Grief is part of your story. But not the whole story.

When someone we love dies, grief doesn't just affect our emotions—it affects our entire body.

Many people in the early days and months after a loss are frightened by what they're experiencing. Brain fog. Difficulty concentrating. Anxiety. Trouble sleeping. Digestive issues. Chest pain. A racing heart. Exhaustion that doesn't seem to improve with rest.

If you've ever wondered, "Is this normal?" or "What's happening to me?"—you're not alone.

In this one-hour Grief Gurus Masterclass, we explore the whole-body experience of grief and explain why profound loss affects not only your heart, but also your brain, nervous system, immune system, and physical health.

In this masterclass, you'll learn:

• Why grief can cause brain fog, forgetfulness, and difficulty concentrating
• What happens to your brain and nervous system after a significant loss
• Why grief can affect your heart and cardiovascular system
• The connection between grief and increased inflammation in the body
• Why digestive problems, appetite changes, and nausea are so common
• How grief contributes to anxiety, sleep disruption, and overwhelming fatigue
• Practical ways to care for your body while navigating profound loss

One of the greatest gifts you can give yourself in grief is understanding what your body is going through. When we understand what's happening, we replace fear with knowledge and self-judgment with self-compassion.

Our hope is that this conversation helps you feel less alone, more informed, and reassured that many of the physical and cognitive changes you're experiencing are normal responses to extraordinary loss.

Whether your loss is recent or you've been grieving for some time, we hope this masterclass offers comfort, education, and hope as you navigate your healing journey.

💙 If this masterclass resonates with you, we'd love to hear from you in the comments. Your story may help someone else realize they're not alone.

And consider joining our upcoming six week series on early grief. This is a collection of six, one hour live and virtual events beginning in September, 2026.

🦋 💜 Reserve Your Seat using this link: https://www.thegriefgurus.com/courses

Subscribe to Grief Gurus for weekly conversations, practical guidance, meditations, and compassionate support for every stage of the grief journey.

👉 Follow for tools to navigate grief and difficult emotions and visit www.thegriefgurus.com for practical conversations about grief, coping, and living after loss.

#TheGriefGurus #CarolBanens #LisaMcFarland #healing

Show Notes + Resources:

Grief Gurus Healing Community: www.thegriefgurus.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GriefGurus

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegriefgurus

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/griefgurus/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GriefGurus/

Lisa McFarland: https://lisamcfarland.com/

Carol Banens: https://carolbanens.com/

Information on books written and published by Lisa and Carol can be found on their individual websites, social media profiles and Amazon.

Grief is part of your story. But not the whole story.

One of the biggest fears after losing someone you love is wondering, "Is this normal grief, or am I becoming depressed?"

The truth is that grief and clinical depression can look remarkably similar. Both can bring overwhelming sadness, exhaustion, difficulty sleeping, changes in appetite, trouble concentrating, and a loss of motivation. But they are not the same—and understanding the difference can reduce fear while helping you recognize when additional support may be needed.

In this chat, we explore:

✅ The key differences between grief and clinical depression
✅ Why grief can mimic many symptoms of depression
✅ The surprising role inflammation plays in grief, including how inflammatory markers can increase after a significant loss and affect both your body and your mood
✅Why sleep problems are so common during grief and practical ways to improve your rest
✅ When it's time to seek additional professional support
✅ Why self-compassion is one of the most important tools for healing

Grief isn't just an emotional experience—it's a whole-body experience. Understanding the physical changes that occur during grief can help you stop questioning yourself and begin treating yourself with the same compassion you would offer someone you love.

Whether you're in the first days, weeks, or months after a loss, we hope this conversation helps you feel less alone, more informed, and more confident in your grief journey.

👉 Follow for tools to navigate grief and difficult emotions and visit www.thegriefgurus.com for practical conversations about grief, coping, and living after loss.

#TheGriefGurus #CarolBanens #LisaMcFarland #healing

Show Notes + Resources:

Grief Gurus Healing Community: www.thegriefgurus.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GriefGurus

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegriefgurus

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/griefgurus/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GriefGurus/

Lisa McFarland: https://lisamcfarland.com/

Carol Banens: https://carolbanens.com/

Information on books written and published by Lisa and Carol can be found on their individual websites, social media profiles and Amazon.

Losing someone you love can make you wonder if you're grieving "the right way." You may have heard about the five stages of grief and expected to move neatly from one stage to the next.

But that's not how grief works.

In this chat, we explain why the stages of grief are not a roadmap or a checklist. You may experience some of the stages, none of them, or revisit the same emotions over and over again. Grief is deeply personal, and there is no single "correct" path through it.

If you've ever thought, "I was doing better... why am I falling apart again?" or "Shouldn't I be in a different stage by now?" this conversation is for you.

You'll learn:

Why grief isn't linear
Why emotions come and go unexpectedly
Why you may never experience every stage
How understanding this can reduce fear, guilt, and self-judgment
How to trust your own unique grief journey

Remember: you're not failing at grief. You're experiencing one of the most human responses to profound loss.

If this video helped you feel a little less alone, subscribe for more compassionate conversations about navigating the early days and months of grief.

👉 Follow for tools to navigate grief and difficult emotions and visit www.thegriefgurus.com for practical conversations about grief, coping, and living after loss.

#TheGriefGurus #CarolBanens #LisaMcFarland #healing

Show Notes + Resources:

Grief Gurus Healing Community: www.thegriefgurus.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GriefGurus

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thegriefgurus

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/griefgurus/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GriefGurus/

Lisa McFarland: https://lisamcfarland.com/

Carol Banens: https://carolbanens.com/

Information on books written and published by Lisa and Carol can be found on their individual websites, social media profiles and Amazon.