Shapes Of Grief: Recent Episodes
Liz Gleeson, MSc Bereavement
Shapes of Grief is brought to you by Liz Gleeson, an Irish grief therapist. Liz hosts conversations with people about their experience of loss and grief in their lives. Through the recounting of our grief stories, integration can begin to happen, both for the teller and the listener. Everyone has a story of loss and everyone's story offers hope and inspiration to other grievers. Sharing these stories with each other can go a long way in normalising this human experience. Please do become a Patron on https://www.patreon.com/shapesofgrief for as little as $5 per month, help keep us going!
In this episode, Vicky Linnane discusses the profound and often overlooked experience of sibling loss and the impact of sibling loss on her identity, relationships and sense of self.
Vicky’s brother, Gary, who died in a house fire - was described as a character who always lived life on the edge, having multiple incidents and accidents that always left their family uneasy, ultimately leading to anticipatory grief for Vicky and her family.
Vicky describes how grief never leaves us but we learn to live with it. She outlines what was supportive, what wasn’t supportive and well as taking us through her journey of understanding her grief and how she integrated her grief into her life.
Vicky expresses the disenfranchised grief she experienced with losing a sibling as she takes us through the multitude of losses she suffered from - including the loss of a possible future and the loss of the potential relationship she could have had with her brother as she reveals she reignited her relationship with her brother shortly before he died.
Vicky beautifully illustrates her grieving process as she reveals her unique ways of dealing with her grief. Vicky offered insights into the complexities of this type of disenfranchised grief, the enduring bonds of siblinghood, and the challenges of finding a path toward 'healing'.
Vicky Linnane is an Art Therapist who facilitates courageous journeys with individuals and groups. She uses creativity to explore our darkest nooks and crannies that gently shine light on our vulnerabilities and imperfections and helps those of all ages to recognise and celebrate their unique story and accept their authentic self.
Creative expression within a therapeutic relationship can have a powerful impact on maintaining good mental health, and this is something that Vicky has dedicated her working life to. Art Therapy can help to resolve conflicts and problems for individuals of all ages, backgrounds, and genders.
Vicky maintains a client led approach and holds a non-judgmental space for all her clients.
You can find out more on her website www.enricharttherapy.com
In this episode Mary discusses the multifaceted aspects of menopause, the losses associated with menopause, ambiguous loss as well as the release of her new book; Seven Steps to Birth a Crone. She explores the physical and emotional changes, the challenges and triumphs and the unique ways she’s embraced this transition . This episode focuses on the impact of menopause on self-esteem, relationships, and self-identity.
She has edited several publications and her work has appeared in several collections and anthologies and has been published in newspapers, magazines and e-zines both nationally and internationally. Some of her works include ‘Sunny Spells, Scattered Showers’, Carroll R. & Kennelly M. Glenwood Press, 2004 and ‘From the Stones’, Fitzmaurice B. & Kennelly M. Evensong Publications, 2010.
Purchase Mary's latest (beautiful) book on her website, as well as prints from the book.
See the link below to access her website as well as her social media handles:
Facebook: Mary Kennelly
Twitter: @marykpoet
Instagram: bmkennelly
Website: https://marykennelly.com
About Shapes of Grief:
Shapes of Grief is an internationally recognized organization dedicated to enhancing competency around loss, grief and bereavement literacy. Curated by Psychotherapist and grief specialist Liz Gleeson, Shapes of Grief equips individuals with the tools and expertise necessary for understanding and supporting the complex needs of the bereaved, or people grieving any type of loss.
With a curriculum that has been meticulously developed to include the most comprehensive evidence-based material available, Shapes Of Grief stands out as the only program to feature contributions from international grief experts. The award-winning online programme offers different levels of training to accurately meet the needs of each learner.
We are back with a new episode of our podcast! Listen in via any major podcast streaming platform!
In this episode, Tasha opens up about her experience of pregnancy loss and then loosing another child to adoption, and how that impacted her life as a young teenager.
Tasha discusses her experience of the #DisenfranchisedGrief she suffered for years, without realizing that's what she was experiencing, until the deaths of two sisters would bring much of her unresolved grief to the surface.
Tasha takes us through her profoundly painful journey of facing her grief and how she began to integrate her losses - using writing as a creative outlet. Tasha Smith is a wife, mother, and writer from North Carolina. She has appeared on Her View from Home, Focus on the Family, and TODAY Parents. Find her online at www.imnatashasmith.com
Sinead O'Connor was many things to many people. On 8th August, her funeral procession brought her back to her former hometown Bray, Co. Wicklow, where her community could pay their condolences and express their love and gratitude for this beloved woman. I travelled to Bray to speak to some of the mourners.
grief #collectivegrief #sineadoconnor #sineado'connor #nothingcompares2u
June 20th is World Refugee Day
I am so lucky and privileged to live in a country that is not threatened by war. My children are safe, have access to good education and have their human rights supported and protected. Not everyone is so lucky. Many people in the world live under the daily threat of war, violence or poverty. When home is no longer safe, many people make the impossible decision to risk their family's lives by seeking refugee abroad. Some of them make it, many don't. Just this week, hundreds of people lost their lives when the boat they were travelling in sank: "All the women died, drowned, with their children in their arms".
I recorded this conversation with Caoimhe Butterly a few months ago as part of the Shapes Of Grief online Training Programme. I also want to make it freely available as a podcast episode, so that it can be spread far and wide. If you have refugees living in your community, are you helping them to find the safety, refuge and kindness that they deserve? I'm not one to quote Jesus, but there's a first time for everything, right? this quote, feels especially apt "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you".
No twenty three year old, starting out on married life, expects to be widowed so young, but that is what happened Lucy. After her husband died, not only did she lose him, but also the family and friends that surrounded her - she was from the 'wrong' tribe. Lucy generously shares her experience of her life after loss, navigating domestic violence and ultimately fleeing with her three young children to the safety of Ireland. In the decade or so since Lucy has lived in Ireland, she has come through the Direct Provision system, found work, created a social enterprise, met the president of Ireland and written a book. Lucy is beyond inspiring and it was simply humbling to listen to her story and learn from her incredible psychological flexibility, capacity for forgiveness and unwavering kindness.
Lucy wrote a book for her first son, so that he could know his father. The book can be purchased here https://www.austinmacauley.com/author/press-alexia
This is such an important perspective that hasn't yet been explicitly been explored by the podcast. In this episode, Mandy Gosling shares her experience of being a bereaved child after her mother died when she was aged 9. We explore how this early loss can impact a person's life, affecting their relationships and sense of self in the world. Grief has not always been supported well, and certainly, for several generations of adults who were bereaved as children, they are still living with the ripple effects of that.
More resources for Adults Bereaved as Children can be found on Mandy's website www.abcgrief.co.uk
About Shapes of Grief: Shapes of Grief is an internationally recognized organization dedicated to enhancing competency around loss, grief and bereavement literacy. Curated by Psychotherapist and grief specialist Liz Gleeson, Shapes of Grief equips individuals with the tools and expertise necessary for understanding and supporting the complex needs of the bereaved, or people grieving any type of loss. With a curriculum that has been meticulously developed to include the most comprehensive evidence-based material available, Shapes Of Grief stands out as the only program to feature contributions from international grief experts. The award-winning online programme offers different levels of training to accurately meet the needs of each learner.
The pain of losing a child can trigger immensely distressing emotions. In the aftermath of a child's death, it is common for bereaved parents to feel that life no longer has purpose or meaning. In this conversation, Tony generously shares the story of his son Jake's sudden death, how Tony's past and environment shaped his experience of grief, how his anger nearly killed him and how a moment of grace would save his life and help him to find his purpose again. #grief #mensgrief #griefpodcast
Often called 'The forgotten grievers', there is no name for someone who has lost a sibling. They regularly hear 'how is your mum?' or 'how is your dad?', but rarely 'how are you?'. For a sibling, the loss can be enormous. Not only have they been bereaved of someone they have known probably for most or all of their lives, but they have also lost a version of their parents or family that existed before their sibling became ill or died; serious illness and death changes people and changes families. In this tender and honest conversation, Kate talks about what it was like when her baby sister was diagnosed with cancer. How painful it was to try to connect with Hanna when Hanna just wasn't available for meaningful connection and how that changed over time.
Hanna's book of poetry I would live for you, which Kate finished after Hanna's death, is available to purchase from https://www.hannawilt.com
hannawilt #iwouldliveforyou #katekiesel #cancer #mesothelioma #griefpodcast
Jackie Furlong describes the immense psychological and emotional challenges of coping with the profound impact of her daughter's death, without the benefit of emotional literacy. It would be years after her loss that Jackie would learn how to grieve. Jackie's thesis was an autobiography - Giving Voice to Grief. The question she researched - Is there a path through the grieving process where we can find a deeper understanding of what it means to grieve? Her writing is based on her own lived experience and inspired by the loss of her 22yr old daughter in 2007.
About Shapes of Grief
Shapes of Grief is an internationally recognized organization dedicated to enhancing competency around loss, grief and bereavement literacy. Curated by Psychotherapist and grief specialist Liz Gleeson, Shapes of Grief equips individuals with the tools and expertise necessary for understanding and supporting the complex needs of the bereaved, or people grieving any type of loss. With a curriculum that has been meticulously developed to include the most comprehensive evidence-based material available, Shapes Of Grief stands out as the only program to feature contributions from international grief experts. The award-winning online programme offers different levels of training to accurately meet the needs of each learner. Don’t wait to make a difference in the lives of those who need it most, sign-up HERE for our FREE Masterclass in Loss & Grief. #grief #bereavement #parentalloss
Liz and Kathy talk about Kathy's experience of multiple miscarriages and how devastating it was to not have a much-wanted third child. Kathy talks about how harmful the process became for her and how she found her sanity again, in the wilds of Donegal. Buy Kathy's newly published book 'Finding my Wild' from Easons here.
‘Life had brought me to the edge of myself and here I was feeling like I was on the edge of the world.’
After moving back to her homeplace on the Inishowen Peninsula in Donegal with her young family, journalist Kathy Donaghy’s life changed in ways she never saw coming. This unflinching memoir looks back at a decade of love and loss, of mothering, identity and ultimately healing. An ode to friendship, home and the extraordinary healing powers of immersing yourself in the natural world, especially the ocean.
About Shapes Of Grief
Shapes of Grief is an organization dedicated to increasing literacy around loss and grief. Established by internationally recognized expert Liz Gleeson, an Irish grief-educated therapist, Shapes of Grief is supporting bereaved people through the podcast and Award-Winning online Training Programme. Join the community today and learn more about the training we offer at shapesofgrief.com. Sign-up for our FREE Masterclass today here
I have been following the research of Dr Mary-Frances O’Connor for almost a decade now, so I was absolutely delighted when she published her book ‘The Grieving Brain’ last year. I am always hungry to learn about grief and specifically, what can the science tell us about how to make sure we are supporting the bereaved in the most compassionate and effective way possible. This book affirmed a lot of what I experience in clinical practice and also taught me more about the grieving process.
Loss of a loved one is something everyone experiences, and for as long as humans have existed, we have struggled when a loved one dies. Poets and playwrights have written about the dark cloak of grief, the deep yearning, and devastating heartache of loss. But until now, we have had little scientific perspective on this universal experience.
In THE GRIEVING BRAIN: The Surprising Science of How We Learn from Love and Loss (HarperOne; February 1, 2022; Hardcover) renowned grief expert, neuroscientist, and psychologist Mary-Frances O’Connor, Ph.D., shares groundbreaking discoveries about what happens in our brain when we grieve, providing a new paradigm for understanding love, loss, and learning. In The Grieving Brain, O’Connor, who has devoted decades to researching the effects of grief on the brain, reveals a fascinating new window into one of the hallmark experiences of being human. She makes cutting-edge neuroscience accessible and guides us through how we encode love and grief. With love, our neurons help us form attachments to others; but, with loss, our brain must come to terms with where our loved ones went, and how to imagine a future that encompasses their absence. Significantly, O’Connor debunks Kubler-Ross’ enduring idea of the “Five Stages of Grief” and sets a new paradigm for understanding grief on a neurological level. -More- Based on O’Connor’s own trailblazing neuroimaging work, research in the field, and real-life stories, The Grieving Brain brings together accessible science and practical knowledge that provides a more nuanced understanding of what happens when we grieve and how to navigate loss with more ease and grace. The Grieving Brain addresses: • Why it’s so hard to understand that a loved one has died and is gone forever • Why grief causes so many emotions—sadness, anger, blame, guilt, and yearning • Why grieving takes so long • What happens in the brain during grief • The distinction between grief and complicated grief • Why we ruminate so much after we lose a loved one • How we go about restoring a meaningful life while grieving. Ground-breaking, fascinating and accessible, The Grieving Brain is essential reading for everyone who’s lost someone and for anyone looking for a way to heal.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Mary-Frances O’Connor, PhD is an associate professor of psychology at the University of Arizona, where she directs the Grief, Loss and Social Stress (GLASS) Lab, which investigates the effects of grief on the brain and the body. O’Connor earned a doctorate from the University of Arizona in 2004 and completed a fellowship at UCLA. Following a faculty appointment at UCLA Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, she returned to the University of Arizona in 2012. Her work has been published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, Biological Psychiatry, and Psychological Science, and featured in Newsweek, the New York Times, and The Washington Post. Having grown up in Montana, she now lives in Tucson, Arizona. For more information go to https://www.maryfrancesoconnor.com/ THE GRIEVING BRAIN The Surprising Science of How We Learn from Love and Loss By Mary-Frances O’Connor HarperOne, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers Hardcover | ISBN: 9780062946232
www.maryfrancesoconnor.com/book
Twitter: @doctormfo
FaceBook: @maryfranceso Instagram: @doctormfoconnor LinkedIn: Mary-Frances O’Connor
Phoenix talks about their grief following family estrangement because of their LGBTQ identity. This is a kind of disenfranchised grief that many LGBTQ+ people experience with little to no recognition or support from society. Life can change in an instant, yet the loss remains ambiguous because nobody has died. #ambiguousloss #disenfranchisedgrief
"I am white-anglo, living on unceded Turrbal and Jaggera lands in a place called Meanjin (colonially known as Brisbane, Australia). I am sighted, hearing, mostly able-bodied, monolingual, and in my mid-forties. I am queer, in a complex myriad of ways. My sexuality is fluid, currently asexual. I am polyamorous by orientation, and unpartnered by choice. The best words I can find for my gender are cisgender unwoman. I identify with the gender I was assigned at birth, but I reject its socially constructed strictures. I have what the DSM calls ADHD, though I prefer to depathologise this by calling it zoomy brain. I am autistic, but functionally allistic due to deeply internalised masking. I am a parent, and became so via my own body undergoing pregnancy and birth. My three children are now adults; two cisgender daughters and a trans/non-binary adult kid. Aside from my children, my kinship system is not biological, but consists of beloved friends and queerfamilial kin. I am a survivor of many and varied traumas. I am strong as fuck. I am fragile as cobweb. I am full of love. I am full of rage. I am kind."
