Behavioral change is a complex process that goes beyond sheer willpower and motivation. It involves a deep understanding of our neurobiological makeup and the patience to nurture new behaviors while phasing out old ones. The Power of Negative Thoughts We often set goals and then..
As a mental health professional, I often emphasize the importance of confronting past traumas. Recently, I embarked on a deeply personal and transformative journey with my childhood friend, Angie, to her childhood home in Puerto Rico, a place steeped in her traumatic memories. Facing the..
In my journey as a psychiatric nurse practitioner and, more poignantly, as a grieving mother, I have encountered many well-meaning but misplaced attempts at consolation. Grieving the loss of a child is a profoundly personal and painful experience, and the words chosen to address it..
In the realm of grief and loss, there is a unique and complex type called anticipatory grief. It’s a mixture of pain and preparation, a blend of sorrow and foresight that often accompanies the impending loss of a loved one. As a psychiatric nurse practitioner..
As I sit here on the two-year anniversary of my daughter’s passing, a painful truth echoes in my mind: no one is going to rescue us from our pain. This realization, as harsh as it sounds, is a cornerstone of my journey and my teachings…
Hello, I’m Cristi Bundukamara, and today, I want to share my deeply personal journey through grief and how I’ve managed to turn my pain into purpose. I recently received a request to discuss the concept of fight or flight in the context of grief, and..
Hello, I’m Cristi Bundukamara, and today, I want to share with you a deeply personal experience that has shaped my life profoundly – the death anniversary of my beloved son, Reggie. As I recount this painful journey, I hope to offer you three essential tips..
Grief is Pain. That’s a truth I want to emphasize. Anyone who claims otherwise, I challenge them. In my own experience of grieving, I delved into various grief theories, and what I discovered left me with a feeling that these theories failed to understand the..
Grief is a complex emotion, one that often seems at odds with joy. The pain of loss can be so overwhelming that it can feel impossible to find moments of happiness amidst the darkness. However, we’re going to delve into a powerful perspective. I have..
Losing a loved one is an unimaginable pain, a journey that I intimately understand. My powerful story is marked by the loss of my three children over 17 years. Despite my overwhelming grief, I want to share three profound strategies that have helped me find..