How Do You Survive Grief? Losing a Child, a Parent & Learning to Live With Loss

If you'd like to suggest episode subjects please reach out to us. Thank you! What happens when someone you love dies - and life carries on, even though you feel completely changed? In this deeply personal episode of Ella Podcasts, Dr Jonathan and I sat down with Dr Jane Tuomola and Sapna Makwana to talk openly about grief, bereavement and the overwhelming pain of losing someone you love. Dr Jane shares the heartbreaking experience of losing her daughter Sofia on the day she was born, while Sapna reflects on losing her father at just 56. Together, we explore what grief really feels like, why everyone processes loss differently, and how support, therapy, community and meaning can help people learn to live alongside it.  In This Episode \* Is losing someone we love the most painful experience in life? \* Why grief looks different for everyone \* Coping with the death of a child \* Losing a parent and facing anticipatory grief \* Why delayed grief is so common \* How couples and families grieve differently \* The role of therapy, support groups and community \* Finding meaning after loss \* How to honour someone’s memory while continuing to live Key Takeaways \* There is no “right” way to grieve. \* Grief can bring sadness, anger, relief, guilt and even numbness. \* Support from people who simply stay present can make an enormous difference. \* Delayed grief is real and may emerge long after a loss. \* Healing does not mean forgetting — it means finding a way to carry the loss with you. \* Remembering and honouring someone can become part of moving forward. Conclusion Grief changes us. We may never stop missing the people we love, but with time, support and self-compassion, the pain can become more manageable and life can slowly expand around the loss. Keywords: grief, bereavement, losing a child, losing a parent, coping with death, grief counselling, mental health, delayed grief, bereavement support, healing after loss, death of a loved one, Ella Podcasts #EllaPodcasts #Grief #Bereavement #MentalHealth #Loss #Healing #GriefSupport #Counselling #Psychology #CopingWithLoss Support the show