I am currently building my new website www.firebirdpsychotherapy.com
Sacha and Liz discuss childhood cancer, anticipatory grief and the misunderstandings that often surround incurable disease. They talk about the different meanings between incurable, terminal, palliative care and end-of-life. Sacha describes what is was like going through anticipatory grief and how her son wanted to speak about his death in ways that would surprise her. #childhoodcancerawarenessmonth #childhoodcancer #anticipatorygrief #parentalbereavement #cancer
A conversation about some of the needs of bereaved people and why Grief.Coach texting service could be a wonderful balm for people during their most vulnerable months and years.
Order your copy of ‘Poems for when you can’t find the words’ here
In this episode, I speak to Mary Shine Thompson about the power of poetry at end-of-life and during times of grief. We also talk about her personal experiences of loss; how the death of her brother as young adults reshaped her life, and how the death of her mother at age 93, brought with it a profound grief. It’s another beautiful conversation that looks at yet more Shapes of Grief.
Poems for When You Can’t Find the Words is a comforting collection of poetry from the Irish Hospice Foundation surrounding loss and end of life. The book brings together classic poets, beloved Irish figures, medieval translations and new commissions, which together form a diverse anthology designed to bring solace and refuge to those in need.
Created in partnership with Poetry Ireland, Poems for When You Can’t Find the Words offers intimate verse of honesty, candour and solidarity to patients, carers and the bereaved alike. Readers will find comfort in the penned reflections of death, grief, loss and love that span the barriers of time, geography and language.
‘Sometimes, the right words in the right order remain tantalisingly beyond our reach: when, for example, emotions are raw, or formless, or just overwhelming,’ said Mary Shine Thompson, who edited and introduced the collection. ‘[Poetry] speaks to the fears and concerns that illness and approaching death awaken. Poetry can keep us going.’
An essential collection for those leaving or left, Poems for When You Can’t Find the Words includes comforting works by Patrick Kavanagh, Louise Glück, Seamus Heaney, Emily Dickinson, Michael D. Higgins, Paula Meehan and more.
Irish Hospice Foundation is a national charity that addresses dying, death and bereavement in Ireland. Their vision is an Ireland where people facing end of life or bereavement, and those who care for them, are provided with the care and support that they need.
Mary Shine Thompson lectured in English at St Patrick’s College Drumcondra, now Dublin City University, until her retirement. Her edition of Skelligs Haul, by Michael Kirby, was published in 2019, and her exploration of the literary heritage of Westmeath features in Westmeath: Literature and Society (edited by S. O’Brien and W. Nolan, 2022). She is a former chair of Poetry Ireland, the national organisation for poetry, and also of Imram, Féile Litríochta Gaeilge.
Poems for When You Can’t Find the Words by the Irish Hospice Foundation will be published by Gill Books on Thursday, 1 September 2022, priced at €16.99. For publicity enquiries, contact Kristen Olson, Publicist, kolson@gill.ie / 086 013 7939.
Sometimes I wish the world were a little smaller, so I could meet my guests in person. Adriana is one of those people who I’d love to spend time with. This, for me, was a beautiful, insightful, honest and tender conversation about humanity, addiction, love, capacity to show up in the face off death, or not, and finding our feet again, literally, after profound loss. #cancer #addictionandloss #death #grief #movement #dancinggrief
Biography
Adriana Marchione has been involved in the arts for over thirty years as a filmmaker, dancer, photographer and is internationally recognized in her work as a movement-based expressive arts therapist and educator. Since 2002, Adriana has taught at the renowned Tamalpa Institute, WHEAT Institute in Canada and founded her own wellness center in San Francisco. She has presented her creative healing approach, with a focus on addiction, eating disorders, trauma and grief, at festivals, conferences, and treatment centers including South by Southwest, Studio le théâtre du Corps in Paris and the prestigious Commonwealth Club of California. Adriana created When the Fall Comes in 2014, a performance project that culminated in a short film based on her own life story encountering intimate grief and loss. When the Fall Comes was translated into French and Korean and streamed in universities across America and Canada through Kanopy. She has been in recovery from alcoholism for 29 years and was awarded Artist of the Year by ‘In Recovery’ magazine in 2016. Adriana recently released The Creative High, an award-winning documentary film featuring nine artists with substance use disorder who are transformed by the creative process.
Find more about Adriana’s work, www.adrianamarchione.com, and her film work at www.whenthefallcomes.com and www.thecreativehigh.com.
This interview really hit me in the guts. It is sometimes a roll of the dice how our lives can unfold. Damien’s story is an incredible story of resilience and determination in the face of loss and hopelessness. Following a significant childhood trauma, at the age of 14, Damien found himself sole carer for his younger brother in a new country without any supports. What followed were years of addiction, criminality & an overdose which gave him a brush with death. Damien became very familiar with that ‘rock bottom’ place and yet somehow found the internal courage and strength of character to completely transform his life, despite meeting significant social stigma due to his criminal record.
Damien and I met through Social Entrepreneurs Ireland, who do amazing work to support Social Enterprises in Ireland.
Spéire Nua
The founder of Spéire Nua is Damien Quinn. Damien had his own challenges with substance abuse and criminality right through his teens and well into his twenties. He realised he needed to change when it was too late. Knowing that he would be looking at a lengthy prison sentence, Damien made the decision to use the time to get an education.
What he found though, when his time was served, was that no matter what he had done to improve his employability, the label always outweighed the progress he had made since ‘that time’.
This led to disillusionment with the whole system which seemed stacked against him, even though he was after putting in a huge effort to change, become educated and employable and to do all the right things to set himself up to start again.
His progress started to wain and he was finding himself right back where he started. He felt it was no wonder people kept ending up back in there. After a bought of misery and then some treatments Damien returned home to start again.
Unable to get employment anywhere, he reengaged with education to fill his days. As he progressed with education he found employment through a friend and hasn’t looked back since.
Throughout his studies, he has always been interested in making easier for people that are actively trying to turn their lives around and his goal is to make sure that no one has to experience the difficulties he did when trying to rebuild his life.
Damien linked his Masters Study to the problem described here and wrote the paper Spéire Nua – New Horizons – Life after prison for the reformed individual, opportunities or barriers?
This research was the foundation for the Spéire Nua you find here today and by engaging with this process you too can apply for a Certificate of Commitment to Change to support you as you seek employment and validate the hard work you have put in to distance yourself from your former way of life.
Rosie Mankes’s mother has had dementia for ten years. She had to be transitioned into assisted living, and then into memory care. And little by little, Rosie has had to watch her mother go. She recently wrote an article (https://thriveglobal.com/stories/what-i-wish-i-knew-when-i-transitioned-my-mom-into-an-assisted-living-facility/) about this deeply troubling experience that more and more of us are going to have to go through. It starts like this:
I am watching my mother’s brain die, right before my eyes. During a recent visit, she said to me, “Please, Rosemarie, can you help me remember who my children are?” I held my composure and said, “Of course, Mom, let’s go through them. There’s Betty Ann, Tommy, Carl, and me.” She looked deep into my eyes and tried to repeat the names but couldn’t. So, we did it again, and again, until her frustration and agitation seemed to settle. She said to me, “I’m so upset that I can’t remember things. How many children do I have, six?” I said, “You have four.” And then we repeated their names numerous times until she somehow felt soothed.
To learn more about Rosie and her work, visit
https://www.rosiemankes.net
To learn more about Rosie's book, Find Your Joy and Run With It, visit
https://www.rosiemankes.net/book
Rosie Mankes is a life coach, motivational speaker, and author of Find Your Joy and Run With It, a heartwarming memoir about overcoming her second battle with cancer, the transitioning of her mother into an assisted living facility, and the unexpected loss of her brother, all within one year. Rosie’s recovery from these major challenges inspired her to become a life coach, in order to help people pull through significant adversity and life challenges. Rosie is a resident of New Jersey, where she lives with her husband. She is the mother of two grown sons.
grief #ambiguousloss #dementia #grieftraining #griefpodcast #rosie mankes
Mary brings a whole other perspective to the podcast with this very tender and beautiful episode. Two ‘giants’ in her life, Fr John and Brendan were more than Uncles to Mary. They were constant forces of good, founts of wisdom and a huge part of her life. When Fr John developed vascular dementia, Mary found herself in the role of carer. Shortly after his death, Brendan too was diagnosed with a different form of dementia and once again, Mary stepped in. Her collection of poems “Into the Grey” will resonate with anyone who has ever found themselves in the role of carer, or lost someone to dementia or Alzheimers. Through poetry and chat, we explore this ambiguous loss that often has loved ones on their knees with exhaustion.
Mary’s story resonated with me on a deep level, having lost my father in March 2021, also with dementia. Her book moved me greatly and I highly recommend getting your hands on this treasure. Please buy directly from the Nursing homes (link below) who took amazing care of Fr John and Brendan, and who need the money to fix their roof!
https://arasmhuirenurs.wpengine.com/product/into-the-grey/
Mary hails originally from Ballylongford, Co.Kerry, although she’s lived in Glin with Gus and their children Ruth, Matthew and Caleb for many years. She has worked in Education but also in the Arts for over thirty years. She published her first collection of poetry 25 years ago.
Her previous collections include ‘Sunny Spells,Scattered Showers’, ‘From the Stones’, ‘Catching Bats Takes Patience’ and ‘Splinters’.
‘Into the Grey’ is a collection that follows her journey living with the impact of dementia on her two uncles, Fr. John Kennelly and the poet Brendan Kennelly and on the family who loved them.
The book was written as a way of dealing with the grief caused by living decline but also as a thank you to the staff who cared for John and Brendan in their nursing homes.
All profits from ‘Into the Grey’ will be shared by Our Lady of Fatima Home, Tralee, Co. Kerry and Aras Mhuire Nursing Home, Listowel, Co Kerry.
Both Nursing homes provide an exceptional standard of care to the residents who make their home with them and an exceptional standard of supports to the families of those residents.
Founded by the Dominican Sisters, Our Lady of Fatima home in Tralee, currently provides a home to 66 residents, including many priests and nuns. It has recently undergone a significant expansion so all funds from the sale of the book will be gratefully received
Arás Mhuire was built with a grant from the society of St Vincent De Paul in 1970 and has had to actively fundraise since it’s inception. Arás Mhuire are hoping to put the funds from the sale of the book towards roof repairs and the building of a storage space.
Link to purchase ‘Into the Grey’ directly from the nursing home
https://arasmhuirenurs.wpengine.com/product/into-the-grey/
Ships internationally
grief #loss #bereavement #dementia #anticipatorygrief #brendankennelly #maryKennelly #irishpoet #vasculardementia
When Alan Creedon was a young boy, his sister Aoife was quietly removed from their home and placed in a home for children with disabilities, as was the 'done thing' in rural Ireland. This ambiguous loss and the resultant disenfranchised grief would play a significant part in how Alan would engage with life and other people. After decades of depression, Alan decided to embark on a solo journey, walking from the UK to his hometown in Kerry, in memory of his sister Aoife. To speak about what had been unspeakable for years.
disenfranchisedgrief #cerebralpalsy #ruralireland #childrenshome #bereavement #meaningmaking #ambiguousloss
www.endless-river.org (book, mindfulness courses, nature connection events all on there) Insta: https://www.instagram.com/alan_creedon_/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009184006368 (I share a lot of my work and thoughts on here, even though it's a personal account)
People in Ireland can buy my book from here https://www.bookhubpublishing.com/product/the-search-for-still-waters/ It's also for sale in O Mahony's in Limerick - the only physical bookshop you can get it from in Ireland!
It's online here as well https://www.omahonys.ie/r_search_results.php?k=alan%20creedon&f=k
Psychologist Dorothy Holinger, author of 'The Anatomy of Grief', talks to Liz about her early experience of loss and how it shaped her life as a psychologist. They discuss Prolonged Grief Disorder, how grief affects the body, the heart, the brain, how some people make meaning from their loss and experience psychological growth, while others do not. A rich discussion relevant to everyone. https://dorothypholinger.com
grief #griefinthebody #thephysiologyofgrief #cardiomyopathy #takotsubocardiomyopathy #dorothyholinger #prolongedgriefdisorder #theanatomyofgrief
I absolutely loved this conversation with Addison Brasil. It is so full of wisdom and possibilities in the face of profound, multiple losses. It will not be for everyone, but if you’re someone who doesn’t want your losses to define your entire life moving forward, then sit down and tune in to this one.
"Addison Brasil's new book is a must-read for anyone who has experienced the loss of a loved one."
Addison Brasil lost his brother to cancer, found his father after suicide, and survived a fatal event that killed a dear friend and left him relearning to walk all before age 30. Despite being "just to the left" of death so intimately, whenever someone would share they had experienced loss or ask how to support another person dealing with the loss he would freeze. After thirteen years in the grief club arena, Addison's new book is something he wants to offer to anyone grieving. First Year of Grief Club: A Gift From A Frend Who Gets it (#1 New Release in Death, Grief, and Spirituality) is available on Amazon now.
