Suicide Grief, PTSD, Sexual Trauma and Finding Hope Again with Erika Shershun - Episode 85

Suicide Grief, PTSD, Sexual Trauma and Finding Hope Again with Erika Shershun - Episode 85

WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: Anyone struggling with suicide grief, PTSD, sexual trauma, survivor shame, unresolved loss, complex grief, childhood trauma, ambiguous grief, or the long-term effects of living in survival mode. WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET: A powerful conversation about trauma recovery, grief healing, nervous system regulation, suicide loss, resilience, boundaries, and how healing remains possible even after decades of pain and silence. DESCRIPTION: Erika Shershun joins Nick Gaylord for a deeply personal conversation about grief, trauma, suicide loss, healing, and resilience. Erika shares the story of losing her father to suicide at age fifteen, the devastating impact of growing up without emotional support, and how unresolved grief shaped much of her life. She also discusses surviving multiple sexual assaults, discovering how trauma remained stored in her body for decades, and the moment she realized survival mode had been controlling her life. Together, Nick and Erika explore PTSD, ambiguous grief, nervous system dysregulation, boundaries, trauma-informed care, and the realities of healing after profound loss. Erika reflects on the later suicide of her brother, the lessons she learned through her own recovery, and the work she now does helping survivors reclaim their lives. This episode offers hope, practical insight, and an honest look at what healing truly requires. If you've ever felt trapped by grief, trauma, shame, or silence, this conversation will remind you that healing is possible and that you are not alone THIS EPISODE ANSWERS: *  How does suicide loss affect a child for the rest of their life?  *  Can trauma stay trapped in the body for decades?  *  What happens when grief and trauma go unprocessed?  *  Why do survivors often remain stuck in survival mode?  *  Is it ever too late to heal from trauma and grief?  KEY TAKEAWAYS: *  Trauma can remain stored in the body long after the original event has passed.  *  Healing does not erase painful memories, but it can remove their power to control daily life.  *  Unexpressed grief often resurfaces physically, emotionally, and psychologically.  *  Recovery is rarely linear, but meaningful progress is always possible.  *  Boundaries, self-awareness, and trauma-informed support are critical parts of healing.  Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2319842/support] GIVE THE SHOW A 5-STAR RATING ON APPLE PODCASTS!   FOLLOW US ON APPLE OR YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST PLATFORM!   BOOKMARK OUR WEBSITE: www.griefisnotadirtyword.com [http://www.ourdeaddads.com] FOLLOW OUR DEAD DADS ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/griefisnotadirtyword [https://www.facebook.com/griefisnotadirtyword] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/griefisnotadirtyword [https://www.instagram.com/griefisnotadirtyword] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@griefisnotadirtyword [https://www.tiktok.com/@griefisnotadirtyword] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmmv6sdmMIys3GDBjiui3kw [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmmv6sdmMIys3GDBjiui3kw] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-gaylord/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-gaylord/]

Addiction, Overdose and Broken Heart Grief with Kym Hinchey - Episode 84

WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: Anyone navigating traumatic grief, overdose loss, child loss, spouse loss, pet loss, complicated grief, anger in grief or surviving after devastating family tragedy. WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET: A brutally honest conversation about grief, rage, survival, grief brain, addiction loss, codependency, trauma, emotional numbness and what it actually looks like to keep living after losing the people you love most. DESCRIPTION: In this deeply raw and unfiltered episode, Nick Gaylord sits down with grief educator and author Kym Hinchey to talk about the unimaginable losses that changed her life forever. Kym shares the story of losing her son Adrian to an accidental overdose after years of addiction struggles and losing her husband John just three months later to what she believes was a broken heart. Together, Nick and Kym dismantle the myths society teaches about grief, including the dangerous idea that grief follows neat stages or has an expiration date. They explore grief rage, grief brain, trauma, survivor’s guilt, pet loss and the emotional isolation grieving people often experience. Kym also opens up about the promise she made to her surviving son to stay alive and how that promise ultimately became the foundation for rebuilding her life. This conversation is honest, painful, compassionate and filled with the kind of truth grieving people rarely hear out loud.  This episode answers: *  What does grief after overdose loss really feel like?  *  How do you survive losing both a child and spouse?  *  Why does grief create anger, numbness and brain fog?  *  What is grief brain and why does grief affect the body physically?  *  Why do grieving people feel pressure to hide their pain?  Key Takeaways: *  Anger is a normal and necessary part of grief.  *  Grief changes who you are permanently.  *  There is no timeline or checklist for healing.  *  Grief affects the body, brain and immune system.  *  Honest conversations about grief help people survive it. Website:  https://agriefsupport.com/ [https://agriefsupport.com/] My Story Page: https://agriefsupport.com/my-story-%26-tools-for-you [https://agriefsupport.com/my-story-%26-tools-for-you] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agriefsupport [https://www.instagram.com/agriefsupport] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/agriefsupport [https://www.facebook.com/agriefsupport] Substack: https://agriefsupport.substack.com/ [https://agriefsupport.substack.com/] Grief.com Directory Listing: https://grief.com/grief-certified-peer-to-peer/name/kym-hinchey/ [https://grief.com/grief-certified-peer-to-peer/name/kym-hinchey/] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2319842/support] GIVE THE SHOW A 5-STAR RATING ON APPLE PODCASTS!   FOLLOW US ON APPLE OR YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST PLATFORM!   BOOKMARK OUR WEBSITE: www.griefisnotadirtyword.com [http://www.ourdeaddads.com] FOLLOW OUR DEAD DADS ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/griefisnotadirtyword [https://www.facebook.com/griefisnotadirtyword] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/griefisnotadirtyword [https://www.instagram.com/griefisnotadirtyword] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@griefisnotadirtyword [https://www.tiktok.com/@griefisnotadirtyword] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmmv6sdmMIys3GDBjiui3kw [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmmv6sdmMIys3GDBjiui3kw] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-gaylord/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-gaylord/]

