Good Mourning: The Many Faces of Grief – Darcie D. Sims, Ph.D., CHT, CT, GMS

Are you still counting calories? It’s holiday time and there should be no calories during the holidays. Or are you making lists of the things that you don’t have any more, including your loved one? Handling the holidays is not deciding how to eliminate the fat, the pain, the memories from our lives, but rather, learning how to count our … Read more about this episode...

It only takes a moment for it all to be gone. A phone call, a knock on the door, a text, a few words and our world can come crashing down around us. What do you do when grief comes calling? Kris Munsch, of Hays, Kansas, builds and renovates things: houses, businesses, stores, things. No matter how run down or … Read more about this episode...

NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP I PRAY THE LORD MY SOUL TO KEEP IF I SHOULD DIE BEFORE I WAKE I PRAY THE LORD MY SOUL TO TAKE A universal child’s prayer, meant to give comfort, it may, instead, inspire FEAR. Although many parents refuse to give voice to a child’s fears and concerns about death, they sponsor … Read more about this episode...

I’ve decided to spend January in my basement. After all, basements are often dark and gloomy (suits my mood), in need of organization (describes my life perfectly) and could use a good cleaning (similar to shaking the cobwebs out of my brain.) January is a let down from the hustle and bustle of the Holidays. It is a month to … Read more about this episode...

I’ve always wondered why the new year begins buried in snow, frozen in ice or blanketed in mud. It always seems harder to begin when my feet are encased in leaden boots or stuck in frozen mud. Wouldn’t it be easier to begin a new journey if the weather were warmer and my feet were strapped into sandals or even … Read more about this episode...

It’s the holiday season and no matter which holiday it is for you, it’s time to celebrate and to give and receive gifts. But when your holiday may only be seasoned with grief, exchanging gifts may seem especially painful. Yet, there is one gift exchange that is so incredible, so profound that we need to share it. Today we are … Read more about this episode...

This is not your typical holiday show, yet it is a story of despair and hope woven together as one family struggles to find joy again after the death of their precious child. For years we struggled with the belief that the divorce rate was as high as 80%. Fortunately, new studies strongly suggest this to be a myth. We … Read more about this episode...

Life is a little different in small town America. Here the pace is the slower and the people seem to be closer to each other. Minneapolis, Kansas is alive and well and thriving…held together by the compassionate caring of its residents. It is rural America at its best and it is the home of a first generation funeral service family. … Read more about this episode...

Holiday cards. Gifts. Singing. Decorating. Pretending to be happy. Fruitcake? It’s holiday time and the world is filled with music, tinsel and glitter. It is a festive time of year, filled with joyous occasions and family gatherings. But when your family circle has been broken by death, the only things that sparkle this season may be tears. The holidays may … Read more about this episode...

A single sigh and she left. She left us, not with anguish or pain, but in the quietness of a sunlit room, in the peace of her own home, under the guardianship of a hospice program. My mom was able to die the way she wished…at home, surrounded by her favorite things, with her family close by. We were only … Read more about this episode...

Somewhere in the world, an American soldier, sailor, airmen, Marine or Coastguardsmen stands guard. Throughout history, there have been men and women who have always stood guard…ready to protect their families, homes, their very lives. Sometimes armed with sticks and stones, bows and arrows, long guns and pistols, sophisticated weapons and sometimes only with ideals and rhetoric, Man has stood … Read more about this episode...

How do you breathe when the air has just been swept away with the words, “We regret to inform you…”? These are the words that have changed the course of lives for hundreds of thousands of families throughout history as they learned of their loved one’s death in the military. Today we’re going to talk about making choices in our … Read more about this episode...

Miscarriage. Stillbirth. Perinatal death. Words that do not belong in the same universe as hope. The baby blanket is packed away. The crib dismantled. The nursery door is closed…like the broken heart of a mother who never got to be one, like a dad who may not even have known his coming role. For families experiencing a miscarriage, stillbirth or … Read more about this episode...

How can a miniature horse named Precious help a child heal a grieving heart? My guest today is Abby Mosher, the Founder and Executive Director of Tomorrow’s Rainbow, Inc. an innovative grief support program for grieving children in Coconut Creek, Florida. She is a pioneer in combining the therapeutic benefits of horses with facilitated peer support groups to provide a … Read more about this episode...

