loader from loading.io

Loneliness – The Silent Weight of Grief

Grieve That Sh!t

Release Date: 10/02/2025

How to Stop Treating Grief Like a System with Dr. Elijah Frazier Part 2 show art How to Stop Treating Grief Like a System with Dr. Elijah Frazier Part 2

Grieve That Sh!t

In Part Two of this Grieve That Shit conversation, Sharon Brubaker and Dr. Elijah Frazier move past introductions and into the heart of what grievers struggle with most: choice, accountability, faith, emotions, and permission to heal. This episode challenges one of the most damaging beliefs grievers carry—that grief is something they must endure forever. Sharon and Dr. Frazier speak directly to the idea that pain is inevitable after loss, but staying trapped in suffering is not the only option. They talk honestly about how grief can steal joy, peace, and energy when we are not aware of the...

info_outline
How to Stop Treating Grief Like a System with Dr. Elijah Frazier Part 1 show art How to Stop Treating Grief Like a System with Dr. Elijah Frazier Part 1

Grieve That Sh!t

In this episode of Grieve That Shit, Sharon Brubaker introduces a defining moment for The Grief School and the podcast. For the first time, she welcomes Dr. Elijah Frazier and shares the news that The Grief School is now powered by The Frazier Group. This is not an announcement episode filled with buzzwords or credentials. It’s a conversation about people, pain, and what real care actually looks like when someone is at their breaking point. Sharon and Dr. Frazier talk openly about why grief cannot be handled by systems, scripts, or one-size-fits-all solutions. They explore the difference...

info_outline
What Grief Is Not show art What Grief Is Not

Grieve That Sh!t

“Grief is not a mental illness. It’s not weakness. It’s not a checklist to finish or a line you’re supposed to move through. It’s love—with nowhere left to go.” In this episode of Grieve That Shit, Sharon Brubaker, Certified Grief Specialist and founder of The Grief School, gets brutally honest about everything grief isn’t. For too long, society has treated grief like a disorder to diagnose, a problem to medicate, or a series of stages to climb. But grief isn’t logical, linear, or tidy—it’s wild, unpredictable, and deeply human. Sharon unpacks why labeling grief as...

info_outline
Forever Changed But Not Broken show art Forever Changed But Not Broken

Grieve That Sh!t

“When your person died, a part of you died too. Not your whole self—but the version of you that only existed in connection with them. That’s the part grief takes. That’s what forever changed really means.” In this episode of Grieve That Shit, Sharon Brubaker, Certified Grief Specialist and founder of The Grief School, opens her heart about what it truly means to be forever changed—but not broken. After losing her nephew Austin and later her best friend Sharon, her life split into two: before and after. But in this episode, she invites you into the middle—the space between who you...

info_outline
When a Memory Hits You Like Fear show art When a Memory Hits You Like Fear

Grieve That Sh!t

Episode Summary: This episode cracks open one of the most frightening and misunderstood parts of grief: when a memory hits your body like a shock. You’re sitting still, lost in a moment with your person, and suddenly your stomach drops, your breath tightens, your heart races, and you remember all over again that they died. It feels like you’re grieving in two places at once. Sharon Brubaker takes you inside the neurobiology behind that jolt. She breaks down how the hippocampus pulls old memories like scenes from a movie, why the amygdala tags those memories as danger, and how your brain...

info_outline
Why Noise Feels Like an Attack In Grief show art Why Noise Feels Like an Attack In Grief

Grieve That Sh!t

Episode Summary: In this episode of Grieve That Shit, Sharon Brubaker talks about something most grievers never see coming: why normal sounds suddenly feel like an attack. The kids laughing, the microwave door slamming, a choir starting at church, a car alarm in the parking lot. Things you used to handle just fine now hit your body like lightning. Sharon walks you through what is really happening inside your grieving brain. She breaks down the amygdala, the nervous system, the HPA axis, and why grief flips all of them into survival mode. This is not you “being dramatic.” This is biology....

info_outline
The Hidden Fight Inside Every Griever show art The Hidden Fight Inside Every Griever

