Episode 5: The Grief Hangover

Description:
Have you ever made it through a milestone — a birthday, an anniversary, a holiday — feeling surprisingly okay, only to wake up the next day heavy, anxious, and undone? That’s what I call a “Grief Hangover.”

In this episode, I’m joined by my dear friend and fellow widow, Julia Warren — a grief coach and yoga therapist — to explore what happens after those emotionally charged days. Together, we talk about the physical, emotional, and spiritual impact of milestone moments, why the “day after” can feel so crushing, and how to care for yourself when that post-grief crash hits.

This conversation is an invitation to bring light to an experience so many of us share but rarely name. You’re not going backward. You’re not failing. You’re simply human — and your heart is doing its best to recover from something incredibly hard.

In this episode, we explore:

• What the “Grief Hangover” is and why it happens
• The emotional and physical crash that often follows milestone days
• Why feeling heavy after a “lighter day” doesn’t mean regression in healing
• Realistic ways to support yourself through the come-down
• How to communicate your needs to friends and family
• The importance of grace and gentleness in grief

Key Takeaways:

• A Grief Hangover isn’t a setback — it’s your body’s way of releasing emotional tension.
• You can honor the crash instead of judging it.
• Anticipating these days and planning small acts of care can soften their impact.
• Sharing your experience helps normalize what so many grievers silently carry.

Guest Spotlight:

Julia Warren
Grief Coach • Yoga Therapist • Widow
Julia supports grieving hearts through yoga therapy and holistic grief coaching. You can connect with her on Instagram at @juliawarrenyoga
or explore her programs and offerings through her website www.juliawarrenyoga.com

Connect & Resources:

• Follow along on Instagram: @imsorrywerefriends
  
  
• Learn more about 1:1 grief coaching, group grief support, and retreats: www.laurenlentz.com

Next Episode:
The Empty Seat at the Table — As Thanksgiving approaches, we’ll talk about how to honor what’s missing while still allowing ourselves to be present with what remains.

Episode 4: ’Tis the Season to Be Thankful (When You’re Not Feeling Very Thankful At All)

Holidays. For many, they’re filled with warmth, lights, and tradition — but for those of us navigating grief, they can feel heavy, complicated, and even isolating. In this episode, I explore why it’s okay if gratitude doesn’t show up this season — and how simply allowing yourself to feel, notice, and exist is enough.

What we cover in this episode:

• The tension between societal expectations of gratitude and your personal grief experience
• Why it can feel impossible to “be thankful” when your heart is still adjusting to life after loss
• Compassionate tools for sitting with your grief during the holidays
• How to notice the small, grounding moments that honor both your presence and your pain

I share personal reflections on my first holiday season without Kevin, from the little traditions that now hurt to the sharp contrast of seeing others celebrate. We also talk about the importance of making space for yourself — without forcing gratitude, without judgment, and without expectation.

Guided Practice:

• Find a quiet moment to notice your breath, your heartbeat, or your surroundings.
• Let yourself simply exist in the season, without trying to fix your feelings or push away your grief.
• Recognize that even small sparks of light — a song, a quiet walk, a warm drink — can hold gratitude without diminishing your grief.

Remember:
Grief doesn’t follow a calendar. It doesn’t need to be “fixed,” and it doesn’t cancel out gratitude — even if that gratitude is tiny or fleeting. The bravest thing you can do this season is to give yourself compassion and space to just be.

Next Episode:
We’ll explore “The Grief Hangover” — those days after milestones or holidays when grief feels heavier than the day itself. I’ll be joined by Julia Warren, fellow widow, grief coach, and yoga therapist, to discuss how to care for yourself during these emotional aftershocks.

Thank you for showing up for yourself today.
Grief is personal, tender, and ongoing, and your presence in this season — however it looks or feels — is an act of courage and self-compassion.

You can connect with me on Instagram: @imsorrywerefriends
and learn more about my grief coaching and programs at laurenlentz.com

Episode 3: Are My Best Days Behind Me?

In this week’s episode, Lauren explores a tender and deeply human question many widows quietly wrestle with after loss:
“Are my best days behind me?”

This episode dives into the complex layers of survivor’s guilt — the quiet ache that asks, “Why them and not me?” or “What right do I have to feel joy again?” — and offers gentle guidance for moving through that guilt with compassion and understanding.

Lauren shares the story of her first holiday season without Kevin and how she learned to hold both grief and joy at the same time — discovering that healing isn’t about “moving on,” but rather carrying love forward in new ways.

Through heartfelt reflection and practical tools, this episode reminds you that:

In This Episode

• What Survivor’s Guilt really is — and why naming it can be so freeing
• How guilt and fear can make joy feel like a betrayal
• The paradox of wanting to live again but fearing what that means
• Why healing isn’t the absence of pain, but the expansion of your capacity to hold both grief and love
• Gentle, practical tools for allowing small moments of light back into your life

Practical Invitations

1. Create small, intentional moments of presence — a cup of tea, a deep breath, a quiet moment outside.
2. Honor your emotions without judgment — both joy and sorrow have a place at the table.
3. Connect intentionally — reach out to someone who “gets it.”
4. Write reflectively — explore prompts like:
   • What’s a small moment of light I noticed today?
   • How did I feel alive, even for a moment, while grieving?
   • What does it feel like to carry my person with me while still experiencing joy?

Key Takeaway

You don’t move on from someone you love — you move forward with them, carrying their memory into each new moment.
Grief and joy are not opposites — they can coexist, side by side, shaping a new kind of beauty in the “after.”

Next Week

’Tis the Season to Be Thankful (When You’re Not Feeling Very Thankful At All)
We’ll explore how to navigate the holidays when gratitude feels impossible — and how to create small rituals of comfort and meaning during this challenging season.

Connect with Lauren

• Learn more about Lauren’s grief support work and programs at www.laurenlentz.com
• Follow along on Instagram at @imsorrywerefriends for grief reflections and gentle reminders
• Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss future episodes