A Gift For Grief

In this solo episode, I explore a side of grief that is often overlooked but profoundly important: the way grief shows up in the body.We tend to think of grief as emotional or psychological - but our bodies feel it just as deeply. From exhaustion and sleep changes to physical tension, aches, heaviness, digestive issues, and that sense of being stuck, the body often speaks before the mind can make sense of what’s happening.Drawing on personal experience, therapeutic insight, and the somatic wisdom explored in The Body Keeps the Score, Louise gently explains how grief impacts the nervous system and why these physical symptoms are not signs of weakness, but natural responses to profound loss.In this episode, you’ll hear about:How grief affects the body Stress responses like elevated cortisol, racing heartbeat, and weakened immunity Physical expressions of grief: tightness, heaviness, insomnia, aches, digestion changes Why symptoms like globus sensation (a lump in the throat) can appear during grief How tension, pain, and sensation can reflect emotional states Why the body remembers what the mind tries to manageI lead listeners through a gentle body scan, inviting awareness of breath, tension, and sensation without judgment, without needing to fix anything.Somatic tools that help grief move Gentle yoga for grounding, breath awareness, and emotional softening Breathwork to calm the nervous system and create emotional space Somatic therapy to help release stuck grief Everyday movement, as simple as walking or swaying, to help your body process lossI share my own personal experience of using EFT tapping (Emotional Freedom Techniques) and EMDR therapy.Somatic tools that help to regulate the nervous system, release stuck emotion, and reconnect with a sense of inner safety.Recommended Reading:The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der KolkConnect with your host Louise Bates: https://linktr.ee/louisebatesIf this episode moved you, please consider leaving a review and sharing it with someone who might need it.You help this show reach others walking their own path through grief.

In this episode, I speak with Vanessa May, a London-based writer, holistic grief coach, and certified grief educator.As a bereaved mother and widow, Vanessa has endured more loss than most could imagine in one lifetime, yet she’s transformed her pain into purpose.After losing her son Harry, her husband Anthony, and her father in quick succession, Vanessa dedicated her life to helping others navigate the landscape of grief.Known for her raw honesty, compassion, and wisdom, Vanessa embodies the 'wounded healer', reminding us that grief isn’t something to get over, it’s something we learn to live alongside.This episode dives deep into the spiritual beliefs that continue to support her, including soul contracts and signs from the other side.Books:Finding Meaning by David KesslerJourney of Souls by Michael NewtonIt's OK That You're Not OK by Megan DevineGroups:The Compassionate Friends: https://www.tcf.org.uk/professional/Therapy:Havening: https://www.havening.org/EMDR Eye Movement Desensitisation ReprocessingBreath WorkYoga for griefConnect with Vanessa:Author website: https://www.vanessamay.co.uk/Holistic Grief Coaching: https://wellbeingandnutrition.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/may.wellbeing.griefsupport/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/holisticgriefsupportWhen Grief Takes Everything: A Survival Guide To Devastating Loss:https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1068196106/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.FTjfx4BGEGh5OtMwWsPp3QyzSIQ13pdbJDMjYetAwlXGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.oR8DgquK--qkSNuoU9m646vmb259bZaIqyEVSJyWt8c&qid=1760187628&sr=1-1Connect with your host Louise Bates: https://linktr.ee/louisebatesIf this episode moved you, please consider leaving a review and sharing it with someone who might need it.You help this show reach others walking their own path through grief.

After early retirement and the heartbreaking loss of both her parents, Sue Williams turned to creativity and spirituality as a way to heal. What started as journaling soon transformed into poetry, eventually leading to her award-winning book, I Am Unique. Since then, Sue has gone on to create oracle cards, publish anthologies amplifying women’s voices, and inspire countless others to embrace creativity as a tool for self-discovery, healing, and transformation, especially in midlife and beyond.Sue’s story is a moving reminder that even in the depths of loss, courage and creativity can help us reconnect with ourselves and what we’re here to share with the world.Recommended reading:The Artists Way by Julia CameronSue Williams books:Believe You Can SucceedBelieve You Can Face Your Fears and Confidently Claim a Life You LoveBelieve You Can Live a Life You Love at 50+Golden Threads Women's Shared Wisdom from the Tapestry of Life I Am UniqueConnect with your host Louise Bates: https://linktr.ee/louisebatesIf this episode moved you, please consider leaving a review and sharing it with someone who might need it.You help this show reach others walking their own path through grief.

