Grief, PTSD, and Synthetic Opioid Loss: Finding Peace While Carrying the Pain

After losing her son to a synthetic opioid, therapist and podcast host Malisa Hepner shares her lived experience of navigating grief and PTSD in real time. This episode explores the reality that grief is not just a feeling but an ongoing experience, how trauma responses show up after sudden loss, and the grounded practices helping her find moments of peace without abandoning her grief.

Grief doesn't have to be something you "resolve"—it's something you learn to carry. When your nervous system becomes activated, focus on regulation before meaning-making. Try this: pause, name what's happening in your body (not just your thoughts), and choose one grounding action (breathwork, stepping outside, placing your hand on your chest). You can hold both—deep grief and moments of peace—without betraying your love.

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9 days after: Honoring Jake - Spotify, Apple

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