Silent Grief Podcast

Can something so devastating as child loss ever have a purpose? On this episode of The Silent Grief Podcast, we grapple with this deeply personal question. We share our honest thoughts on finding meaning in the midst of sorrow, exploring the possibility of growth and transformation within the depths of grief. A conversation for those seeking solace and understanding.Find us on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/SilentGriefSupporthttps://www.facebook.com/jimmyhintonauthorAnd Twitter:https://twitter.com/clarahintonhttps://twitter.com/JimmyHinton12

Grief is never a linear path, but when the loss of a child is met with the absence of a spouse—whether through death or divorce—the mental and emotional strain on the remaining parent can feel insurmountable. Jimmy and Clara break down the unique "trauma triggers" that accompany these major life changes and offer a roadmap for those feeling the heavy pull of isolation.Inside the Episode:The Complexity of Compounded Loss: Understanding how the loss of a spouse dramatically increases the difficulty of navigating child loss.The Weight of the "Remaining Parent": Discussing the mental health strain, emotional overload, and the financial pressures that often follow.Identifying the Triggers: How major life changes spark complex grieving processes and where depression and loneliness often take root.The Support System Checklist: A guide to the five essential pillars for staying grounded:Professional help from therapists.Leaning on friends.Navigating social agencies.Finding solace in books and shared stories.The Most Important Factor: Practicing self-care to remain grounded.Key Takeaway:"Seek help! Don’t delay, and above all, don’t try to do it alone."Clara's book, Child Loss: The Hearbreak and the Hope: https://amzn.to/49E3tP6Jimmy's book, Tithing Your Time, Treasure, and Talent: https://www.amazon.com/Tithing-Your-Time-Treasure-Talent/dp/B0GKYJM3C2

Grief doesn't just happen to individuals; it happens to relationships. On today's Silent Grief, we uncover why so many marriages and family ties fail in the wake of tragedy. Discover how your pain impacts those around you and learn the "7-7-7 Rule"—a powerful strategy for reconnecting with your partner through dates, getaways, and romantic holidays. Don't let grief isolate you; learn how to safeguard your marriage this week.Find us on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/SilentGriefSupportAnd Twitter:https://twitter.com/clarahinton

There are many lies that we repeat to ourselves when we are suffering with survivor's guilt: "If I had done somehting different my child would still be alive. . . I should have been more present. . . If only I would have called more my child would still be here. . ." and on they go. The reality is that, in most cases, there is very little that we could have done to prevent our child from leaving this earth. Life is unfair, but it's unfair to most of us. The good news is that we can start repainting a brighter picture in our lives. Sure, grief will always be present, but we can start focusing on the positive things in life rather than beating ourselves up for a past that we cannot change. Find us on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/SilentGriefSupportAnd Twitter:https://twitter.com/clarahinton

Survivor's guilt is something parents face on the daily after losing a child. Why didn't God take me instead? Why am I still here? These are questions we ask as we are left in the wake of tragedy. We'll walk you through the reasons why we feel this guilt. It is not uncommon. This is part of processing our grief. We'll gently walk you through the journey of processing survivor's guilt. Find us on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/SilentGriefSupportAnd Twitter:https://twitter.com/clarahinton

Many of us wait in anticipation for the New Year. Goals are set. Maybe we can get a fresh start. Perhaps we can put grief to rest for a minute and learn to live life again. But then the clock strikes midnight and there is still a sadness. What happened? It turns out that grief follows us into the new year. In this episode, we talk about what to expect so that we don't feel like aliens with three heads. What you are experiencing is normal. You are far from alone in this. We'll talk you through it as we share some truths of living with grief. Find us on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/SilentGriefSupportAnd Twitter:https://twitter.com/clarahinton

Are you dreading the holiday season because of the gaping hole left by loss? This is the essential second part of our series, specifically designed for those navigating child loss and profound sorrow during what should be a joyful time. If grief consumes you—emotionally, spiritually, and physically—you are not alone, and this episode is your lifeline.Grief is a restless state of being, but you have the power to change that.In this deeply moving episode, we provide actionable, heart-centered strategies to help you control your grief by controlling your thoughts.From Acceptance to Action: We tackle the hardest truth—the acceptance of what cannot be changed ("My child died...")—and pivot to the empowering revelation that you can learn to manage your emotional response.Unlock Inner Peace: Discover the direct link: Gratitude leads to peace. Learn why embracing thankfulness is not an insult to your sorrow, but the ultimate grief management technique to finally silence the turmoil within.We pray that we can help you find a sense of peace during this difficult holiday season. Find us on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/SilentGriefSupportAnd Twitter:https://twitter.com/clarahinton

Greif must be controlled or it will control us. But how do we control our grief? There are steps that we can take to control our grief so it doesn't take us captive. In this part 1, we talk about the importance of identifying indicators that grief is getting too difficult for us to handle. A lot of us try to supress grief, but that only masks what we know is already making life difficult. Rather than supress grief, we suggest recognizing and acknowledging that grief is present. Then we know what we are up against and we can use techniques to get our grief under control. Find us on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/SilentGriefSupportAnd Twitter:https://twitter.com/clarahinton

Every parent who has lost a child knows the struggle of facing the holidays. With Thanksgiving coming up, we want to share a checklist to ensure that you are not out on a limb by yourself. You will make it through this holiday season, but there has to be some kind of a plan to face the holiday. We hope this will help walk you through the holiday season. Find us on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/SilentGriefSupportAnd Twitter:https://twitter.com/clarahinton