Do you worry that your own memories will fade over time? Or that your loved one will be forgotten? How can we preserve those precious moments of LIFE when all we can remember is the pain and sadness and GRIEF? Are there ways to hold on to the joys of a loved one’s life long after the casseroles have quit … Read more about this episode...

Did you know that there are more than two million children and teens in the United States who are grieving the death of their moms or dads and that they are at much greater risk for psychological and behavioral problems than other kids? 1 out of every 20 children will experience the death of a parent before the age of … Read more about this episode...

Can a dog be a grief specialist? When crisis or disaster strikes a community or an individual, who responds to help restore hope and renew faith? Today we are going to meet two members of a very unique disaster response team and talk with them about their work and their mission. My guests today are Ralph Buchhorn & Georgie of … Read more about this episode...

Does it hurt more to have a loved one die by sudden, accidental death or a long-term illness? Does it hurt more to have someone die by homicide or suicide? What about deaths from conflicts or war or acts of terrorism? Who hurts the most? And is this a valid argument and an appropriate use of our grief time? Dare … Read more about this episode...

Suicide. The very word seems shrouded in pain, mystery, and sorrow. It is huge topic, but one that is usually avoided or whispered about. No one wants to talk about suicide and those who are thinking about it or have had a loved one die by suicide often find themselves isolated and alone. Men and women, adults and children, the … Read more about this episode...

Most of us meet only one face of grief at a time, although any change brings about many challenges. But how does one survive when grief keeps knocking on the door, again and again? Who do you grieve for first? How do you get up in the morning, wondering if there will be another knock at the door or a … Read more about this episode...

Where do you go when your heart is breaking, the grief is overwhelming and your family and friends have grown weary of your sadness? Who is there to listen to the seemingly endless stream of personal pain? Finding support systems and resources can be a daunting task, especially when the pain is so great that getting up off the couch … Read more about this episode...

  What’s there to be thankful for? When we are lost in the wilderness of grief, it is hard to imagine that there could be anything worth being grateful for. When we are busy tending our “Lost List”, it is nearly impossible to consider keeping a gratitude journal. Yet, this simple challenge and task can change the course of your … Read more about this episode...

Today we’re going to talk to a woman who has walked down the aisle towards happiness 3 times, yet each trip ended in sadness and loss. She, however, did not give up and kept searching for the “love of her life”. Eventually she found it, only to see it slip through her heartstrings one more time. In a world that … Read more about this episode...

She was a stay-at-home mom, providing day care in order to remain at home raising her own children until the unthinkable happened. A knock on the door one evening shattered her dream life. In a single moment, her life changed forever as she learned of the murder of her 18 year old son who was robbed and shot to death … Read more about this episode...

Most of us have been to a funeral, maybe several, maybe one for a beloved family member or friend. If you were attending one for a loved one, then it was probably mostly a blur…something we did on “automatic” or as if we were powered by batteries. In our frozen or semi-frozen state, we functioned, but it probably felt like … Read more about this episode...

Have you been contacted by a loved one who has died? Have you ever felt a touch or sensed a loved one’s presence, after the death? Has a whiff of a loved one’s favorite fragrance or after-shave floated by you when there was no reason for it being present? Have you ever “seen” a loved one or had a butterfly … Read more about this episode...

I was OK until THE SONG came floating over the radio. I had to pull over. I was blinded by tears that streamed down my face. How I miss him! Was it really more than … ago? It seems like only moments have passed since IT happened. Why does music have the power to send us to the very depths … Read more about this episode...

Can one turn away from a religion yet remain spiritual? How can we help ourselves and others who are grieving find a path of comfort when faith fails to bring expected hope and healing? Where is God in all of this anyway? Today we’re going to talk about the roles that religion, faith and spirituality play in the grief journey. … Read more about this episode...

Laughter died the day he did. I knew I would never laugh or know joy again. There is not much that is humorous about grief. Although there are moments when we can either laugh or cry and sometimes we do them both at the same time. My guest today is very serious about laughter. She specializes in studying how laughter … Read more about this episode...

A long time ago, there was nothing to hold on to when a loved one died. No support groups to attend, no books to read, no radio shows to listen to. People were afraid to speak of the deceased. The silence was very, very loud. So when my guest today found herself in that empty silence following the death of … Read more about this episode...

