ATS:E10|The Hidden Power of Loving Someone With Addiction and Mental Illness with Brandi Vandenberg

ATS:E10|The Hidden Power of Loving Someone With Addiction and Mental Illness with Brandi Vandenberg

In this episode, Brandi shares her raw and honest journey through profound grief after losing her husband Rio, exploring complex emotions like love, trauma, addiction, and survival. Her story underscores the importance of community, vulnerability, and embracing grief as a path to healing. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction: Grief, love, trauma, and survival with Brandi Vandenberg 00:23 - Brandi discusses her husband Rio’s creative, musical personality 01:54 - How Rio’s love for music and humor defined him 03:24 - The beautiful parts of Rio and Brandi’s life together 04:32 - Rio’s loyalty, humor, and deep love for his family 05:13 - Misunderstandings about addiction and mental illness 06:15 - Rio’s silent struggles with self-love and self-worth 07:10 - The impact of self-medication and quick fixes in Rio’s life 08:37 - Carrying roles of partner and caregiver: exhaustion and identity 09:23 - Emotional toll of supporting Rio over the years 10:25 - Hidden struggles behind closed doors and the complexity of staying 11:13 - The organic nature of mental health challenges and their organic origin 12:45 - The uniqueness of each relationship facing mental health issues 13:44 - The life-shaping years of partnership and constant planning 14:36 - Shielding children from the full scope of struggles 16:29 - Grief’s early days and the detachment from reality 17:19 - Fears, suicide attempts, and the day Rio passed away 18:13 - The practice scares and the pre-grief rehearsals 20:26 - The body’s response to grief and the healing power of exercise 22:11 - The profound physical experience of loss and its ongoing impact 23:01 - How support networks helped Brandi cope 25:13 - Rediscovering herself through writing and creativity 26:35 - The loss of music and her identity as a musician 27:24 - Grief and re-engagement with her passions 28:23 - The misunderstood aspects of grief 29:28 - Creative expression as a therapeutic outlet 31:22 - Love and life after loss, and honoring Rio’s memory 33:39 - Finding love again and embracing her true self 35:26 - How her new relationship respects Rio’s memory and their past 38:55 - Advice to those in fresh grief: lean into it, talk openly, and allow space for healing 40:09 - Loving someone with addiction and mental health struggles: have the hard conversations 41:15 - What “After the Silence” means personally to Brandi 42:11 - Connecting with Brandi’s work, books, and future projects Resources & Links: * Brandi Vandenberg’s Books [https://www.amazon.com/s?k=BG+Vandenberg] (available on Amazon & Barnes & Noble) Connect with Brandi: * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/b.g.vandenbergauthor] * Website [https://www.thebookishberg.com/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPOTM2NjE5NzQzMzkyNDU5AAGn7CfykSI--tC2O2YwyPL6urAdvWbrdOam7InMRNcoukwVdmlCYaebPzt_19k_aem_TKPIVYIs28T_MDZGo8Mg6Q] Remember, your grief is valid, and you are not alone in this journey. Thank you for walking with us today.

ATS:E9 | Overcoming Trauma & Grief: Stories of Resilience & Hope with Adi Mairal

In this emotionally powerful episode, our guests share raw and inspiring stories about surviving life-altering trauma, navigating complicated grief, and finding ways to rebuild strength, community, and love. Their journeys highlight the importance of resilience, responsibility, and the support networks that help us heal. Timestamps:  00:00 - Introduction to the episode and its focus on trauma and resilience 00:32 - Meet Adi Mairal and his current life and thriving mindset 00:50 - Adi recounts his five-year journey starting with a devastating car accident 03:36 - The long recovery and the emotional toll during rehabilitation 04:32 - Experiences of fear, loss of identity, and depression post-accident 05:02 - The moment Adi begins to find hope and determination to heal 07:43 - The role of prayer, gratitude, and community support in recovery 10:26 - Navigating a toxic relationship and violent attack 13:04 - Legal challenges, false accusations, and the physical/emotional aftermath 15:12 - Building a community around herbalism and shared healing practices 17:17 - The power of gratitude and trusting divine timing 18:42 - Internal struggles that aren’t visible externally and managing PTSD 22:39 - Breathing, meditation, and mental health strategies for trauma management 24:00 - Societal pressures on men and the importance of redefining strength 28:12 - The struggle of acceptance and forgiveness of oneself 31:30 - How trauma led Adi back to reconnect with his true self and his parents 36:13 - The spiritual lesson in facing Goliath: life as a test of resilience 41:47 - The ongoing tenderness in facing betrayal and heartbreak 44:54 - The potential for love and trust again after deep trauma 47:44 - Key takeaways of hope, resilience, and the importance of self-compassion Resources & Links: * Herb Your Enthusiasm Community [https://instagram.com/herb__my__guy] – Follow Adi’s herbalism classes and meetups * Adi’s Herbal Alchemy [https://example.com/aliwebsite] – Explore herbal blends created by Audi Connect with Adi Mairal: * Instagram [https://instagram.com/herb__my__guy]

ATS:E8 | Okay Not to be Okay with Libby Gimpel

The conversation delves into the themes of grief, love, and loss, exploring the impact of loss, the spectrum of grief, and unexpected aspects of the grieving process. It provides a raw and honest portrayal of the emotional journey of navigating life after loss. The conversation delves into the themes of navigating grief, the strength of vulnerability, understanding suicide loss, support and healing, grieving out loud, and lessons in love and loss. It explores the challenges and triumphs of processing loss and the importance of open and honest communication about mental health and emotional well-being. Takeaways * Grief is a spectrum that fluctuates between calm and stormy days, requiring individuals to navigate through the waves of emotions. * The grieving process involves unexpected challenges and moments that can be both overwhelming and enlightening. Vulnerability is a strength * Suicide is the final symptom of mental illness Chapters * 00:00 Introduction and Acknowledgment * 07:27 The Impact of Loss * 15:25 Navigating Survival Mode * 22:50 The Spectrum of Grief * 28:02 The Strength of Vulnerability * 33:04 Understanding Suicide Loss * 42:38 Grieving Out Loud * 48:32 Lessons in Love and Loss **Brave Ladies Club: private group for women who had lost a spouse or partner to suicide. https://www.facebook.com/groups/124553808264700 [https://www.facebook.com/groups/124553808264700] * U.S. and Canada, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline 24 hours a day * Text HOME to 741741 to connect with the Crisis Text Line * Veterans and service members can contact the Veterans Crisis Line by dialing 988 and pressing 1 * If you are outside the U.S., please reach out to your local crisis support services or emergency resources in your area

ATS:E7 | Traumatic Grief

The conversation delves into the experience of traumatic grief, exploring the shock of sudden loss, the overwhelming nature of grief, the aftermath, the impact on the nervous system, the confusion it brings, the body's response to trauma, and the process of healing. Takeaways * Traumatic grief affects the entire system, not just emotions. * Healing from traumatic grief involves creating safety in the body.

ATS:E6 | Disenfranchised Grief

The conversation explores the concept of disenfranchised grief, highlighting the lack of acknowledgment and support for this type of grief. It delves into the experience of unacknowledged grief and the importance of validating one's own grief without external validation. Takeaways * Disenfranchised grief is often not acknowledged or supported by others * Grief can come from not being met in the loss Chapters * 00:00 Understanding Disenfranchised Grief * 05:14 Validating Your Own Grief