The first time I truly encountered grief was as I stood on that riverbank, watching rescue workers search for my son underwater. I then lost both my son and daughter to a rare neurodegenerative condition within 6 years of each other; all three losses occurred..
Category: Grief
When Grief Feels Like Nothing Matters
Grief is an unwelcome visitor that alters the landscape of our lives with its profound presence. It carries an intense emotion that can feel insurmountable, leaving us in the depths of despair, thinking “nothing matters.” I’ve uttered those words more times than I can count,..
Things Not to Say to a Grieving Parent: What to Say Instead
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..
Anticipating Grief: Three Tips for Living in the Shadow of Loss
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..
No One is Going to Rescue You
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…
Get Unstuck: What To Do When You Feel Stuck in Grief
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..
Death Anniversaries
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: 3 Practical 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..
Joy and Pain Can Coexist
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..
You Can Heal After Losing a Child
Losing a child is a tragic and devastating experience that can leave parents overwhelmed and broken. Grief is a natural process after losing someone we love, but healing after losing a child can be incredibly challenging. In her video, Dr. B shares her deeply personal..