The Emotional Effects of a Serious Illness or Injury

Host: Sharon Brubaker, Grief Specialist

Description: Welcome to Healing Starts with the Heart, where grief meets resilience. In this deeply personal episode, host Sharon Brubaker shares her journey through a serious health diagnosis and its emotional impact. Sharon dives into the unexpected grief that accompanies serious illnesses or injuries, offering insights, support, and a heartfelt personal story to guide listeners through their own experiences.

Episode Highlights:

1. Introduction
   • Sharon introduces the topic and its personal significance.
   • The transformative journey of coping with a serious illness or injury.
2. Personal Story
   • Sharon recounts her experience from April 7th, 2024.
   • The initial symptoms, misdiagnoses, and eventual discovery of a 95% blockage in the widowmaker of her heart.
   • The emotional rollercoaster: fear, numbness, frustration, and realization.
3. The Unique Experience of Women
   • The differences in heart attack symptoms between men and women.
   • Sharon's persistence in seeking the correct diagnosis despite normal test results.
   • The importance of advocating for oneself in the medical field.
4. Emotional Impact
   • The range of emotions faced: fear, worry, sadness, and numbness.
   • Sharon's fear of leaving her husband behind.
   • The shift from fear of death to acceptance and planning.
5. Coping Mechanisms
   • The role of journaling in processing emotions and thoughts.
   • Sharon’s strategy of writing down important information for her family to reduce anxiety.
   • The calming effect of preparedness.
6. Grief and Loss
   • The grief associated with losing health and the old way of life.
   • Feeling powerless, isolated, and facing one’s own mortality.
   • The importance of pausing and reflecting on emotions and thoughts.
7. Journal Questions for Reflection
   • Primary emotions experienced due to illness or grief.
   • Intensity and physical location of these emotions in the body.
   • Sharon encourages listeners to use these questions to gain deeper insights into their emotional state.
8. A Message to Women
   • Encouragement to seek medical help if something feels off.
   • Advocating for better understanding and treatment of women's heart health.
9. Griever’s Guide and Free Videos
   • Sharon shares the story of Austin's loss and her mission to understand grief.
   • Free resources: The Griever’s Guide ebook and videos on various grief-related topics.
10. Closing Thoughts
    • Sharon’s gratitude for having more time and her dedication to supporting others through grief.
    • A reminder that Sharon sees, understands, and supports her listeners in their healing journey.

Resources:

• Download The Griever’s Guide

Call to Action: If you’ve been touched by today’s episode, please share it with someone who might benefit from hearing Sharon’s story. Subscribe to Healing Starts with the Heart for more episodes on grief, healing, and resilience.

Contact Information:

• Website: The Grief School
• Email: info@thegriefschool.com
• Follow Sharon on Facebook and Instagram

Thank you for joining us on this journey. Remember, you are not alone in your grief, and together we can find healing.