go - an extension of our deep connection with the person we lost
• Our brains physically rewire in response to loss as they try to understand our new reality
• Signs grief is working against you include persistent guilt, avoiding memories, emotional stagnation, and inability to find joy
• Practical strategies include allowing emotions without judgment, seeking meaning in your loss, and taking small steps to reconnect with life
• Professional support through therapy, coaching or grief groups can be transformative when feeling stuck
• Happiness and grief can coexist - finding moments of joy honors your loved one rather than betrays them
• Everyone's grief journey differs, but there's a distinction between processing grief and being stuck in it

Take one small step today to let grief become a tool for healing rather than a force holding you back. Healing is not forgetting—it's learning to live again.

As always, thanks for listening!

We are a community dedicated to empower survivors of suicide loss along their grief journey. We invite you to check out our website to sign up for our weekly newsletter, along with other free materials."

Website: https://www.survived-to-thrive.com/

Email: amy@survived-to-thrive.com

Grief physically changes your brain, magnifying minor frustrations and triggering disproportionate emotional responses to life's small annoyances. Understanding the neuroscience behind these reactions can help survivors of suicide loss develop practical strategies to regain perspective when everyday stressors feel overwhelming.

• Grief impacts three key brain areas: the prefrontal cortex, limbic system, and default mode network
• Minor inconveniences like losing keys or spilling drinks can trigger outsized emotional reactions during grief
• Prolonged grief increases cortisol levels, contributing to heightened irritability and emotional reactivity
• Self-awareness and self-compassion are crucial first steps in managing disproportionate responses
• The "power of pause" technique helps create space between triggers and reactions
• Regular exercise, mindfulness practices, and quality sleep help rewire the brain's stress response
• The "zoom out method" helps regain perspective by asking "Will this matter in a week?"
• With practice, these heightened responses will gradually diminish over time

Check out survived-to-thrive.com for more information and to subscribe to get the podcast's latest episode, along with useful tips you can begin to use immediately to feel better, directly sent to your inbox.

As always, thanks for listening!

We are a community dedicated to empower survivors of suicide loss along their grief journey. We invite you to check out our website to sign up for our weekly newsletter, along with other free materials."

Website: https://www.survived-to-thrive.com/

Email: amy@survived-to-thrive.com

We explore the healing power of making future plans after suicide loss, demonstrating how looking forward can create purpose and stability while honoring our grief journey. Planning isn't about forgetting our loved ones but choosing to live fully despite loss, integrating our grief into a meaningful future.

• Grief after suicide loss often leaves survivors feeling stuck in survival mode, resistant to planning ahead
• Moving forward doesn't mean moving on—it means integrating grief while still choosing to live fully
• Planning trips or experiences provides something positive to anticipate, helping lift grief's heaviness
• Celebrations and milestone dates offer opportunities to honor loved ones' memories in meaningful ways
• Career changes or personal goals often emerge as survivors recognize life's brevity and seek greater purpose
• Start with small plans like a weekend getaway or dinner with friends to build momentum
• Remember David Kessler's wisdom: "Healing doesn't mean the loss didn't happen. It means it no longer controls your life"

If you liked this episode, please share it with someone who needs to hear it, and write a review on iTunes.

As always, thanks for listening!

We are a community dedicated to empower survivors of suicide loss along their grief journey. We invite you to check out our website to sign up for our weekly newsletter, along with other free materials."

Website: https://www.survived-to-thrive.com/

Email: amy@survived-to-thrive.com