First Year of Grief Club: A Gift From From A Friend Who Gets It. (Not someone who would ever claim to know exactly how you’re feeling, but from someone who gets that flowers, condolences, and casseroles are just the beginning.)Starting from the first day, it provides a companion through the first year of what Addison Brasil calls real-life grief. The daily, and then weekly offerings are manageable check-ins from a friend who gets it. It’s a way of showing your support and also remaining a pillar of support for a year after the loss or the death of a loved one.
Addison says the Pandemic helped him realize how universal grief is- and it is not just the loss of a loved one, it results as the loss of anything meaningful.
Excerpt from First Year of Giref Club:
“In a way, we are all grieving a world we once knew. In a pandemic- possible world, our ways of grieving formally and informally have shifted. Our ability to gather to support each other has been threatened. Ceremonies and rites of passage our society has long-practiced have been minimized or passed over completely. Real-life grief in a pandemic-possible world predates anything that’s ever existed in the arena we now play in. “
Editorial Reviews:
"Addison Brasil has taken his thirteen years of grief and proven that rituals created around honoring one's journey, not trying to fix it, can lead us to our own wisdom and tools for loss."
CHIP CONLEY New York Times Bestselling Author, Founder of Modern Elder Academy, and Wisdom Well
“Having had the privilege of becoming friends with Addison, I can confidently say that few people speak about healing grief through finding meaningful connection and service as eloquently and thoughtfully as he does. In his book, he shares deeply valuable perspectives that have helped me find the tools and approaches to healing that I had yet to uncover previously. If you or someone you know is suffering, I could not recommend more highly taking the opportunity to immerse yourself into this book.”
ZAK WILLAMS: Mental Health Advocate, Founder You Can Pym
“There is no right or wrong way to grieve. Everyone does it in their own time, but this book certainly helps you along that journey. It offers a life lesson that everyone needs to learn.”
Dr. RANJ SINGH: Author, Celebrity Doctor & TV Personality
“ So, please skip the overpriced flowers and undercooked casseroles. Send this book to anyone entering the grief club!”
SHELLEY PAXTON Author of Soulbbatical
This is part 2 of the conversation I had with Sandy Adams, about how she navigated grief when her fiancé John died suddenly. We talk about choice in grief, expectations of others, good support and finding ourselves again, after profound loss. How do we survive and then thrive when our assumptions about the future are shattered? Another rich, rich conversation. #grief #bereavement
https://mrskilpatrick.wordpress.com/2022/04/09/45-the-gifts-of-grief/?fbclid=IwAR3ZVF0faDlgbsnh9fOphmqkoWg5wvawG0F7he6Btn0FbNkFOYhYU-6KaC4
I really enjoyed this conversation with Sandy Adams about how she navigated her grief following her partner's sudden and unexpected death. In fact, it was so interesting, I asked her to do a part 2!
Sandra has a lot of wisdom to share, so this is well worth listening to. Most of all, she offers a voice of hope after profound loss. I was particularly delighted to learn how the Shapes Of Grief podcast and then training programme, helped her to navigate the experience of grief and gave her options that she wasn't finding elsewhere: YES!
grief #bereavement #suddendeath #spousalbereavement #partnerloss #whenthepersonyoulovedies #survivingloss #compassion #resilience #flexiblity
More about Sandy here https://mrskilpatrick.wordpress.com
The official launch of Shapes Of Grief was a truly powerful evening, last Thursday, March 31st 2022.
Branwen Kavanagh opened and closed the event with her beautiful music.
Introduction was given by Liz Gleeson, who shared a personal story of loss and then talked about the many Shapes Of Grief.
Ruth Fitzmaurice read three pieces, including from her book 'I found my tribe', about her grief following the deaths of her husband Simon and a year later, her brother John.
Ger Murphy spoke of the grief that followed him through his life having discovered his father dead, at the age of nine, and then his brother's death by suicide twenty years later. Ger also shared a piece about climate grief.
Kathleen Keyes spoke about the depths of her grief following the deaths of her three children, Grainne, Darragh and Fergal.
Orla Keegan, from the Irish Hospice Foundation, spoke about the Adult Bereavement Pyramid and the structures that bereavement support falls into.
Marian Cronin and Branwen Kavanagh performed a beautiful dance/song improvisation at the opening of the second half (not in this recording, please see the video on YouTube for this).
Dr Kathryn Mannix talked about the need for proper conversations around death and the importance of presence and tenderness with people who are facing into difficult life events, such as dying or grief.
We know that grief never really goes away, we learn to live with it and accommodate it in our lives. For some people, about 5-10%, their grief can remain very intense and cause major disruption in their lives for a prolonged period of time; years and even decades. It is normal for grief to endure for years, but when it is debilitating and people find it impossible to readjust to the world after a loss, perhaps it is what has become known as Prolonged Grief Disorder. Here, Andy talks about how grief affected her in a debilitating way for two decades, after her husband Tom died. #prolongedgriefdisorder #drkathyshear #complicatedgrief #stuckgrief #longgrief #grief #bereavement
From the author
My name is Andrea Gilats, and I’m the author of After Effects: A Memoir of Complicated Grief, a compelling new book published by the University of Minnesota Press. In a sentence, here is my story. After my husband died of cancer at the age of 52, I was effectively paralyzed by grief for ten long years, and I continued to live with unresolved grief for ten years after that.
Dr. Katherine Shear, founder and director of Columbia University’s Center for Prolonged Grief, has endorsed After Effects, saying that “Andrea Gilats has given us a beautifully written story of the heartbreaking problem of complicated grief…. Her detailed, honest account of almost two decades of intense suffering after the loss of her beloved life partner will help others understand that there is no shame in grieving in this way—that grief is a form of love.”
I hope you’ll find After Effects helpful in your practice. If you work with grief support groups, or if you would like to gather with colleagues for a book discussion, I would love to virtually visit your group to read from and talk about After Effects.
The attached PDF has general information about After Effects, including reviews, articles, and interviews with me. You can also find more information about After Effects, including a beautiful reading group guide, on my website, www.andreagilats.com.
To learn more about scheduling a virtual visit, and for information about a special discount if you and your group members order After Effects directly from the University of Minnesota Press, just reply to this email. It will be a pleasure to connect with you!
A very insightful conversation with Linda Allen about her grief following her son’s death by suicide. We explore the physicality of grief, the importance of connection in grief, as well as moments of choice we may have in the grieving process.
Article written by Linda https://www.alustforlife.com/voice/personal-stories/see-you-in-two-minutes-ma-a-mother-writes-her-story-of-losing-her-son-to-suicide
Available on Amazon & kindle
ISBN is 9781911013341
grief #bereavement #suicidegrief #suicidebereavement #parentalloss
Deena Goldstein talks about her father's dying process, death and how writing about her grief helped her through.
dying #death #bereavement #hospice #deathprocess #whatisdying #oklittlebird #deenagoldstein
OK, Little Bird is an irreverent, funny and inspiring memoir about a bigger than life father and an unforgettable father daughter connection. Readers take a bouncy ride from laughter to tears, navigating Little Bird's world through voicemails, cantankerous family dinners, wry banter and lots of love. Fly with Little Bird as she navigates the greatest loss in her life with the gift of humor from her father.
Below are links where OK, Little Bird may be purchased as well:
Bookbaby
https://store.bookbaby.com/book/OK-Little-Bird
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ok-little-bird-deena-goldstein/1140838087
Amazon
oklittlebird.com
For other author or book information:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flywithlittlebird or
https://www.facebook.com/deenagoldstein
www.deenasart.comDeena Goldstein talks about her father's dying process, death and how writing about her grief helped her through.
dying #death #bereavement #hospice #deathprocess #whatisdying #oklittlebird #deenagoldstein
OK, Little Bird is an irreverent, funny and inspiring memoir about a bigger than life father and an unforgettable father daughter connection. Readers take a bouncy ride from laughter to tears, navigating Little Bird's world through voicemails, cantankerous family dinners, wry banter and lots of love. Fly with Little Bird as she navigates the greatest loss in her life with the gift of humor from her father.
Below are links where OK, Little Bird may be purchased as well:
Bookbaby
https://store.bookbaby.com/book/OK-Little-Bird
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ok-little-bird-deena-goldstein/1140838087
Amazon
oklittlebird.com
For other author or book information:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flywithlittlebird or
https://www.facebook.com/deenagoldstein
www.deenasart.com
By the age of 15, Tahseen Rizvi had lost both her parents and was sent to live with relatives in another country, another continent, another culture. What followed was another series of significant losses which would negatively affect every relationship Tahseen would enter, including with her children. This is her story of loss and reconstructing her life as she gained more insight in adulthood. #grief #bereavement #muslimgrief
I often hear grieving people describe their experience of grief 'like a tsunami' that just washes over them. This week's guest, Clemmie Clough, experienced the devastation first-hand of the 2004 tsunami when she was just a child. It was an event that would rob her of her mother and change the trajectory of her life. Clemmie talks about how the trauma of that event has stayed with her and how, as a young adult, she had to address the imprint of the event on her, both physically and psychologically. We talk about how alone people can feel after a very public community disaster, the importance of physical support and how we need to continue to open up these conversations of loss and grief, even years after loss.
Clemmie is co-host of the podcast 'how is today?' available at https://www.howistoday.com
grief #bereavement #childhoodbereavement #tsunami2004 #trauma #traumaticloss
A tender episode from D Anaya about the sudden death of her little daughter Phoebe and how difficult it was for her to find grief support as a black woman in a predominantly white community. We also talk about sex after loss and the strain on a married couple when a child dies.
parentalloss #grief #bereavement
There's often nothing more helpful to those who are suffering than an open and frank conversation from someone who has survived the abyss of depression, addiction or grief. I loved talking to Caitriona about the common human struggles of fitting in, not having a sense of belonging, being too identified with our thoughts and the often excruciating road to recovery that requires such committment and courage. Caitriona talks about a time in her life when she wanted to die, how her person Kayla helped her through and in recovery, how she found meaning and purpose in life by helping others who feel suicidal. Both Caitriona and I hope that this conversation will bring hope to those of you listening who might be really struggling this Christmas. You are most definitely not alone.
https://ccrtireland.ie/
Instagram: @CCRTIre
Facebook: @Crisisresponseteamire
Twitter: @CRTLIM
Our Community Crisis Response Team crisis line operates 5pm -6am 7 nights a week 0851777631
Support lines: Pieta House helpline 1800 247 247 Samaritans 116123
In this episode, we speak with Dr Francis McGivern about his recently published book 'Life after a Partners Suicide Attempt'. #suicideattempt #survivingasuicideattempt Life After a Partner's Suicide Attempt is the first publication to document in depth the lived experiences of the partners of individuals who have attempted to take their own lives. Although no one has died, the ramifications are, nonetheless, life-changing and permanent. Research in suicidology has paid virtually no attention to these partners, other than to explore their role as caregiver. Based on a series of sensitively conducted interviews, Dr. McGivern proposes a psychotherapeutic pathway towards recovery through exploration of personal trauma, relationship injury, reactivation of adverse childhood experiences, ambiguous loss, boundary ambiguity, as well as post-traumatic growth. He highlights implications for psychotherapy training and research and makes recommendations for practice and policy. Written with both the general reader and practitioners in mind, the author's goal is to share the extensive insights he has gained through his research and in doing so, to give voice to partners worldwide who silently endure the aftermath of their loved one's suicide attempt.
Be in with a chance to win this bundle of ten books, signed by the authors!
All you have to do is sign-up to the Shapes of Grief Education Programme during December 2021 to be in with a chance to own this bundle of ten grief books. Use code griefawareness20 for 20% discount during Grief Awareness Week 2021, 2-9th December #griefawareness2021
The experience of grief within the lgbtq+ community can be profoundly painful as a result of past losses connected to sexuality. This can be experienced as bereavement (the AIDS crisis), stigmatisation, marginalisation, tacit acceptance from family & community, outright homophobia or erasure by parents or other family members. Many young Irish people left Ireland in the 1980s and 1990s to find a larger gay community and the relief of anonymity in bigger cities such as London. In this episode, Irishman Pat Dollard takes us through the choices he made and why, how he met his partner Mike, the story of their relationship and the utter shock and devastation experienced when Mike went missing while on holidays four years ago. We explore ambiguous loss, meaning making and how grief changes us, as well as the importance of lgbtq specific bereavement groups. Thank you Pat, for this very touching conversation.
grief #loss #bereavement #ambiguousloss #disappeared #meaningmaking #lgbtqgrief #lgbtq #griefpodcast #grieftraining #griefeducation
I'm so grateful to Rach Underhill for this really tender and beautiful episode. It's coming up to two years since Rach's beloved wife Kris died from terminal cancer. Rach takes us through the love story, to Kris' diagnosis and eventual death. The love and grief that Rach experienced from firstly meeting Kris, then losing Kris, are palpable. I think it's perhaps the depth of love and the depth of grief that make Rach's message of hope and choosing life after loss, all the more inspiring. There is a lot of wisdom for all of us here in this chat, delivered with tenderness and humour. We also talk about sex after loss, and having a second chance at love. I'm delighted that Rach has stepped forward to represent the lgbtq+ community on the Shapes Of Grief podcast.