In this powerful and deeply important episode, we open up a conversation that many still find difficult to have about suicide, and bereavement by suicide.I’m joined by representatives from the incredible charity SOS Silence of Suicide, whose mission is to challenge stigma, encourage open dialogue, and ensure that no one feels they have to suffer in silence.Their message is simple yet profound: Stop the Silence, Start the Conversation.Together, we explore:The importance of speaking openly about mental health and suicidal thoughtsHow silence can be more dangerous than the struggle itselfSupport for those bereaved by suicideHow SOS is working to create safe, non-judgmental spaces for anyone in crisisThe transformative power of compassion, listening, and shared humanityWe all open up about our own personal experiences and this episode may be sensitive for some listeners, so please take care while listening.If you or someone you know is struggling, please know that support is available — you are not alone.Learn more about SOS Silence of Suicide:Website: silenceofsuicidesos.org.ukFacebook: SOS Silence of Suicide  Instagram: @sossilenceofsuicideTwitter: @SOS_Initiatives If this episode moved you, please consider leaving a review and sharing it with someone who might need it.You help this show reach others walking their own path through grief.Connect with your host Louise Bates: https://linktr.ee/louisebates

In this episode of A Gift For Grief, Narinder Moore reflects on the very different ways grief has touched her life.Her Father was bedridden for five years and died in 2008. Narinder explained how she experienced a mixture of sadness and relief - comforted by knowing he was no longer suffering.Years later, her grief took on a new shape. The sudden loss of her eldest brother Gurjit in 2021, followed by the death of her younger brother Jagdip in 2023.This brought pain of a different kind - sharper, more unexpected, and deeply disorienting.Narinder opens up about how the Sikh community stepped forward during these times of loss and she shares the important role of Sikh customs and traditions in mourning.Members of the Sikh community came together to surround her family with prayer and support.Those who were able to read from the scriptures brought the sacred words into the house, filling the home with comfort and reverence. The presence of the scriptures offered both spiritual strength and a reminder that she was not alone in her grief.This heartfelt conversation explores how grief is never the same twice, and how faith, culture, and community can both comfort and challenge us in times of loss.Connect with Narinder through her Facebook group or Facebook page, both called - The Live Well Learning Hub. Narinder's book 'Reflections' A Guided Journal: is available from Amazon.Recommended reading:Anita Moorjani Dying to Be MeBill Kirkpatrick: Going ForthThe Miracle Morning: Hal ElrodA Gift For Grief: Louise BatesDonna Ashworth: Growing BraveConnect With Your Host Louise Bates: https://linktr.ee/louisebatesIf this episode moved you, please consider leaving a review and sharing it with someone who might need it.You help this show reach others walking their own path through grief.

In this episode of A Gift For Grief, I talk about the words we use around loss.So often, people mean well but don’t know what to say - and sometimes the phrases we’ve all heard, like “they’re in a better place” or “everything happens for a reason”, can sting more than they soothe.I share some reflections on the language of grief: what feels supportive, what can feel blunt, and how even simple, honest words can make a big difference.I also explore how grief can shift the way we speak and listen to each other.If you’ve ever struggled to find the right thing to say - or wished someone had said something different, this conversation is for you.Connect with your host Louise Bates: https://linktr.ee/louisebatesIf this episode moved you, please consider leaving a review and sharing it with someone who might need it.You help this show reach others walking their own path through grief.

In this gentle and heartfelt solo episode, I reflect on the first year of grief and the many emotional “firsts” that come with loss: The first birthday, Christmas, holiday, anniversary, and even the first unexpected moment of laughter.I share personal stories, including how my husband Bill and I honour our son Matthew’s birthday, and why we’ve chosen sunshine over tradition when it comes to Christmas.I also explore the emotional weight of anticipation, the quiet moments that catch us off guard, and the small, meaningful rituals that help keep love present in our everyday lives.This episode is for anyone navigating the painful first year, or supporting someone through theirs, or simply trying to understand the complex, unpredictable journey of grief.You’ll be gently reminded that:There’s no right way to grieve—only your wayIt’s okay to feel joy, guilt, longing, and laughter all at onceEven in grief, there are glimmers of love and connectionIf this episode moved you, please consider leaving a review and sharing it with someone who might need it.You help this show reach others walking their own path through grief.Connect with your host Louise Bates: https://linktr.ee/louisebates

Grief and loss are experiences we never ask for but they shape us in profound ways.In this deeply personal episode, I open up about my own journey through grief: the loss that shattered me, the heartbreak I never expected, and the surprising gifts that emerged from the pain, such as clarity, resilience, compassion, and a deeper connection to life and much more.This conversation is an honest invitation to see grief as more than something to “get through.” Instead, what if we approached it as a sacred journey, a path that, while brutally painful, can transform us in ways nothing else can?Whether you’re grieving a loved one, navigating a major life change, or supporting someone through loss, this episode will help you:Understand the hidden lessons and gifts in griefFind meaning and hope during painful seasonsEmbrace healing while honoring your lossGrief can break us but it can also open us.If you’ve ever wondered how to keep going when life falls apart, or how to show up for someone who’s hurting, this episode is for you.Connect With Louise Bates: https://linktr.ee/louisebatesIf this episode moved you, please consider leaving a review and sharing it with someone who might need it.You help this show reach others walking their own path through grief.