Healing After Sudden Loss, Survivor’s Guilt, and Grief with Lisa Spychalski - Episode 83

WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: Anyone navigating sibling grief, survivor’s guilt, traumatic loss, unresolved family trauma, or the lifelong emotional weight of grief after a sudden death. WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET: An honest conversation about long-term grief, therapy, trauma recovery, toxic family dynamics, survivor’s guilt, healing after sudden loss, and what it means to carry love and pain decades after losing someone. DESCRIPTION: Thirty years after losing her sister Regina in a tragic car accident, Lisa Spychalski returns to Grief Is Not A Dirty Word for one of the most vulnerable conversations Nick Gaylord has ever hosted. Released intentionally on the 30th anniversary of Regina’s death, this episode explores the lasting impact of sibling loss, survivor’s guilt, unresolved trauma, and complicated family relationships. Lisa opens up about the hidden reason she went to Florida before the accident, the emotional burden she carried for decades, and how therapy finally helped her begin reclaiming herself. Nick and Lisa discuss toxic relationships, grief anniversaries, signs from loved ones, emotional healing, and the reality that grief never truly disappears with time. Lisa also shares how keeping Regina’s memory alive through stories and family connections continues to shape her life today. This is a raw, deeply human conversation about grief, guilt, healing, and learning to finally put yourself first after years of emotional pain. This episode answers: *  How do you cope with survivor’s guilt after losing a sibling?  *  What does long-term grief feel like after 30 years?  *  Can therapy help with unresolved grief and trauma?  *  How do toxic family relationships affect grief recovery?  *  Why do grief anniversaries still hurt decades later?  Key Takeaways: *  Long-term grief can remain emotionally intense even decades later.  *  Therapy can help people process unresolved trauma and grief.  *  Survivor’s guilt often keeps people trapped in “what if” thinking.  *  Setting boundaries with toxic relationships can become part of healing.  *  Keeping a loved one’s memory alive through stories helps preserve connection. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2319842/support] GIVE THE SHOW A 5-STAR RATING ON APPLE PODCASTS!   FOLLOW US ON APPLE OR YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST PLATFORM!   BOOKMARK OUR WEBSITE: www.griefisnotadirtyword.com [http://www.ourdeaddads.com] FOLLOW OUR DEAD DADS ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/griefisnotadirtyword [https://www.facebook.com/griefisnotadirtyword] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/griefisnotadirtyword [https://www.instagram.com/griefisnotadirtyword] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@griefisnotadirtyword [https://www.tiktok.com/@griefisnotadirtyword] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmmv6sdmMIys3GDBjiui3kw [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmmv6sdmMIys3GDBjiui3kw] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-gaylord/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-gaylord/]

Hidden Suicide Loss, Lifelong Grief and Mental Health Healing with Lisa Sugarman - Episode 82

WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: People navigating suicide loss, childhood grief, traumatic loss, complicated grief, mental health struggles, depression, anxiety and anyone trying to better understand the long-term impact of losing a parent or loved one to suicide. WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET: An honest conversation about grief, suicide stigma, mental health awareness, childhood trauma, healing after loss and how vulnerability and open conversations can help people feel less isolated in their grief journey. DESCRIPTION: In this deeply emotional episode of Grief Is Not A Dirty Word, host Nick Gaylord sits down with author, mental health advocate and suicide loss survivor Lisa Sugarman for a powerful conversation about grief, trauma and the lifelong impact of losing a parent to suicide. Lisa shares the heartbreaking story of losing her father at just 10 years old, believing for 35 years that he died of a heart attack before learning the truth about his suicide later in life. Together, Nick and Lisa explore childhood grief, mental health stigma, suicide loss, survivor guilt, depression and the silence that so often surrounds traumatic loss. Lisa opens up about how that revelation reshaped her understanding of grief, mental illness and her father himself. The conversation also highlights the importance of vulnerability, emotional honesty and creating safe spaces for people to talk openly about grief and mental health. Lisa discusses her work with The Trevor Project [https://www.thetrevorproject.org?utm_source=chatgpt.com] , her platform The Help Hub and her podcast The Survivors Podcast , all focused on supporting people through trauma, crisis and loss. This episode is a raw and compassionate reminder that grief does not disappear when ignored and that nobody should have to suffer in silence.  This episode answers: *  How does losing a parent to suicide affect a child later in life?  *  What happens when you discover the truth about a loved one’s suicide decades later?  *  How can people better support someone grieving a suicide loss?  *  Why is suicide still so stigmatized in grief conversations?  *  What are the long-term mental health effects of unresolved grief and trauma?  Key Takeaways: *  Silence and avoidance can deepen grief and emotional isolation.  *  Suicide loss survivors often carry complex layers of grief, anger, guilt and confusion.  *  Honest conversations about mental health and grief create safer spaces for healing.  *  Vulnerability helps normalize difficult conversations around suicide and depression.  *  Grief cannot simply be ignored or “gotten over” without emotional consequences. Go to Lisa's EPISODE page on www.griefisnotadirtyword.com for all of her links. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2319842/support] GIVE THE SHOW A 5-STAR RATING ON APPLE PODCASTS!   FOLLOW US ON APPLE OR YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST PLATFORM!   BOOKMARK OUR WEBSITE: www.griefisnotadirtyword.com [http://www.ourdeaddads.com] FOLLOW OUR DEAD DADS ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/griefisnotadirtyword [https://www.facebook.com/griefisnotadirtyword] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/griefisnotadirtyword [https://www.instagram.com/griefisnotadirtyword] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@griefisnotadirtyword [https://www.tiktok.com/@griefisnotadirtyword] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmmv6sdmMIys3GDBjiui3kw [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmmv6sdmMIys3GDBjiui3kw] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-gaylord/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-gaylord/]

Grief, Anger, and the Loss of Stability in America Today with Mark Davis - Episode 81

WHO THIS EPISODE HELPS: Anyone navigating grief tied to identity loss, fractured relationships, or societal division. WHAT LISTENERS WILL GET: A powerful perspective on grief, uncertainty, and emotional conflict beyond death. DESCRIPTION: This episode of Grief Is Not A Dirty Word explores a different kind of grief—one rooted in division, identity loss, and uncertainty. Nick Gaylord sits down with Mark Davis to unpack how grief shows up when trust erodes, relationships fracture, and the world feels unstable. Together, they examine the emotional toll of speaking up, the personal cost of conflict, and the grief that comes from losing a sense of safety and belonging. Mark shares his journey from a middle-class upbringing to stepping into a public role, revealing how loss shaped his perspective long before politics entered the picture. This conversation goes beyond headlines, focusing instead on human experience, emotional resilience, and the unseen grief many people carry today. It’s a raw look at what happens when personal values collide with the world around you. If you’ve felt disconnected, overwhelmed, or unsure of where you stand, this episode will resonate deeply. This episode answers: *  Why does political division feel like grief and emotional loss?  *  How do you handle losing relationships over beliefs or values?  *  What are people grieving right now beyond death and loss?  *  How do you speak up when it costs you personally and emotionally?  *  Can a divided society heal from identity loss and fractured trust?  Key Takeaways: *  Grief isn’t limited to death—it includes loss of identity, trust, and stability  *  Division creates emotional distance that mirrors personal grief  *  Speaking up often comes with real personal and relational consequences  *  Financial stress and uncertainty are major sources of modern grief  *  Healing begins with recognizing shared humanity beneath disagreement Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2319842/support] GIVE THE SHOW A 5-STAR RATING ON APPLE PODCASTS!   FOLLOW US ON APPLE OR YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST PLATFORM!   BOOKMARK OUR WEBSITE: www.griefisnotadirtyword.com [http://www.ourdeaddads.com] FOLLOW OUR DEAD DADS ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/griefisnotadirtyword [https://www.facebook.com/griefisnotadirtyword] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/griefisnotadirtyword [https://www.instagram.com/griefisnotadirtyword] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@griefisnotadirtyword [https://www.tiktok.com/@griefisnotadirtyword] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmmv6sdmMIys3GDBjiui3kw [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmmv6sdmMIys3GDBjiui3kw] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-gaylord/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-gaylord/]