Navigating the Holidays After Child LossWhen the world glows with festive lights, the heart of a grieving parent feels only darkness. This holiday season, you might be struggling to find joy, and that is okay.In this tender and honest episode of the Silent Grief Podcast, we acknowledge the stark reality of facing the holidays after the loss of a child. We dive deep into four key truths that can help frame your experience:Nothing Will Ever Be the Same: Accepting that the 'old' way of celebrating is gone and creating space for new, gentle traditions.You Are Different Now: Understanding and validating the profound change grief has wrought in you, and giving yourself permission to show up differently this year.Life Feels 'Flat': We discuss the emotional numbness and exhaustion that often accompany acute grief, especially during times of forced celebration.Set Small, Achievable Goals: Practical, compassionate advice for taking the season one moment, one day, one small step at a time.This episode offers solace and validation, reminding you that grief is the price of deep love, and you don't have to pretend to be okay.Find us on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/SilentGriefSupportAnd Twitter:https://twitter.com/clarahinton

Facing the holidays without your child is devastating. As the expression goes--"I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy." It's true. The greif of losing a child is one of the hardest things humans can endure this side of eternity. Yet very little is written or said about the holiday season. We are here to change that. The holidays just plain stink without our child by our side. We will shout that from the rooftops. In this episode, we talk about some of the challenges parents face and how we, as a community of broken people, can help each other get through the holiday season together. We are here to support our Silent Grief community, and we pray that more and more join us! Find us on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/SilentGriefSupportAnd Twitter:https://twitter.com/clarahinton

The holidays are extremely hard for parents who've lost children. The holidays, typically filled with joy and laughter, can be a complete source of depression and anxiety for those of us who have lost children. We'll be talking about this over the next few expisodes, but first we want to establish a few helpful pointers from someone who's "been there." We can absolutely make it through the holidays, but we have to be real about the sorrow associated with it. Eventually, we can establish new traditions that will bring us joy again, but the first few years can feel like our Mount Everest. Join us as we talk about this important topic. Find us on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/SilentGriefSupportAnd Twitter:https://twitter.com/clarahinton

If you experience fear after child loss, you are not alone. In fact, most people experience high levels of fear after losing a child. We fear things like losing another child, the fear of something else really bad happening, the fear of being happy again, and even the fear of moving forward in life. In this episode, we break down those fears and talk about ways that we can overcome some of life's greatest fears that cripple us. Join us for this important conversation. You are not alone! Find us on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/SilentGriefSupportAnd Twitter:https://twitter.com/clarahinton

Trauma--it's a word that is hard to say, let alone admit that we have experienced. Yet millions of people are living in the aftermath of traumatic experiences. Losing a child is a trauma that runs deep. Trauma affects so many aspects of our lives, from health to mental stability, and even how we respond to depression and life challenges. In this episode, we talk about how trauma changes us. But we also offer hope for those who are living with trauma. There is always hope, but we need to have open discussions about it to face these challenges. Find us on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/SilentGriefSupportAnd Twitter:https://twitter.com/clarahinton

Brain fog is something that we can go through when we experience grief and it can last a LONG time. There are things that we can and should do to manage it. In this episode, we talk about what brain fog looks like and how we can take steps to care for ourselves because we believe we weren't created to live in a fog all the time. Join us as we talk about self-care and how we can manage that annoying fog that keeps us down. Find us on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/SilentGriefSupportAnd Twitter:https://twitter.com/clarahinton

A trauma trigger is any external cue (like a sound, smell, person, or place) or internal experience (like a feeling or thought) that reminds someone of a past traumatic event, causing them to experience intense physical and emotional reactions as if the trauma were happening again. They can happen frequently after losing a child, and they can happen any time. In this episode, we talk about our triggers and how we can respond with grace as we work through those triggers. Find us on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/SilentGriefSupportAnd Twitter:https://twitter.com/clarahinton

Parents who lost children are well aware of the sleepless nights, the pounding headaches, the nightmares, depression, and anxiety that can become constants in their lives. What we don't hear a lot about is peace. What in the world is peace and how do we get there? Attaining peace is not the same as never grieving again. We will ALWAYS grieve. But we can live with grief in a way that allows us to sleep again. We can find joy eventually. We can eliminate the fear and anxiety that has gripped us for way too long. Listen in as we encouage you to find peace after loss. We want to encourage you as parents to walk forward with peace in your lives. You deserve it! Find us on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/SilentGriefSupportAnd Twitter:https://twitter.com/clarahinton

Everyone who has lost a child knows that we need people to care. That's it. We simply want to know that our child's life mattered and we want to know that people are there for us. In this episode, we break down ways that we can help others. Being there for other people is essential when they are facing the pain of child loss. Find us on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/SilentGriefSupportAnd Twitter:https://twitter.com/clarahinton

When tragedy strikes, time freezes in place. We use the expressions, "The world stopped spinning that day" and "A part of me died with my child." It's the best we can do to describe the worst thing imaginable--losing our child.Can there be life after loss? Can we learn to live again? Things certainly will never be the same as they were before. We know this. But we can reclaim a piece of who we used to be prior to our child's death. Join us as we talk about how to pick up the pieces and start living again. Find us on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/SilentGriefSupportAnd Twitter:https://twitter.com/clarahinton

To all parents who've lost a child: Your child will ALWAYS be your child! Society wants us to forget and move on. Why is it that, when asked how many children we HAVE, we stumble to find the words to answer? Sometimes we number our children, along with our child who passed away. But then we get defensive and try to explain that we have x number of living children but that our number also includes our child or children who passed away. This is because society wants us to believe that death is the final answer. It is not. Our relationship with our child lives on. We still have converstations with our child. We hold our child in our heart and we dwell on the good memories we have. We want to encourage you in this episode and let you know that you are not alone. We share ways that you can bring your child with you into the future. Find us on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/SilentGriefSupportAnd Twitter:https://twitter.com/clarahinton