If you would like to join a lgbtq+ specific bereavement group, contact the #goodgrieftrust at hello@goodgrieftrust.org and they'll put you in touch with the group organisers, Rach & Pat.
goodgrieftrust #grief #bereavement #lgbtq+ #lgbtq+grief #lesbiangrief #gaygrief #love #loss #lifeafterloss #sexafterloss
Dr Vanessa Lacey recently finished her PhD studies on the grief experienced by older transgender women and their families. In this episode, Vanessa talks about her personal experience of loss, what her research uncovered and how she has cultivated an impressive 'live and let live' attitude, despite various attempts to alienate her from her family and hometown. This is a heartwarming conversation and Vanessa certainly engenders a faith in humanity that is enviable.
transgenderwomengrief #grief #loss #ambiguousloss #teni #transgenderequalitynetwork #lgbtq+grief #lgbtq+
Stephen Teap became a young widower when his wife Irene died of cervical cancer, leaving him to parent two young boys age 2 and 4 alone. In this conversation, Stephen talks about the hope, the denial and the devastation of living with terminal cancer and how grief following Irene's death has been for him and his young boys, Oscar and Noah.
grief #bereavement #cervicalscandal #widowhood #singledad #cervicalcancer #childhoodgrief #childhoodbereavement
Dr Nyasha Grayman speaks to Liz about the premature birth of her sons, navigating a white healthcare system and the death of one of her twins. We talk about why 'nice' therapists need more grief & trauma training and why more black psychologists are needed in America.
For a comprehensive grief education, go to www.shapseofgrief.com and sign-up today.
grief #bereavement #blackgrief #twindeath #twintotwintransfusionsyndrome #whenonetwindies #griefeducation #griefpodcast
In January 2020, Andrew McGinley's three children Carla, Darragh and Conor died suddenly and tragically in their home. Following trial, their mother was found not guilty of murder for reason of insanity. In this conversation, Andrew talks about his love for his three children, how he continues his bonds with them through fulfilling promises that he made to them, and the urgent need for mental health reform in Ireland.
Buy tickets to Andrew's fundraiser at https://asdarraghdid.ie
grief #bereavement #andrewmcginley #conorsclips #asdarraghdid #mentalhealthreform
Kristine Carlson and her husband Richard Carlson, author of 'Don't Sweat the Small Stuff', which was No 1 on the New York Times Best Seller list for 100 consecutive weeks, were enjoying their success when tragedy struck. Richard died suddenly and unexpectedly while on a flight to New York. In this conversation, Kristine talks to Liz about how life changed after Richard's death and how she used his teachings to help her to find meaning in her grief. Also available on Shapes Of Grief youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN_6WOp6p_GXhArbMfxvaUg
A movie based on Kristine's book 'Heart Broken Open' will soon be released and her book will be available again from Sep 15th 2021, also on her website: https://kristinecarlson.com
grief #bereavement #widowhood #dontsweatthesmallstuff #newyorktimes #richardcarlson #kristinecarlson
A rich, rich conversation with the wonderful Caoimhe Butterly about how she has navigated grief through many years of activism and advocacy work and how, as both humans and psychotherapists, we can adequately meet people who are experiencing profound suffering and loss in their lives.
advocacy #activism #humanitarianwork
Ep. 69 Meghann Scully talks to Liz about her brother's death when they were teenagers, followed by her father's death a year later. Meghann shares how her grief affected her and how unexpressed grief caught up with her in her twenties through addiction. Podcast is available on all podcasting platforms and on www.shapesofgrief.com. #grief #bereavement #griefeducation #meghannnscully #siblinglossGrief Education Programme for Mental Health Professionals at www.shapesofogrief.com, subscribe now!
Have you ever wondered how you would respond to receiving a terminal diagnosis? In this conversation with Clair, we talk about dying, living, available choices when living with a terminal illness and the 'battle' language that often accompanies cancer. Clair is refreshingly honest and a breath of fresh air.
Clair's website https://www.dyingwell.uk
"As someone living with a stage 4 cancer diagnosis I have come to realise that many people seem to think that surviving is the same as being well and that dying is the same as being sick - when actually neither are true.
There should be more to life than simply not dying. Acknowledging that death is coming is not something that I think of as a failure or a lost fight.
Life is glorious and while I live it I am interested to discover how wellbeing evidence can help inform and improve my life and the journey of others living with terminal illness. I’m grateful for the support of the wonderful What Works Centre for Wellbeing who are collaborating with me on this Dying Well project."
Hi Everyone, I took a little break from the podcast to accompany my lovely Dad on his final weeks on planet earth. After he died, I launched myself into completing a project that I've been curating for the past few months, an online Grief Education Programme for Healthcare Providers and Mental Health practitioners. This episode is an introduction to the programme, I hope you'll sign-up and please do spread the word!
griefeducation #bereavementeducation #grief
Sarah’s first major loss happened when she was just twelve weeks old and her adoring mother Mags died as a result of an asthma attack. Sarah’s Dad raised her and her brother until he died tragically when Sarah was just eight years old. What followed next were several weeks of confusion and trauma before Sarah and her brother were put into the safe arms of their aunt and uncle, and travelled to the other side of the Atlantic ocean, where they are adored by a large, loving, blended family. Sarah is an incredible advocate for Children’s grief and has already published her first book for children on grief. Adults and children alike will find much wisdom and comfort in Sarah’s words about how to navigate grief.
Sarah’s book is available to buy at https://www.easons.com/noodle-loses-dad-pb-lynch-sarah-corbett-9781916282407?gclid=Cj0KCQiA4L2BBhCvARIsAO0SBdbgBBGr7hRCoMxgHahG_V2Mp0wuGU1utRGtDV3BxO7SRvuiXZWFoP4aAqCEEALw_wcB
sarahcorbettlynch #grief #childrensgrief #bereavement #irishchildhoodbereavementnetwork
A conversation with Lord Mayor of Dublin Hazel Chu on Racism, Discrimination and Grief.
grief #racism #discrimination
An outdoor horse girl, the bereavement group in a dingy basement just didn't work for Adrienne Freeland after her brother died by suicide. Seeing a problem that needed fixing, Adrienne contacted her local hospice to talk about setting up an alternative kind of bereavement group; in her barn with the horses. In this episode, Adrienne explains some of the ways in which the people she supports find hope and moments of peace while with the horses.
grief #bereavement #suicide #griefoutdoors #bereavementgroup
In 2019, Carrie Thompson's worst nightmare came true when her beautiful son Ben died by suicide. In December 2020, Carrie had an article published in the New York Times that documented her journey through the NH48 - the 48 highest peaks of New Hampshire, a challenge she set herself to pay homage to her son who adored the outdoors. Carrie shares some of her grief experience with Liz in this moving and important conversation about parental loss and suicide bereavement.
suicide #hiking #cherylstrayed #carriethompson #newhampshire48 #nh48 #suicidebereavement
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/28/opinion/hiking-grief.html
Filmmaker Jill Campbell talks to Liz about the making of the documentary Seat 20D, which tells the story of Suse Lowenstein, a bereaved mother whose son Alexi was one of 270 people killed in the Lockerbie terror attack thirty two years ago. Jill talks about making the documentary, what she learnt about grief. Jill also speaks about how her family are now dealing with the death of her father, Zoom funerals and the loss of ritual due to Covid19.
Watch the documentary here https://www.seat20d.com
lockerbie #grief #bereavement
Psychotherapist, Mother and author Gill Mann speaks to Liz about living with her son's mental illness, how it impacted her and the family and the grief that followed his sudden and untimely death when travelling abroad as a young man.
A really interesting discussion on Grief and Trauma from Trauma Therapist Meghan Riordan-Jarvis, who also experienced ptsd herself following the sudden and unexpected death of her beloved mother. Lots to learn here, for anyone experiencing or working with trauma. We talk about trauma in the therapy room, times when touch is necessary in therapy (co-regulation) and what modalities can be useful in taking a bottom-up approach to trauma therapy.
trama #ptsd #grief #bereavement #bestgriefpodcast #ACEs #somaticexperiencing #peterlevine #besselvanderkolk #gabormate #patogden #sensorimotorpsychotherapy
Meghan Riordan Jarvis is a psychotherapist, speaker, educator, writer, wife, and mother of three. After losing both her parents within two years of each other she began Grief Is My Side Hustle. (www.griefismysidehustle.com). She is currently working on a memoir about grief, loss, and the things we don’t say to each other.
The blog is www.griefismysidehustle.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/griefismysidehustle
Dr Esther Ramsey Jones is a Palliative Psychotherapist with years of experience supporting people towards the end of their lives. In her latest book "The Silly Thing: Shaping the Story of Life and Death", Esther takes us through the poignant turn of events in her life when her own mother became suddenly ill and was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. In this episode, Esther talks to Liz about her relationship with her mother and what surprised her about how she met her mother's illness and impending death.
Buy Esther's book here https://freeassociationpublishing.com/product/the-silly-thing-shaping-the-story-of-life-and-death/
A wonderful conversation with Lindsey Whissel Fenton about many facets of grief, in particular, Disenfranchised Grief.
Lindsey Whissel Fenton is a senior producer at WPSU, the PBS/NPR affiliate station in Central Pennsylvania. She’s an Emmy award-winning storyteller who is passionate about using public media to build empathy. Lindsey produced, directed, and wrote the documentary Speaking Grief and continues to produce content for the initiative’s website and social media presence.
Watch the documentary here https://speakinggrief.org/documentary
grief #bereavement #speakinggrief #megandevine #griefdocumentary #griefpodcast #disenfranchisedgrief
Sharing a few words about meeting our grief during the holidays, a time when grief can often be exacerbated.
I hope this is helpful to you.
Liz
grief #bereavement #griefatchristmas #griefduringtheholidays #holidaysandgrief #christmasandgrief
Kate and her partner made the heartbreaking decision to terminate their third pregnancy for medical reasons. Legislation in Ireland meant that they had to travel to the UK to give birth to baby Leo. Kate speaks about the process in the hope that sharing her experience will help other parents experiencing similar tragic circumstances.
medicaltermination #fatalfoetalabnomality #perinatalloss #grief #infantdeath
Sometimes I as I write these descriptions, I know that my words simply do not do justice to the story being shared; this episode is one of those times. Dana Lawson takes us through her experience of learning to live with cancer, go through extreme domestic violence and still come out the other side with a focus on achieving life-long dreams, despite her life experience. Dana talks about the 'battle' language of cancer, why that didn't serve her and why she chose, instead, to befriend her cancer as a part of her body. Inspiring doesn't do this justice!
In this episode, Norah reflects on the many shapes of grief that are manifesting in Ireland today, from the recent tragedies in Dublin and Cork, to the Mother & Babies Homes scandal that has caused widespread grief throughout the nation.
On a more personal note, Norah shares her experience of domestic abuse, the physical violence she endured and how she found the courage to get out. She generously shares her experience through Richard’s illness and death and how she found her feet again, in the midst of crippling grief.
Please share the episode and as always, do consider becoming a Patron on patreon.com/shapesofgrief
norahcasey #dragonsden #bobbykerr #focusireland #motherandbabyhomes #kenturk #drpaulgreegan #professorjohncrown #grief #bereavement
Greg Wise and his sister Clare were as close as siblings come. They shared a bond from childhood to adulthood, so when Clare received a difficult cancer diagnosis, life for both of them changed. In this episode, Greg talks about his relationship with Clare through her illness and how he became her primary carer throughout the last three months of her life until her death. Greg is generous in sharing how he experienced deep, physical grief after Clare’s death and how he uses the experience to help him to find meaning and purpose in his grief.
grief #gregwise #emmathompson
An extraordinary story of navigating multiple losses in a short space of time and how Autumn consciously chose to allow herself to experience joy again, in the face of bereavement overload, trauma and unmeasurable tragedy.
Parentalloss, #bereavementoverload, #organdonation #boldlyintothedarkness
Juliet Rosenfeld had been married to Andrew just 7 months when her beloved husband died of cancer. Five years on, Juliet has published a poignant memoir of their journey together with a cancer diagnosis, the strategies that Andrew employed to deal with his illness and how his death, despite his serious diagnosis, still came as a shock. We talk about the denial in both Andrew’s illness and also the ambiguity from the medics and what that meant to Juliet and her experience of grief.
The book is available online https://www.theportobellobookshop.com/science-tech/state-of-disbelief-a-story-of-death-love-and-forgetting-juliet-rosenfeld
grief #bereavement #julietrosenfeld #thestateofdisbelief
Three years after her world stopped turning when her family were hit by a sudden and traumatic loss, Niamh Fitzpatrick has written a raw and tender memoir of her experience of grief, following the death of her sister and also the more silent losses of an IVF journey and the end of her marriage. This book and indeed this conversation, are a veritable gift to the listeners and readers, as Niamh takes us through an authentic, vulnerable and profoundly courageous account of her experience of grief, from an intellectual, emotional and physical perspective. I got so much out of Niamh’s book and was deeply touched by our time together, I hope you benefit from this conversation too.
tellmethetruthaboutloss #captaindarafitzpatrick #rescue116 #grief #bereavement #griefpodcast #niamhfitzpatrick
Local Greystones Councellor, Dr. Mags Crean, speaks to Liz about the death of her parents, just a few weeks apart and how the birth of her first child in the middle of these losses contributed to her delayed grief. We talk about how unexpressed grief can build up and, in Mags' case, cause unbearable panic and anxiety.
Liz and Mags talk about the economics of grief and how difficult it can be for those in lower socio-economic classes to access grief support and why now, this needs to be addressed.
As always, a tender and intimate conversation, please do share!
grief #bereavement #delayedgrief #anxiety #prolongedgrief #complicatedgrief
Dr Mekel Harris, Clinical Psychologist, speaks about her tremendous grief following the death of her mother who was also her best friend. Liz and Mekel draw comparisons between our individual losses experienced around the time of bereavement and the collective loss following the death of George Floyd, a brutal death that has left the world reeling and crying out for change. Mekel discusses the ongoing grief of racism, injustice and marginalisation and how white allies can help.
The first thirty minutes cover Makel’s personal bereavement and the latter half of the episode explores the collective grief experienced by People of colour for centuries. Please do share this episode far and wide.
grief #bereavement #blacklivesmatter #georgefloyd #antiracist
So privileged to be joined again, for the third time, by Dr. Kathryn Mannix, Palliative Doctor and author of the bestselling book 'With the End in Mind". Kathryn talks about how dying and death have changed as a result of Covid19, demystifying what is happening in our hospitals and what families need to know about how their loved ones may be cared for. She takes us through how a death due to Covid may pan out and what we can expect or look out for if we are providing palliative care in the community. A must-listen for anyone touched by Covid19 including healthcare providers, Dr. Mannix talks about some of the strategies used by healthcare staff to break the barriers potentially caused by PPE gear and social distancing.
