Since becoming a bereaved parent, several phrases have irritated me. One of the most bothersome is, ‘You are so strong. I could never do what you do.’ I feel like that suggests they don’t think they need to help me, that I can handle everything alone.
When I first heard about today’s guest, Cristi, and the Mentally STRONG method she developed, I wasn’t sure it would resonate. But Cristi has lived through unimaginable grief, losing three children and her husband, and still found a way to carry on with purpose.
Cristi doesn’t define mental strength as going it alone. As a psychiatric nurse practitioner, she helps others face grief head-on, in community, with practical tools and support.