BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (Chambana Today) — As conversations about grief become more visible in podcasts and national media, mental health experts say the dialogue is helping people feel less alone and more confident in how they mourn, particularly during the holiday season.
Amy Brooke, MA, LCPC, a psychotherapist with OSF HealthCare, says public discussions—such as CNN’s Anderson Cooper podcast “All There Is”—are creating space for people to talk openly about loss. She says these conversations normalize grief and remind listeners that joy and sorrow can exist at the same time.
“I think it’s a great thing that they were talking about it, because a lot of times people who are grieving feel very alone and isolated and they’re afraid of doing it wrong, and so what the podcast does is it helps people see how things are similar and even how people grieve differently.”
Brooke emphasizes that grief looks different for everyone because every relationship is unique. Even siblings who experience the same loss may grieve in very different ways. She adds that talking about loved ones—no matter how much time has passed—is a healthy part of healing.
“A lot of times, when people are grieving, they sometimes feel like they’re bothering people if they talk about it, because ‘Oh, my mom died a year ago. I shouldn’t still be talking about her,’ but what the podcast does, it says, ‘No, it’s okay to talk about it if it’s 20 years ago.”
She encourages friends and family members to allow space for memories, noting that grief is an expression of love.
“What it does is it makes it about transforming the loss rather than removing the person. We don’t want to remove the person from our lives. We’re grieving them because they were so important to us. Why would we want to get rid of them?”
Brooke also highlights the value of grief support groups, which can offer understanding that friends and family may not always be able to provide.
“It is very different than talking to your friends, because a lot of times with our friends, we’re afraid we’re burdening them, where, with a support group, you have time set aside to actually talk about that person, and even if you’re not talking about it, you’re listening to somebody else, and you’re giving that support to them, which can feel really good if you feel like you’ve just been taking.”
The holidays can intensify grief as traditions and memories resurface. Brooke advises people to release expectations, redefine traditions, and be gentle with themselves.
“The energy we put into trying to make it the same is kind of harmful, because we’re using all of our energy to really try to do something that’s impossible.”
Despite growing awareness, Brooke says society often places unrealistic time limits on grief, particularly in the workplace.
“We put a time limit on grief, and for example, if someone’s mother dies, we say you actually have three days off to deal with that grief, and three days is not enough time to deal with a loss.”
She hopes continued public conversations will lead to greater understanding and compassion for those grieving, recognizing that loss is deeply personal and cannot be placed on a timeline.