Big thanks to Kathryn for so generously sharing her wisdom with so many and making a difference in how we approach tender conversations relating to dying and death.
dyingincovid19 #death #dyingprocess #drkathrynmannix #withtheendinmind #grief #griefpodcast #applepodcasts #anchorfm
What a rich conversation this was, speaking to Katrina Taee and Wendelien McNicoll about their personal experiences of loss, their work with the dying and the bereaved, through to the recent launch of their very valuable book 'Surving the Tsunami of Grief'.
Between them, Katrina and Wendelien have a wealth of personal experience of loss as well as a very palpable passion for being of service to those who are dying and those who are grieving. We speak about euthanasia, sibling grief and how grief can strike at any time, no matter how long after the loss.
I had such a rich morning with these women, I hope you can feel as equally moved by them through this conversation.
grief #bereavement #griefbooks #survivingthetsunamiofgrief
Ger and Liz talk about how it is to be living in such unprecedented times and how being with the unknown can bring us to places that we usually don’t stop to face when in the usual busyness of life. We draw parallels between the collective grief that is in the air and the personal experience of loss through death.
There are more questions here than answers, but our conversation may mirror some of what you have been wondering, thinking, raging against and feeling hopeful for, over these past few weeks.
grief #bereavement #covid19 #coronavirus #isolation #anxiety #rumi #poetryincrisis
When we are grieving, it is often as if the whole world has turned upside down and we need to navigate our new reality on very shaky ground. The pandemic Covid 19 that we are now living through will elicit feelings of grief and anxiety for many of us as we try to understand and process our new reality and find stability amongst the chaos. In this episode, Liz describes what can happen in our bodies in times of stress and how we can best take care of ourselves during these uncertain times.
grief #anxiety #covid19 #selfcompassion #vagusnerve #stressrelief
Having coffee with a friend today, we commented on how we all have our stories, we all have our 'stuff'. This isn't always apparent when we look at each other. For those watching Nicola Crean complete her first Iron 'Man' in Cork last year, it would not have been obvious what hurdles she had overcome in the previous few years and how running had become her way of staying sane as the life she knew unravelled around her.
In this honest and down-to-earth conversation, Nicola describes a very relatable account of meeting a partner, starting a home and family, the mental health issues that would stop them all in their tracks and force Nicola to start again, from scratch, raising two bereaved children alone.
This episode deals with suicide.
If you are affected by any of the issues in this podcast, here are some contact details that may be supportive:
https://www.pieta.ie
https://www.samaritans.org/ireland/samaritans-ireland/
This was a really interesting talk with Jimmy Edmonds, award-winning filmmaker and bereaved father, on what his grief is like for him and how being creative helped him to find expression for his grief. Along with his wife Jane, Jimmy Produced and Directed the beautiful documentary 'A Love that Never Dies' - which documents life after their son's death as well as the grief journeys of several other bereaved parents.
Jimmy and Jane set up The Good Grief Project in the UK and have produced several short films on grief, check out their website on https://thegoodgriefproject.co.uk and download A Love that Never Dies on Vimeo.
grief #goodgrief #thegoodgriefproject #bereavement #alovethatneverdies #parentalbereavement #janeharris #jimmyedmonds #lizgleeson #shapesofgrief #griefpodcast #bestgriefpodcast
In December 2019, a letter was published in the Irish Times from a grieving mother outlining how Christmas no longer held any meaning for her now that all of her three children had died. Beautifully crafted and containing an anguish barely imaginable to most of us, the letter soon went viral on social media and touched the hearts of people around the world. I had the immense privilege of talking to Kathleen, the author of the letter, about the full story behind the letter and get to know more about her three children Grainne, Darragh and Fergal who had all died from Cystic Fibrosis and how these deaths have impacted Kathleen. Understandably, it is an emotive and tender conversation, very raw at times and equally full of human strength and courage.
grief #parentalbereavement #whenchildrendie #kathleenkeyes #irishtimes #ryantubridy #latelateshow
In this episode, Liz talks to Kate Gunn, author of 'Untying the Knot - how to consciously uncouple in the real world', about the grief of separation and divorce.
Purchase Kate's book 'Untying the Knot' here https://www.amazon.co.uk/Untying-Knot-Consciously-Uncouple-World/dp/1786050684
When you are going through separation or divorce it can often feel like there is no way through the pain and conflict. No small light twinkling at the end of the tunnel. Will it always feel this bad? How will you heal the hurt of your children? Will this damage them for life? How will you cope with increased costs and reduced money? Where will you live? Will you ever find peace and happiness again? Part personal story, part expert guide, Untying the Knot takes you through the process of separation as both parents and friends. From the very first days of unfathomable heartache, through telling the children, what to do with the family home and dealing with conflicts, to finding yourself, coming out the other side and much more. Written by Kate Gunn, with excerpts from ex-husband Kristian, Untying the Knot also provides dedicated expert advice from the likes of Emma Kenny, resident psychologist for ITV s This Morning; Stella O Malley, psychotherapist and author of Cotton Wool Kids and Bully-Proof Kids; Sara Byrne, clinical psychologist; and Deirdre Burke, barrister, solicitor and family law mediator. If you re looking for a helping hand to lead you through the darkness, this is it.
This episode of Shapes Of Grief features the introduction by Liz of Shapes Of Grief and follows with Directors Q & A with Liz, Jane Harris & Jimmy Edmonds during a live screening of ‘A Love That Never Dies’ held in the Whale Theatre in Greystones, Co. Wicklow on January 29th 2020. The documentary itself can be viewed here for £3.99 https://thegoodgriefproject.co.uk/watch-a-love-that-never-dies-now/
How do we grieve? Why do we grieve? And why are we afraid of those that do grieve?
Jane Harris and Jimmy Edmonds’ son Josh died nine years ago while travelling in SE Asia. As a way of honouring his memory, they set off on their own road trip across the USA to find out why, in a world where death will always make front page news, real life conversations about death, dying and bereavement are so problematic.
Along the way they find other bereaved families with stories of grief that refuse social expectations about moving on or letting go.
In a culture that is still uneasy talking about death, dying and bereavement it gives a voice to grief in ways that will move and inspire.
A lovely episode with psychologist Chris Germer on how Self-Compassion can be a really useful practice at times of Grief. Understanding the biology of self-compassion can assist us in understanding the mechanism of how kindness not criticism can support us through grief.
As promised in the episode, find links to Chris' website for lots of free resources and more information on Mindful Self Compassion https://chrisgermer.com/meditations/
Julia Samuel’s book Grief Works contains a wealth of information and wisdom on the process of grief, grounded in years of experience as a Grief Therapist and with deep awareness of how grief can be for many people. In this inspiring conversation, Julia and Liz talk about the paradox of grief - “The essence of grief is that we are forced, through death, to confront a reality we inherently reject’ and how we can best support ourselves and each other during the painful weeks, months and years that can follow the death of someone we love.
Julia has developed an App, based on her book, also called Grief Works and it will be available for trial free during the month of January 2020. To access the app, please sign-up on her website https://www.apps.psyt.co.uk/grief-works
On September 30th 2014, Sheila and Barry Boland learned that their beloved 3 year-old son Oisín had an incurable brain tumour and had only weeks to live. Treatment could buy them some more time, but Sheila and Barry took a road less travelled and decided instead to focus on making every day special for their beloved boy.
Five years later, Sheila opens up to Liz about the incredible experience that would follow; one filled with equal parts of devastation and beauty and how it would propel Sheila onto a spiritual path in a search of meaning in the madness.
This episode features their first conversation. Following from this conversation, Sheila felt that there was still so much more that she wished she had said, so a further conversation is coming your way!
Sheila’s blog https://butterflyboyoisin.wordpress.com/oisins-story/
grief #bereavement #childhoodcancer #braintumour #parentalgrief #whenachilddies
On January 10th 2007, just 24 hours after five men lost their lives in an Irish vessel called the Pere Charles, just a few miles down the coast, another boat was to run into difficulty resulting in the loss of two more lives. In this conversation, I speak with Helen Bohan who’s brother Ger Bohan was the skipper on that second vessel, the Honeydew II. Helen talks of the impact of this sudden and traumatic loss, how she coped in the weeks, months and years afterwards, the importance of acknowledging sibling grief, how it is not to retrieve your loved ones body and so much more. Helen and Liz refer to an article about ‘resilience’, the link to which can be found here https://medium.com/the-mission/resilience-a-new-grief-myth-that-can-hurt-you-40af29639e62
gerbohan #grief #bereavement #drowning #sinking #honeydewII #perecharles #darafitzpatrick #niamhfitzpatrick #somaticexperiencing #kinsale
Back in the Winter of 2018, when I was planning the launch of the Shapes Of Grief podcast, two other women in Ireland were doing the same. Venetia Quick and Sasha Hamrogue launched the Grief Encounters podcast at the same time. It was lovely to finally meet with Venetia (unfortunately Sasha wasn’t there that day) and share experiences of our past few months hosting the podcasts and what we’ve learnt from people about grief.
Both Shapes Of Grief and Grief Encounters have been met with such support in Ireland and Abroad, with a common goal of opening up the conversations around grief so that those grieving can feel less isolated and those supporting them will have a better understanding of the enormity that a bereavement or other traumatic event can have on someone’s life.
Grief Encounters is available on most podcasting platforms and, like Shapes Of Grief, they have a private facebook group for those experiencing grief at this time.
If you have been supported by either Shapes Of Grief or Grief Encounters, please do consider giving us a rating and a review wherever you get your podcast, it's much appreciated!
Note from Liz:
I hope you're all getting something really beneficial from the Shapes Of Grief podcast. I want to send out a huge thanks to those of you who have sponsored the podcast so far. I'm delighted to let you know that there is a new sponsorship option of just $1 per month - I'm hoping this will encourage more listeners to sponsor us and help to keep us going.
Become a sponsor for as little as $1 per month! Your support is much appreciated. ♥️
https://www.patreon.com/shapesofgrief
When Helen was 5, her baby brother Martin died in a cot death. She remembers his little white coffin being put into the neighbours car, her other brother, who was four at the time, remembers that car registration number to this day, over fifty years later.
Decades later, Helen went on to found the Children’s Grief Centre in Limerick, supporting children who are grieving. In this conversation, Helen and Liz discuss children’ grief and draw on their experience as counsellors to discuss some of the important themes that can come up for children who are grieving and offer some really practical suggestions on how to best support grieving children, whether their loss be through bereavement or parental separation.
For more information on children's grief, see https://www.childhoodbereavement.ie, the website of the Irish Childhood Bereavement Network.
The Children's Grief Centre in Limerick can be contacted here https://www.childrensgriefcentre.ie. See their video here https://youtu.be/jgKcdZeW5rs
And for people in the USA, The Dougy Centre for grieving children can be contacted here https://www.dougy.org and in the UK, https://www.childbereavementuk.org
The article by Daniel McConnell that Helen refers to can be read here https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/views/analysis/every-child-has-right-to-be-heard-829640.html
Note from Liz:
I hope you're all getting something really beneficial from the Shapes Of Grief podcast. I want to send out a huge thanks to those of you who have sponsored the podcast so far. I'm delighted to let you know that there is a new sponsorship option of just $1 per month - I'm hoping this will encourage more listeners to sponsor us and help to keep us going.
Become a sponsor for as little as $1 per month! Your support is much appreciated. ♥️
https://www.patreon.com/shapesofgrief
At just 23 years of age, Australian Palliative care doctor Merran Cooper became a widow when Mark, her childhood sweetheart and husband, died of leukaemia. Forced to move out of her home while still shell-shocked at her husband’s death, it would be three more decades until Merran followed her heart and studied medicine, becoming a palliative doctor to help change the broken system on how we approach dying and grief.
In this moving account of loss and a complete rebuilding of the self, Merran introduces us to her newly developed Electronic End of Life Plan - she is passionate about opening up better conversations about death and dying and helping people to take responsibility for how their end of life could be.
To watch Merran’s beautiful 12 minute film on dying, see https://vimeo.com/366741393 Password is TLCSTC and is kindly offered for free to Shapes Of Grief listeners.
Note from Liz:
I hope you're all getting something really beneficial from the Shapes Of Grief podcast. I want to send out a huge thanks to those of you who have sponsored the podcast so far. I'm delighted to let you know that there is a new sponsorship option of just $1 per month - I'm hoping this will encourage more listeners to sponsor us and help to keep us going.
Become a sponsor for as little as $1 per month! Your support is much appreciated. ♥️
https://www.patreon.com/shapesofgrief
grief #bereavementoverload #palliativecare #endoflife #dying #death #endoflifeplan #hospice #thinkahead #griefpodcast #bestgriefpodcast
It was wonderful to speak to Roy Remer, Executive Director of the Zen Caregiving Project (formerly Zen Hospice Project), talk about what brought him to be drawn to work with people at the end of their life and what he has learnt from accompanying hundreds of people through the dying process. Roy shares some great wisdom with Liz about how we might approach accompanying our dying loved ones and what really matters. As always, this is a rich and educational conversation.
Note from Liz:
I hope you're all getting something really beneficial from the Shapes Of Grief podcast. I want to send out a huge thanks to those of you who have sponsored the podcast so far. I'm delighted to let you know that there is a new sponsorship option of just $1 per month - I'm hoping this will encourage more listeners to sponsor us and help to keep us going.