Grieve That Sh!t

🎙️ Episode Summary: In this powerful episode of Grieve That Sh!t, Sharon Brubaker opens the door on one of the most misunderstood experiences in grief: the silent battle happening inside your body. After the loss of her nephew Austin, Sharon discovered that grief isn’t just sadness. It’s a full body takeover. It’s your mind racing, your stomach twisting, your heart pounding, and your nervous system trying to protect you in ways that end up keeping you stuck. Through honest storytelling and deep reflection, Sharon explains why so many grievers stay busy, stay strong, and stay silent...

info_outline
The Things I Wish I Had Done Differently show art The Things I Wish I Had Done Differently

Grieve That Sh!t

🎙️ Episode Summary: In this deeply personal episode of Grieve That Sh!t, grief specialist Sharon Brubaker opens her heart about the painful truths she learned after the death of her son, Austin. She shares the moments she wishes she had faced differently—the pretending, the resisting, and the avoiding—and how each of those choices kept her trapped in silence. Through raw honesty and reflection, Sharon reveals what she’s learned about strength, vulnerability, and what real healing actually requires. If you’ve ever felt like you had to be strong for everyone else… or that your...

info_outline
It Only Takes a Second to Change Everything show art It Only Takes a Second to Change Everything

Grieve That Sh!t

In this deeply moving and unforgettable episode of Grieve That Sh!t, grief specialist Sharon Brubaker shares a story that stopped her in her tracks, a moment that changed two families’ lives forever. What began as an ordinary drive with her husband turned into a tragedy they witnessed unfold before their eyes. Through this raw, emotional experience, Sharon explores how quickly life can change, how grief shatters the illusion of time, and what it truly means to live with awareness, compassion, and love before it’s too late. This episode isn’t just about loss it’s about the fragility of...

info_outline
The Cost of Avoiding Your Grief show art The Cost of Avoiding Your Grief

Grieve That Sh!t

“Avoiding the pain won’t make it go away—it only teaches it to hide.” In this episode of Grieve That Shit, grief specialist Sharon Brubaker breaks down one of the sneakiest traps that keeps grievers stuck: avoidance. When life shatters, the natural instinct is to run from the pain, to stay busy, and to pretend you’re doing fine. But as Sharon reminds us, ignoring grief doesn’t erase it—it buries it. This episode dives deep into what happens when we try to outsmart our pain. Sharon explains why our brains convince us to avoid reminders of our person, how distraction becomes a...

info_outline
 
More Episodes

“Loneliness in grief isn’t just about missing your person—it’s about missing the version of yourself you were when they were alive. Naming that loneliness is how you stop drowning in it.” 

In this episode of Grieve That Shit, Sharon Brubaker takes on one of the hardest truths of grief: loneliness. Even in a crowded room, grief makes you feel like you’re on another planet. People may surround you, but no one else can feel the exact pain you’re carrying. 

Sharon unpacks why grief is so isolating—why people avoid your pain, why you feel like you don’t belong anywhere, and why loneliness feeds the heaviness of loss. Most importantly, she shows you how to name it, face it, and take small steps to soften it so it doesn’t drown you. 

What You’ll Learn in This Episode 

  • Why grief makes you feel lonely, even when you’re not alone 

  • How silence and avoidance from others deepen the isolation 

  • The difference between missing your person and missing the version of yourself when they were alive 

  • Why naming loneliness out loud is a powerful first step 

  • Small ways to create connection when everything feels hollow 

Homework for You 

Print this out and do it this week: 

  1. Write down the moments when loneliness hits you the hardest. 

  • Is it in the morning? 

  • At night? 

  • During family gatherings? 

  1. For each moment, write one small action you could try—not to erase the loneliness, but to soften it. 

  • Call one safe person. 

  • Light a candle and say their name. 

  • Sit with someone who will let you cry without fixing it. 

 

Resources + Next Steps 

  • Join Grief Study Hall – live support with Sharon every Tuesday at 1 PM CST. Sign up at Grief Study Hall