Grieving Voices
Grieving Voices is a podcast started by a lifelong griever for grievers. The mission of Grieving Voices is to change the conversation around grief, and how we address our own and that of others and give grievers a platform for sharing what grief has taught them. Through education and personal story, listeners will learn more effective ways to help themselves and others. The Grieving Voices podcast is part of The Unleashed Heart, LLC. Grief resources and additional support are available at www.theunleashedheart.com
Grieving Voices
Elizabeth Catignani | My Shattered Heart: Experiencing Stillbirth & Being a Widow at 27
As a mother, carrying and growing another human in the womb for nine months, it is expected that a healthy child will be born. However, for Elizabeth, that is not what happened. Her world was shattered when she realized that she wouldn't be a new mom overflowing with joy. Rather, she would become a mother with grieving empty arms.
After her firstborn died, Elizabeth and her husband were fortunate to have a healthy daughter. Yet again, her joy was cut short when their daughter was only about 5 months old when her husband was deployed in the Special Forces in the Army.
Her husband owed the military one last deployment and within six weeks of that deployment to Afghanistan, Elizabeth received a call that no military spouse ever wants to receive. Her husband was in Germany with injuries sustained while on deployment. She flew to Germany to be with him, which would turn out to be for his final breaths.
All of that loss within an 18-month period would be the catalyst for her to look for and ultimately create a space for herself and other grieving young widows.
Through a lot of ongoing healing and inner work, Elizabeth did find love again and has a family with so much love to give to. But, it wasn't a quick, bounce-right-back process either, and being a young widow, who was also still grieving a son, would pose its own challenges, too.
There's truly no way to skirt around grief. You have to feel it.
RESOURCES:
- Website, Her Creative Wellness
- Resources, Her Creative Wellness
- Book, Creative Grieving: A Hip Chick's Path from Loss to Hope
- Art Therapy for Veterans (Behind the Mask)
CONNECT:
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NEED HELP?
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
- Crisis Text Line provides free, 24/7 support via text message. Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a trained Crisis Counselor
If you are struggling with grief due to any of the 40+ losses, free resources are available HERE.
CONNECT WITH VICTORIA:
This episode is sponsored by Do Grief Differently™️, my twelve-week, one-on-one, in-person/online program for grievers who have suffered any type of loss to feel better. Click here to learn new tools, grief education, and the only evidence-based method for moving beyond the pain of grief.
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