Become a sponsor for as little as $1 per month! Your support is much appreciated. ♥️
https://www.patreon.com/shapesofgrief
zenhospice #agooddeath #dying #death #grief #presence #caregiving #hospice #palliative #bereavement #royremer
I was delighted to be joined by Dr. Kathryn Mannix for another episode of Shapes Of Grief. In this episode, we discuss the #ihfforum 2019 'Dying is Everybody's Business', at which Kathryn was keynote speaker. We take a look at what it takes to be an effective caring professional, how to avoid burnout and, when someone is dying, how do we know when "enough is enough".
People who care for other people may find this episode particularly useful, so please do share it!
We mention the Irish Hospice Foundation's 'Think Ahead' programme, details of which can be found here https://hospicefoundation.ie/programmes/public-awareness/think-ahead/ and the gift of Organ Donation https://ika.ie/organ-donation-transplant-ireland/?doing_wp_cron=1572109326.2442059516906738281250
Note from Liz:
I hope you're all getting something really beneficial from the Shapes Of Grief podcast. I want to send out a huge thanks to those of you who have sponsored the podcast so far. I'm delighted to let you know that there is a new sponsorship option of just $1 per month - I'm hoping this will encourage more listeners to sponsor us and help to keep us going.
Become a sponsor for as little as $1 per month! Your support is much appreciated. ♥️
https://www.patreon.com/shapesofgrief
When Ger was 9 years old, he found his father dead at home. Unable to process his grief, it would be shut inside for many years until Ger found his way, as a young adult, into a caring profession and gradually began to address his own inner landscape and wounding. His early experience of his father's sudden death and unexpressed grief caught up with him eventually and he developed stomach issues which lead him to discover Somatic Psychotherapy, opening a door into working psychotherapeutically with others. Ger talks to me about his personal experience of grief, how it unfolded in layers over the years and how a spiritual perspective can be a great resource for us in times of overwhelm. We talked about ways that we can manage the collective grief we feel about climate change and the environmental legacy we are leaving our children. Such a rich conversation with Ger Murphy on a range of grief perspectives and a little poetry woven throughout.
Ger's website is http://www.iccp.ie. One of the poems that Ger shares with us in the podcast features in this video put together by justmultimedia and can be seen here https://youtu.be/_UrdhfTAkKU
In the conversation, Ger mentions the work of http://marknepo.com and https://www.joannamacy.net/main
Note from Liz:
I hope you're all getting something really beneficial from the Shapes Of Grief podcast. I want to send out a huge thanks to those of you who have sponsored the podcast so far. I'm delighted to let you know that there is a new sponsorship option of just $1 per month - I'm hoping this will encourage more listeners to sponsor us and help to keep us going.
Become a sponsor for as little as $1 per month! Your support is much appreciated. ♥️
https://www.patreon.com/shapesofgrief
Eight years ago, Gretta Manners had a full time career in teaching and was a busy (and exhausted) mother of three young children; Hazel, 4, Maria, 2 and Tadhg, 6 months. She began to feel unwell and eventually went to the Emergency Dept. of her local hospital to find out what was wrong with her. It would be almost a year before Gretta got home again. What followed was months in hospital due to a rapid onset brain injury of unknown cause. Gretta lost her ability to talk, to walk, to determine the difference between her conscious and sleeping mind. She was plagued with a ‘ticker tape’ of nightmares and felt like she had ‘gone mad’. An encounter with a trial drug, along with a dedicated consultant (Prof. Tubridy), meant that Gretta’s deteriorating condition was thankfully stopped in its tracks and she would be able to start to slowly rebuild the broken brain connections, needing to learn to walk and talk all over again. The dedication of her family who didn’t leave her side during all of those institutionalised months and a consultant who really cared, meant that Gretta was given the best possible chance at life again, against all the odds.
Whilst Gretta defied many of the medical opinions in that she learnt to walk again, manages to run a couple of laps of the running track, can walk and drive and do day to day activities, she did not make a full recovery. Her balance remains a challenge and she often has difficulty with her short-term memory. She gets easily overwhelmed by a lot of conversation and sometimes it’s just too difficult for her to process what is going on in a busy room. In this conversation, we hope to highlight the losses that can be associated with acquired brain injury and hopefully make people more aware of this invisible condition that is often accompanied by invisible struggle. What comes across utmost in this conversation is how compassionate medical care and a dedicated circle of family and friends can really make a difference to a person’s outcome.
Acquired Brain Injury Ireland are available to provide support to individuals and families affected by Acquired Brain Injury. Here is a link to their website https://www.abiireland.ie
Note from Liz:
I hope you're all getting something really beneficial from the Shapes Of Grief podcast. I want to send out a huge thanks to those of you who have sponsored the podcast so far. I'm delighted to let you know that there is a new sponsorship option of just $1 per month - I'm hoping this will encourage more listeners to sponsor us and help to keep us going.
Become a sponsor for as little as $1 per month! Your support is much appreciated. ♥️
https://www.patreon.com/shapesofgrief
Thirteen years ago, Declan Hammond received a phonecall that is every parent's worst nightmare; his son had been involved in a mining accident abroad and was killed instantly. Declan was spiralled into what felt like an alternative reality, his life would never be the same again. In this brutally honest account of his grief, Declan describes how, for a number of years, he felt mad with grief. It was in the company of other bereaved parents where he found understanding, as many of his former friends fell away, unable to tolerate his grief. Declan speaks about how his grief transformed him over the years and how he has now made meaning from his loss.
Declan recorded this short video for another podcast, it's well worth a listen to https://youtu.be/Nhgnu3xZITw
Note from Liz:
I hope you're all getting something really beneficial from the Shapes Of Grief podcast. I want to send out a huge thanks to those of you who have sponsored the podcast so far. I'm delighted to let you know that there is a new sponsorship option of just $1 per month - I'm hoping this will encourage more listeners to sponsor us and help to keep us going.
Become a sponsor for as little as $1 per month! Your support is much appreciated. ♥️
https://www.patreon.com/shapesofgrief
For more on Declan’s work, see www.declanhammond.com/declan@soulmedicine.ie
grief #parentalbereavement #loss #accident #bereavement #griefpodcast #bestgriefpodcast
For many of us, we take it for granted that our text will read something like “a beautiful baby girl was born at 5.55am, 8.2lbs, mother and baby doing great”, but for Annemarie McCarthy and her husband, the reality was far from this. The 20 week scan showed anomalies that would render the rest of Annemarie’s pregnancy a constant source of stress and worry. When baby Ruth took her first breaths alone, her parents hoped that the worst was over and, once reparative surgery would be completed, they would take Ruth home and get on with their lives. Little did they know that their epic journey to keep their baby alive was just beginning. Ruth’s complications were a lot more than they and the medical team first realised, resulting in numerous surgeries, interventions and four years on a life-support machine. By the time Ruth was well enough to shed her reliance on the various machines that kept her alive for the first few years of her life, her mother Annemarie describes herself as ‘an empty shell’. Trying to keep her daughter alive for five years had taken it’s toll on Annemarie and after her second child was born, she realised that she was in dire need of therapeutic intervention to help her to rebuild herself after the years of stress and trauma that her family had been through. In this honest and open conversation, Annemarie gives us an insight into the disenfranchised grief of having a sick child and how that experience would change everything about her life in the weeks, months and years that followed. It is truly such a privilege to bear witness to these stories.
Note from Liz:
I hope you're all getting something really beneficial from the Shapes Of Grief podcast. I want to send out a huge thanks to those of you who have sponsored the podcast so far. I'm delighted to let you know that there is a new sponsorship option of just $1 per month - I'm hoping this will encourage more listeners to sponsor us and help to keep us going.
Become a sponsor for as little as $1 per month! Your support is much appreciated. ♥️
https://www.patreon.com/shapesofgrief
nicu #childrenshospital #disenfranchisedgrief #hiddenloss #livinginhospital #separation #divorce
Aisling Fitzgibbon and her mother Martha were inseparable. As well as mother and daughter, they were best friends and soul mates. Following a few years of depression in her early twenties, Aisling went on a journey of finding meaning and purpose in her life, accompanied every step of the way by her beloved mother Martha. When Martha suddenly became critically ill, all of Aisling's spiritual learnings were put to the test and she had to dig deep to be able to come to terms with her mother's impending death. Aisling takes us through that journey and talks about how she accompanied her mother in her dying process and how finding meaning in her mother's death helped her to cope with the enormous grief she experienced. Listen to Aisling and be inspired!
'Fairytale' - a song by Richie Ros, which Martha listened to as she was dying https://youtu.be/WgaDYR9LcGU
Note from Liz:
I hope you're all getting something really beneficial from the Shapes Of Grief podcast. I want to send out a huge thanks to those of you who have sponsored the podcast so far. I'm delighted to let you know that there is a new sponsorship option of just $1 per month - I'm hoping this will encourage more listeners to sponsor us and help to keep us going.
Become a sponsor for as little as $1 per month! Your support is much appreciated. ♥️
https://www.patreon.com/shapesofgrief
grief #bereavement #seizures #dying
When Siobhan was two years old, both her parents, her older brother who was seven and her aunt all died in a drowning tragedy on Carlingford Lough. Siobhan, her eleven month-old brother Terry and a nine-year-old sister Orla, were separated from each other and taken in by two sets of grandparents and were raised in a society that didn’t condone mourning or talk of grief. Siobhan tells us about how she created an imaginary life for herself as a child and how this loss coloured her life experience and influenced her life choices. Decades later, Siobhan still feels anxious whenever she has to wait for someone and how she finds solace in the company of family and friends. She finds healing in the work she does with grieving children who come to the Rainbows programme which Siobhan facilitates and offers advice to anyone supporting a grieving child.
rainbows #grief #carlingfordlough #drowning #grief #bereavement
Note from Liz:
I hope you're all getting something really beneficial from the Shapes Of Grief podcast. I want to send out a huge thanks to those of you who have sponsored the podcast so far. I'm delighted to let you know that there is a new sponsorship option of just $1 per month - I'm hoping this will encourage more listeners to sponsor us and help to keep us going.
Become a sponsor for as little as $1 per month! Your support is much appreciated. ♥️
https://www.patreon.com/shapesofgrief
BBC coverage of the commemoration https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-northern-ireland-49318332/carlingford-lough-haulbowline-lighthouse-memorial-for-dead?ns_mchannel=social&ns_linkname=northern_ireland&ns_campaign=bbc_news_ni&ns_source=twitter
In 2000, a bus carrying 7 young tourists in Bolivia crashed into a ravine killing all of the 9 passengers on board; the driver had fallen asleep. Among them were two young Irish sisters. In this episode, Musician and Poet Siobhan Daffy, talks about the sudden death of her best friend, the importance of getting the girls home to Ireland and how community and poetry supported her in coming to terms with her bereavement. Two years later, Siobhan’s little brother Donnacha died suddenly, leaving a bereft family. They were barely coming to terms with their grief when their father also died. Siobhan speaks about the magnitude of love and loss that hit her family and how they coped together, somehow finding a way to grieve, to find the courage to move forward with their enormous grief and to take heart in the love and life that still remained for them.
The accident was widely covered in the Irish press at the time https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/driver-in-ravine-horror-deaths-may-have-dozed-off-26118447.html
Note from Liz:
I hope you're all getting something really beneficial from the Shapes Of Grief podcast. I want to send out a huge thanks to those of you who have sponsored the podcast so far. I'm delighted to let you know that there is a new sponsorship option of just $1 per month - I'm hoping this will encourage more listeners to sponsor us and help to keep us going.
Become a sponsor for as little as $1 per month! Your support is much appreciated. ♥️
https://www.patreon.com/shapesofgrief
grief #bereavement #suddendeath #accident #loss #poetry #bereavementoverload
To access Siobhan’s work, please see the links bellow
https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/poetry-bath-tickets-62211226453
https://siobhandaffy.bandcamp.com/releases
www.shapesofgrief.com
www.patreon.com/shapesofgrief
Author of "Love's last gift" Bebhinn Ramsey recounts the sudden death of her husband Alistair while on holidays in San Francisco, leaving her widowed at 31 with a baby and a toddler. At the age of thirty-one Bébhinn had lost her soulmate, the father of her two young sons, but also her faith in life.Bebhinn tells of how the weight of her grief made her feel like a 'cornered rat' and how she went on a search for the cure for grief. That search lead her to The Work of Byron Katie, which provided her with a map that worked for her and helped her to navigate her grief by taking a spiritual approach to her experience. A heart-warming story from a beautiful woman. Bebhinn's ebook can be bought on Amazon at https://www.amazon.co.uk/Loves-Last-Gift-Bebhinn-Ramsay/dp/1444743112
In Love's Last Gift, this inspirational and thought-provoking memoir, we journey with Bébhinn as she searches for answers and a sense of meaning to her husband's untimely death. From walking the Camino de Santiago with her two young sons in the weeks following Alastair's death, to spiritual retreats and self-reflection, we discover how Bébhinn eventually finds peace, happiness and acceptance by opening her mind and her heart.
Love's Last Gift is a beautifully-written and ultimately uplifting memoir of hope, courage and eternal love.
In 2008, Bébhinn Ramsay set up ARCH, the Alastair Ramsay Charitable Trust, and moved to Florianópolis, Brazil to oversee Child Health Florianópolis, a child-focussed charity.
All royalties from Love's Last Gift go directly to ARCH.
Note from Liz:
I hope you're all getting something really beneficial from the Shapes Of Grief podcast. I want to send out a huge thanks to those of you who have sponsored the podcast so far. I'm delighted to let you know that there is a new sponsorship option of just $1 per month - I'm hoping this will encourage more listeners to sponsor us and help to keep us going.
Become a sponsor for as little as $1 per month! Your support is much appreciated. ♥️
https://www.patreon.com/shapesofgrief
grief #bebhinnramsey #sepsis #suddendeath #byronkatie #thework #griefspirituality #bereavement #widow #loveafterloss
Helen Lamb, owner and founder of the Dublin Wellness Centre, takes us on an intimate journey through her experience of grief following the death of her beloved husband when their baby boy was just months old. Listeners who have accompanied loved ones through cancer will resonate deeply with some of the experiences that Helen shares. She talks about the acute loneliness of grief and the importance of friends who ‘get’ exactly what you’re going through. Helen describes how grief changed her and how she approached loving again after losing ‘the love of her life’.