There are many different faces of grief. Today we’re going to talk about one of those other faces…the grief of losing one’s home, one’s possessions, one’s lifestyle as disaster strikes a community and leaves behind only mud and waste…and memories tossed out in the trash. My guest today is Father Dave Zimmer, Pastor of St. John the Apostle Church in … Read more about this episode...

Years ago there were no books, CD’s, DVD’s, phone apps or support systems to help us on our grief journey. Finding a book to read was a difficult if not impossible task. And now there are so many resources, that it is equally challenging to sort through the mountains of books and other resources, to find one that speaks just … Read more about this episode...

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” A rhyme from our childhood. A tease. A taunt. Childhood is supposed to be a wonderful time in our life. Yet, for many of our children, childhood takes on a different color…not the perfect rainbow confection we dream about, but painted with shades of grey and brown … Read more about this episode...

“On behalf of the President of the United States and the people of a grateful nation” are the words that accompany the presentation of a folded American Flag…given to the family of a military member whose life and service paid for the freedoms we enjoy today. The sound of TAPS bids a final farewell. On this Memorial Day, we pause … Read more about this episode...

She was living a fairy tale life, married to a handsome prince and with a career of her own. It all came to an end with the presentation of a folded flag and a new life began…life as a widow. She lost it all and then out of the ashes, built a national support program for military families grieving the … Read more about this episode...

It only takes about 35 minutes to solve a crime on television. There are lots of shootouts, crashing cars and screaming sirens racing through our living rooms each evening as we catch the latest crime show or action movie on the screen. Do we realize that the men and women who are the real law enforcement officers in our communities … Read more about this episode...

Murder. Homicide. Those two words strike terror in the hearts of everyone. They are so startling that even the air seems to be sucked out of the universe. If this is the face of your grief, you need a special type of support. You need a special brand of caring. You need HOPE, given by someone who has been where … Read more about this episode...

The unthinkable happens. With the speed of a moment, your world comes crashing to a halt, altered in ways you could never guess. Today we’re going to talk about how one couple not only survived the death of their only child, but then took their pain and converted it into a healing journey, not only for themselves but for many … Read more about this episode...

Grief is like an artichoke…layer upon layer of story, layer upon layer of hurt. Some people have more than their share of grief and each grief is a new layer, to be revisited every time another challenge is faced. But far beneath all those layers lies a heart…struggling to survive, struggling to thrive. Today you are going to meet someone … Read more about this episode...

Your loved one collected pennies. Have you ever found a penny on the street or in between the couch cushions and smiled, knowing you had just received a “message” from your loved one? Have you ever suddenly “felt” your loved one’s presence? Have you ever wondered if your loved one is OK and wished for some “sign” to let you … Read more about this episode...

Grief is universal. It is the one language that all human beings understand. Yet, Americans are still one of the most death denying cultures in the world. It has only been within the past 50 years or so, that the United States has begun to publicly acknowledge this most human of emotions. Join me as we talk with Dr. Earl … Read more about this episode...

“I am so mad … I can feel this wave of anger just washing over me and I don’t even know why… and then I get sad and sometimes I’m mad and sad at the same time”… Have you ever felt that way…mad and sad at the same time? These are feelings that most of the grieving world have experienced, … Read more about this episode...

Have you had headaches, heart aches and tummy troubles ever since your loved one died? Then this week’s show, THE PHYSIOLOGY OF GRIEF is for you! We’re going to talk about the physiology of grief, what happens physically to us as we work our way through grief. My guest is Dr. Gloria Horsley, PhD. MFC and CNS who is the … Read more about this episode...

This week we’re going to talk about The Journey Through Grief…the process of grief and the steps we can take in order to navigate this most difficult experience. My guest is Dr. Robert Baugher, a Professor at Highline Community College in Des Moines, Washington where he teaches courses in the Psychology of Human Relations, Death Education, Understanding AIDS and … Read more about this episode...

This week we’re going to talk about The Language of Grief…the words we use to describe what we’re experiencing and how we are feeling about it. Americans are one of the most death denying cultures in the world. We won’t even say that people have died. We will say everything but “they died”. How are we going to be … Read more about this episode...