Note from Liz:
I hope you're all getting something really beneficial from the Shapes Of Grief podcast. I want to send out a huge thanks to those of you who have sponsored the podcast so far. I'm delighted to let you know that there is a new sponsorship option of just $1 per month - I'm hoping this will encourage more listeners to sponsor us and help to keep us going.
Become a sponsor for as little as $1 per month! Your support is much appreciated. ♥️
https://www.patreon.com/shapesofgrief
For more information on the Dublin Wellness Centre, click here https://www.dublinwellnesscentre.ie/about-us/
Helen refers to her friendship with author Bebhinn Ramsey. To read Bebhinn’s book "Love’s last gift”, buy the kindle edition here https://www.amazon.co.uk/Loves-Last-Gift-Bebhinn-Ramsay-ebook/dp/B007TNY3F4/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?keywords=Bebhinn+ramsey&qid=1564426661&s=gateway&sr=8-1-fkmr0
Bebhinn is our guest on the Shapes Of Grief podcast next week, episode 22.
Catherine Monaghan talks to Liz about life after the sudden death of her brother, what the grief of losing a sibling was like for her and how Tony’s death affected every part of her life. To read Cath’s article in the Irish Times, click here https://www.google.ie/amp/s/www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/my-brothers-were-inseparable-until-one-died-1.3878482%3fmode=amp
Note from Liz:
I hope you're all getting something really beneficial from the Shapes Of Grief podcast. I want to send out a huge thanks to those of you who have sponsored the podcast so far. I'm delighted to let you know that there is a new sponsorship option of just $1 per month - I'm hoping this will encourage more listeners to sponsor us and help to keep us going.
Become a sponsor for as little as $1 per month! Your support is much appreciated. ♥️
https://www.patreon.com/shapesofgrief
For those of you who listened to last week's episode with Justin Caffrey, this is your opportunity to now listen to Beatrice Caffrey's perspective on the life and death of their beloved baby son Joshua. Having endured three miscarriages, Beatrice and Justin were delighted that this pregnancy was going well. When Beatrice was 25 weeks pregnant, they took a much-needed holiday to the south of Spain, when Beatrice was woken by her waters breaking, 15 weeks early. Several days later in hospital, Joshua was born and immediately needed the care of the neonatal unit where he was not expected to live through the night. But Joshua was a little fighter and lived for almost a year, most of that spent in the intensive care unit. Beatrice takes us through that really difficult twelve months where their whole life was put on pause and Joshua's intense care regime was central to their lives. She takes us through the tasks of caring for a very ill baby, the days leading up to Joshua's death and how she took to the Wicklow hills to walk with her grief.
Note from Liz:
I hope you're all getting something really beneficial from the Shapes Of Grief podcast. I want to send out a huge thanks to those of you who have sponsored the podcast so far. I'm delighted to let you know that there is a new sponsorship option of just $1 per month - I'm hoping this will encourage more listeners to sponsor us and help to keep us going.
Become a sponsor for as little as $1 per month! Your support is much appreciated. ♥️
https://www.patreon.com/shapesofgrief
grief #loss #bereavement #multiplemiscarriage #born25weeks #neonatal #justincaffrey #babyloss
From high-flying banker to kangaroo parenting, Justin Caffrey takes us through a searingly honest account of his experience when his second son Joshua was born fifteen weeks early and life as they knew it stopped for the rest of the family. Forced to live in the south of Spain near the NICU unit where their son battled for survival, their son’s ongoing dance between life and death would change Justin’s perspective on almost everything in his life. After Joshua’s death, just short of his first birthday, Justin’s suppressed grief would eventually scream to be addressed, forcing Justin into a whole new way of being in the world. He generously shares with listeners what this journey was like for him, the abyss of grief that he faced, along with suicidal ideation and eventual acceptance of his grief and the rebuilding of family and career after trauma. Justin describes being surrounded by friends and family at a barbecue yet feeling totally alone and desolate. It is a poignant reminder to all of us to not forget our grieving loved ones, even though the outside can appear ‘normal’.
In the following episode of Shapes Of Grief, we shall talk to Beatrice Caffrey, mother of Joshua and married to Justin, for her maternal perspective of multiple miscarriage and the death of her beloved baby Joshua.
Note from Liz:
I hope you're all getting something really beneficial from the Shapes Of Grief podcast. I want to send out a huge thanks to those of you who have sponsored the podcast so far. I'm delighted to let you know that there is a new sponsorship option of just $1 per month - I'm hoping this will encourage more listeners to sponsor us and help to keep us going.
Become a sponsor for as little as $1 per month! Your support is much appreciated. ♥️
https://www.patreon.com/shapesofgrief
From twenty years in general practice to a full-blown transition to journalist and broadcaster, Dr. Ciara Kelly takes us through her experience of grief following the very sudden death of her father several years ago and then the more recent and prolonged death of her mother just under two years ago. Ciara speaks candidly with Liz about the different experiences, what surprised her about their deaths and how the experience of deep grief changed her as a doctor and as a person. We also hear about her first experience as a doctor, having to break the news to a young mother that she was going to die and how her own bereavements have changed her as a person.
The first 11 minutes, Ciara chats about her transition from GP to broadcaster. The conversation then turns to grief and Ciara’s very personal experience of loss.
Note from Liz:
I hope you're all getting something really beneficial from the Shapes Of Grief podcast. I want to send out a huge thanks to those of you who have sponsored the podcast so far. I'm delighted to let you know that there is a new sponsorship option of just $1 per month - I'm hoping this will encourage more listeners to sponsor us and help to keep us going.
Become a sponsor for as little as $1 per month! Your support is much appreciated. ♥️
https://www.patreon.com/shapesofgrief
Ciara and Liz both reference some of the articles that Ciara has written on her parents’ deaths, links can be found below. You’ll need to login or register for free access.
https://www.independent.ie/life/ciara-kelly-i-saw-my-mother-slip-away-from-me-and-there-was-nothing-i-could-do-about-it-38125299.html
https://www.independent.ie/life/dr-ciara-kelly-grief-really-is-very-odd-theres-one-niceish-thing-that-has-occurred-since-my-mother-died-36483205.html
https://www.independent.ie/opinion/dr-ciara-kelly-love-loss-and-the-memories-of-mum-that-will-never-die-37584206.html
https://www.independent.ie/life/family/family-features/dementia-is-the-long-goodbye-dr-ciara-kelly-on-the-recent-death-of-her-beloved-mum-35809611.html?fbclid=IwAR0FqUgOAznOE9-N1Awlp8zg7j1tVaN08XAt5YASy6rNFOEbtXV7ErsDXSE
More like a conversation between friends, Liz and Interfaith minister Treacy O’Connor talk about a variety of topics related to loss, personal growth, separation, as well as the dance between spirituality and the corporate world. Treacy discusses how her relationship with her father became deeper through the continuous bonds she forged with him after his death. She takes us through her personal journey from a young, searching woman to corporate life and eventually to the role of interfaith minister. We talk about the spiritual aspect of growth, as well as spiritual bypassing, childbirth, the grief of relationship breakdown and self-rediscovery. For more on Treacy's work, see https://treacyoconnor.com #Treacyoconnor #interfaithminister #continuousbonds #death #loss #bereavement #separation #spiritualbypassing
Note from Liz:
I hope you're all getting something really beneficial from the Shapes Of Grief podcast. I want to send out a huge thanks to those of you who have sponsored the podcast so far. I'm delighted to let you know that there is a new sponsorship option of just $1 per month - I'm hoping this will encourage more listeners to sponsor us and help to keep us going.
Become a sponsor for as little as $1 per month! Your support is much appreciated. ♥️
https://www.patreon.com/shapesofgrief
Kevin Toolis is a BAFTA winning film maker and writer of the acclaimed death guide My Father’s Wake: How the Irish Teach Us to Live, Love and Die. Toolis has reported on famines, wars and plagues all over the world for The New York Times and The Guardian. As a documentary maker he has filmed in the middle east and directed the Emmy-nominated Cult of the Suicide Bomber television history series. He is also producer/director of a compelling new stage work Wonders of the Wake that revives the lost art of Irish keening and celebrates the ancient rite of the Irish Wake.
In this episode, Kevin talks to Liz about what compelled him to write this book about his father's death and what it taught Kevin about life. It will take the reader on a sometimes uncomfortable journey towards mortality, but ultimately is an invitation to wake up to our finite lives and live them. Buy 'My Father’s Wake' https://amzn.to/2vbg08I
Note from Liz:
I hope you're all getting something really beneficial from the Shapes Of Grief podcast. I want to send out a huge thanks to those of you who have sponsored the podcast so far. I'm delighted to let you know that there is a new sponsorship option of just $1 per month - I'm hoping this will encourage more listeners to sponsor us and help to keep us going.
Become a sponsor for as little as $1 per month! Your support is much appreciated. ♥️
https://www.patreon.com/shapesofgrief
Liz refers to the Think Ahead programme run by the Irish Hospice Foundation, details can be found here.
https://hospicefoundation.ie/programmes/public-awareness/think-ahead/
Kevin speaks out against euthanasia in this episode. For another perspective, Liz recommends the documentary 'How to die in Oregon', available to rent on Amazon Prime for $3.99. https://www.amazon.com/How-Die-Oregon-Peter-Richardson/dp/B007Y35YTS
death #dying #irishwake #kevintoolis #myfatherswake #mortality #dying process #grief #shapesofgrief #thinkahead #irishhospicefoundation #howtodieinoregon
Donna tells us about the work of the Dougy centre in Portland Oregon and gives us some insight into what support children may need to help them through times of grief. The Dougy centre have some really useful resources for supporting grieving children and adolescents, which can be found here https://www.dougy.org.
We also mention the Irish Childhood Bereavement Network who are a great resource for childhood bereavement in Ireland, details can be found here https://www.childhoodbereavement.ie.
Note from Liz:
I hope you're all getting something really beneficial from the Shapes Of Grief podcast. I want to send out a huge thanks to those of you who have sponsored the podcast so far. I'm delighted to let you know that there is a new sponsorship option of just $1 per month - I'm hoping this will encourage more listeners to sponsor us and help to keep us going.
Become a sponsor for as little as $1 per month! Your support is much appreciated. ♥️
https://www.patreon.com/shapesofgrief
childrensgrief #grief #loss #childhoodbereavement #griefsupportforchildren #dougycentre #childhoodbereaement #shapesofgrief #griefpodcast
Psychotherapist and author Edy Nathan joins me on Shapes Of Grief this week to talk about the grief she endured through sexual abuse and bullying at a young age, which lead to the debilitating condition of agoraphobia. Edy’s experience would later shape her career choice, leading her to study the creative arts therapies, sex therapy and grief support. In this conversation, Edy takes us through her early experiences, how they shaped her and how she eventually came to integrate her grief and become a support for other people also experiencing cumulative grief and trauma.
Edy is offering listeners of Shapes Of Grief a free grief mediation download from her website, when you mention Shapes Of Grief. Her book ‘It’s Grief’ can be purchased on her website, which can be found here https://edynathan.com.
In the conversation, I mention an article that I wrote about Ritual, Symbol & Metaphor which can be found on my blog here https://www.shapesofgrief.com/grief-stories/2019/1/17/ritual-symbol-amp-metaphor-by-liz-gleeson.
Note from Liz:
I hope you're all getting something really beneficial from the Shapes Of Grief podcast. I want to send out a huge thanks to those of you who have sponsored the podcast so far. I'm delighted to let you know that there is a new sponsorship option of just $1 per month - I'm hoping this will encourage more listeners to sponsor us and help to keep us going.
Become a sponsor for as little as $1 per month! Your support is much appreciated. ♥️
https://www.patreon.com/shapesofgrief
grief #loss #agoraphobia #edynathan #sexualabuse #dramatherapy #bereavement #therapy #shapesofgrief #griefpodcast #lizgleeson #bereavementtherapist #grieftherapist #cumulativegrief
This week I speak to Dr Kathryn Mannix, palliative care pioneer, about the dying process. Like birth, there are certain stages of death which Kathryn hopes to demystify in her book ‘With the End in Mind’. Kathryn does a wonderful job in normalising this process which we all face and looks at how we can take the fear out of this natural and inevitable stage of life. Kathryn oozes compassion and humanity, offering ways in which we can approach this often-feared topic in a whole new light.
We discuss ways in which we can support our loved ones who are facing death and also how we can make our own deaths easier for our loved ones.
Kathryn’s wisdom goes a long way in normalising death and dying, this really is a must-listen for all of us!
Dr Kathryn Mannix will be the keynote speaker at the Forum 2019 “Dying is everyone’s business” in Dublin Castle on Thursday 24th October, tickets can be bought here https://hospicefoundation.ie/programmes/public-awareness/forum-on-end-of-life-2019/.
Note from Liz:
I hope you're all getting something really beneficial from the Shapes Of Grief podcast. I want to send out a huge thanks to those of you who have sponsored the podcast so far. I'm delighted to let you know that there is a new sponsorship option of just $1 per month - I'm hoping this will encourage more listeners to sponsor us and help to keep us going.
Become a sponsor for as little as $1 per month! Your support is much appreciated. ♥️
https://www.patreon.com/shapesofgrief
shapesofgrief #griefpodcast #bereavement #dying #death #whathappenswhenwedie #gooddeath #drkathrynmannix #palliativecare #withtheendinnind #forum2019 #irishhospicefoundation #stagesofdeath #grief #loss
In this conversation with Liz, Hayley speaks about the multiple miscarriages that she experienced, the devastating decision that herself and husband Charlie had to make when they found out that their baby had Turner's Syndrome and how, after four miscarriages and a medical termination, she continues to try to find the balance between loss and hope.
Miscarriage remains a taboo subject and if often a source of deep loneliness and grief for those who experience it. Because it is a subject avoided by many, the signs and symptoms of miscarriage often cause unnecessary additional distress and can be a deeply shocking and confusing time for the parents' experiencing this loss.
I am aware that Hayley has a living child and that some listeners do not have a living child; I wish to acknowledge this possible trigger of pain.
Hayley's candid and heartfelt approach to the subject provides a much-needed insight into what it means to endure multiple pregnancy losses and also a glimpse of the devastation parents' face when medical termination is an option they must consider. Hayley, who has significantly resourced herself through these experiences by accessing support and attending ongoing counselling, shares with us the variety of organisations where she found some support and comfort, she generously shares them with us here today:
Note from Liz:
I hope you're all getting something really beneficial from the Shapes Of Grief podcast. I want to send out a huge thanks to those of you who have sponsored the podcast so far. I'm delighted to let you know that there is a new sponsorship option of just $1 per month - I'm hoping this will encourage more listeners to sponsor us and help to keep us going.
Become a sponsor for as little as $1 per month! Your support is much appreciated. ♥️ https://www.patreon.com/shapesofgrief
A few links that might be useful for your listeners: (UK based)
Miscarriage Association: They have lots of really good leaflets about all different types of miscarriages, complications, feelings, future decisions
https://www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk/
Turners Syndrome Society:
https://tss.org.uk/
ARC (they support parents through antenatal testing and with the decisions about continuing with the pregnancy or not): They have a “friend” service, I spoke to a women who also had a Turner’s baby, it was really helpful.
https://www.arc-uk.org/
SANDS
https://www.sands.org.uk/
Helpful resources
Book: Miscarriage – What every women needs to know by Professor Lesley Regan
Hayley's details:
My blog link:
https://hayleybmanning.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/losslovelife. . Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hayleybmanning/?hl=en
Facebook: https://en-gb.facebook.com/pg/hbmlife/about/
miscarriage #turnerssyndrome #top #medicaltermination #termination #multiplemiscarriage #grief #loss #bereavement #bereavementoverload #sands #turnerssyndromesociety #miscarriageassociation
Dr Helen Greally is a psycho-oncologist with Cancer Care West. Helen has over forty years experience working with people through grief and loss, following diagnosis. Her PhD focused on spousal bereavement and she has collected a host of grief experiences from people of all ages throughout the country. In this episode of Shapes Of Grief, Helen talks about the shock that can come following a difficult diagnosis, theories of grief and why the 5 stages is usually not that useful, as well as some of the ways in which she works with grief, trauma and forging continuous bonds with our deceased loved ones.
Helen provides us with a wealth of wisdom and empathy, it is a total privilege to have had Helen as a guest on Shapes Of Grief.
Note from Liz:
I hope you're all getting something really beneficial from the Shapes Of Grief podcast. I want to send out a huge thanks to those of you who have sponsored the podcast so far. I'm delighted to let you know that there is a new sponsorship option of just $1 per month - I'm hoping this will encourage more listeners to sponsor us and help to keep us going.
Become a sponsor on Patreon for as little as $1 per month! Your support is much appreciated. ♥️ https://www.patreon.com/shapesofgrief
grief #bereavement #cancer #diagnosis #helengreally #cancersupport #continuousbonds #grieftheories #shapesofgrief #griefpodcast
In 2011, Jane Harris and Jimmy Edmonds got the knock at the door that no parent ever wants; their 22 year old son Joshua had been killed in a road accident while travelling in Vietnam. From that moment on, their life changed fundamentally, forever. Jane, a psychotherapist & filmmaker and Jimmy, also a filmmaker, embarked on a voyage of active grief during the following years, using their creative backgrounds to explore the new territory of parental bereavement. This lead them on a road trip throughout the U.S., an homage to Joshua who died travelling, to meet other bereaved parents and to try to de-stigmatise the conversations around parental loss. Their documentary “A Love That Never Dies” is a product of their grief journey and a testament to their enduring love for Joshua. It is a ‘much watch’ for anyone who seeks to better understand grief, in any shape.
The documentary sold-out to a packed audience in Dublin last week, hosted by the Irish Hospice Foundation. Following the screening, Jane and Jimmy stayed with me for several days in Greystones where we talked love, grief, creativity and sea-swimming. They met with Justin and Beatrice, a local couple who had coincidentally also lost a beloved son Joshua in 2011 and who shares Jimmy’s passion for sea-swimming as an antidote to grief. We also had breakfast with Ruth Fitzmaurice, author of “I Found My Tribe”, a former guest on Shapes Of Grief, where stories of books, documentaries, death and tattoos were shared; an immediate bond found through grief and creativity.
Episode 9 of Shapes Of Grief is a beautiful conversation I had with Jane where she shares much of her grief experience, how losing Josh changed her and the many ways their family adapted to their loss. Jane and Jimmy’s work has profoundly touched me and I know that it will continue to support and inspire those who find it.
Note from Liz:
I hope you're all getting something really beneficial from the Shapes Of Grief podcast. I want to send out a huge thanks to those of you who have sponsored the podcast so far. I'm delighted to let you know that there is a new sponsorship option of just $1 per month - I'm hoping this will encourage more listeners to sponsor us and help to keep us going.
Become a sponsor on Patreon for as little as $1 per month! Your support is much appreciated. ♥️ https://www.patreon.com/shapesofgrief
Watch ‘A Love That Never Dies’ here https://thegoodgriefproject.co.uk/watch-a-love-that-never-dies-now/
When Gary’s wife Joy died suddenly in 2017 from sepsis, he turned to his daily practice of doodling to express his grief and help him to process the reality of widowhood and parenting two young, bereft children. The series of heartfelt illustrations soon caught the attention of the public and quickly became a viral sensation. Liz had the pleasure of speaking with Gary for the Shapes Of Grief podcast and what ensued was a heartwarming conversation about love, parenthood, surrendering to grief & finding hope for the future. Don’t miss this one!
Note from Liz:
I hope you're all getting something really beneficial from the Shapes Of Grief podcast. I want to send out a huge thanks to those of you who have sponsored the podcast so far. I'm delighted to let you know that there is a new sponsorship option of just $1 per month - I'm hoping this will encourage more listeners to sponsor us and help to keep us going.
Become a sponsor on Patreon for as little as $1 per month! Your support is much appreciated. ♥️ https://www.patreon.com/shapesofgrief
For more resources, please see www.shapesofgrief.com, follow us on facebook, twitter and instagram. Support us on Patreon!
garyscribbler #thedoodlediaries #grief #loss #bereavement #sepsis #widow #widowhood #griefpodcast #bereavement #grieftherapy #griefsupport #hospice #shapesofgrief
Robert A. Neimeyer, Ph.D., is a Professor of Psychology, at the University of Memphis, where he also maintains an active clinical practice. Bob is an international speaker on grief and loss, bringing a great wisdom to the field. In this episode of Shapes Of Grief, Bob talks to Liz about how his father's suicide when he was 12 was to shape his later choices. He talks about why meaning making is important throughout life, not just in grief and has some fascinating perspectives on grief and how we might navigate it. We discuss how to help those who are grieving as well as looking at how to identify what our needs are in grief, how we might go about getting those needs met and how we might maintain a continuous bond with our deceased loved ones.
The sound quality is hampered at times, due to Liz being on a steep learning-curve of podcast editing and some builders who were hard at work in the background of this interview; please excuse this, we hope you agree that the content of the interview more than makes up for the poor sound quality at times.
Note from Liz:
I hope you're all getting something really beneficial from the Shapes Of Grief podcast. I want to send out a huge thanks to those of you who have sponsored the podcast so far. I'm delighted to let you know that there is a new sponsorship option of just $1 per month - I'm hoping this will encourage more listeners to sponsor us and help to keep us going.
Become a sponsor on Patreon for as little as $1 per month! Your support is much appreciated. ♥️ https://www.patreon.com/shapesofgrief
For details of trainings offered by the Portland Institute for Loss and Transition, please see https://www.portlandinstitute.org.
Cruse Masterclass with Robert Neimeyer, Belfast, July 2019 https://cruse.eventhq.co.uk/cruse-masterclass-with-robert-neimeyer-belfast-8th-july-2019
loss #grief #bereavement #crusebereavement #robertneimeyer #griefpodcast #shapesofgrief #hospice #griefeducation #meaningmaking #suicide #spirituality #continuousbonds
In this episode, Madeleine talks to Liz about three successive family bereavements and how her inability to grieve resulted in significant illness and a near-death experience. Madeleine went on to complete a Masters in Bereavement Studies at the Irish Hospice Foundation in an attempt to better understand and heal her own unresolved losses. Madeleine's story will no doubt resonate deeply with many people who have experienced grief in their lives, particularly those of us who have, for some reason, shut away our grief and not felt safe to express it. This is an important conversation about bereavement and unresolved grief that will hopefully inspire people in the knowing that it really is never too late to talk about grief and find healing and integration.
Note from Liz:
I hope you're all getting something really beneficial from the Shapes Of Grief podcast. I want to send out a huge thanks to those of you who have sponsored the podcast so far. I'm delighted to let you know that there is a new sponsorship option of just $1 per month - I'm hoping this will encourage more listeners to sponsor us and help to keep us going.
Become a sponsor on Patreon for as little as $1 per month! Your support is much appreciated. ♥️ https://www.patreon.com/shapesofgrief
loss #grief #bereavement #prolongedgrief #complicatedgrief #bereavementoverload #griefinthebody #ulcerativecolitis #neardeathexperience #mscbereavementstudies #irishhospicefoundation
Shapes of Grief had a lovely conversation with Dr. Susan Delaney of the Irish Hospice Foundation. Susan is the bereavement services manager there and has been instrumental in bringing awareness to Prolonged Grief (formerly complicated grief) to Ireland. In this conversation, Susan paints a very clear picture of what grief can look like, what can be involved when we go through grief and how sometimes, when our grief fails to integrate, we can go on to develop prolonged grief. Susan also talks about childhood bereavement and how children must be included in the grieving process. If you want a 'Grief 101', this is the podcast to listen to!
Note from Liz:
I hope you're all getting something really beneficial from the Shapes Of Grief podcast. I want to send out a huge thanks to those of you who have sponsored the podcast so far. I'm delighted to let you know that there is a new sponsorship option of just $1 per month - I'm hoping this will encourage more listeners to sponsor us and help to keep us going.
Become a sponsor on Patreon for as little as $1 per month! Your support is much appreciated. ♥️ https://www.patreon.com/shapesofgrief
prolongedgrief #complicatedgrief #drsusandelaney #grief #loss #bereavement #childrenandloss
Ruth Fitzmaurice's life changed when her husband Simon was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease. In this candid conversation, Ruth shares how, as a mother of five, she coped with Simon's long illness and eventual death through writing and daily immersion in the cold, Irish sea. Ruth speaks with exquisite honesty and generosity about her inner journey living with ongoing loss and how she is finding meaning in life again.
Apologies for the poor sound on the podcast, but the content is oh-so worth a listen!
Note from Liz:
I hope you're all getting something really beneficial from the Shapes Of Grief podcast. I want to send out a huge thanks to those of you who have sponsored the podcast so far. I'm delighted to let you know that there is a new sponsorship option of just $1 per month - I'm hoping this will encourage more listeners to sponsor us and help to keep us going.
Become a sponsor on Patreon for as little as $1 per month! Your support is much appreciated. ♥️ https://www.patreon.com/shapesofgrief
grief #loss #ruthfitzmaurice #simonfitzmaurice #ifoundmytribe #shapesofgrief #widow #lifeafterloss
Deirdre takes us through a beautiful story of how her little dog Charlie came into her life, the connection they made and how his presence enhanced her life. Deirdre tells an important message of how our pets become our family, particularly if we are single in the world and how their death can have a truly devastating impact. She describes how her spiritual practice helped her to cope with the loss.
Note from Liz:
I hope you're all getting something really beneficial from the Shapes Of Grief podcast. I want to send out a huge thanks to those of you who have sponsored the podcast so far. I'm delighted to let you know that there is a new sponsorship option of just $1 per month - I'm hoping this will encourage more listeners to sponsor us and help to keep us going.
Become a sponsor on Patreon for as little as $1 per month! Your support is much appreciated. ♥️ https://www.patreon.com/shapesofgrief
petloss #grief #bereavement #whenadogdies #shapesofgrief #griefpodcast
Art therapist Emily McCullough talks about the sudden, ambiguous death of her brother when she was sixteen, followed by her father's death a few years later. The suppressed grief, both personal and in the family, would take its toll for many years. Emily talks about how her grief has impacted her adult life, her relationships and her ongoing fear of loss. We talk about how her prolonged grief still manifests and how she managed to begin the process of healing, many years later.
Note from Liz:
I hope you're all getting something really beneficial from the Shapes Of Grief podcast. I want to send out a huge thanks to those of you who have sponsored the podcast so far. I'm delighted to let you know that there is a new sponsorship option of just $1 per month - I'm hoping this will encourage more listeners to sponsor us and help to keep us going.
Become a sponsor on Patreon for as little as $1 per month! Your support is much appreciated. ♥️ https://www.patreon.com/shapesofgrief
shapesofgrief #griefinthebody #grief #loss #prolonged grief #complicated grief #ambiguousloss #bereavement overload #grieftherapy #griefcounselling
Friends for over four decades, when Jack Gleeson's best friend died by suicide, the loss for Jack was huge. In this interview, Jack talks about friendship, love and loss.
Note from Liz:
I hope you're all getting something really beneficial from the Shapes Of Grief podcast. I want to send out a huge thanks to those of you who have sponsored the podcast so far. I'm delighted to let you know that there is a new sponsorship option of just $1 per month - I'm hoping this will encourage more listeners to sponsor us and help to keep us going.
Become a sponsor on Patreon for as little as $1 per month! Your support is much appreciated. ♥️ https://www.patreon.com/shapesofgrief
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https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN_6WOp6p_GXhArbMfxvaUg