In this podcast episode, we have Ghulam Fernandes, a Grief Specialist, sharing her

personal journey through grief and how it led her to help others dealing withsimilar challenges.

 

Ghulam starts by sharing a personal story of her struggle with grief after her

mother's death. At that time, she didn't understand that grief could manifestin various ways, including self-soothing behaviours. In her case, it wascomfort eating. For years, she battled with her weight and tried unsuccessfullyto manage her eating habits, all because she hadn't yet realized the purposebehind these actions – a way to cover up the pain of loss.

 

As a teenager, Ghulam experienced hormonal changes alongside her grief, which

further complicated her situation. But it wasn't until she connected her weightissues to unresolved grief that she began to find answers. Her journey throughloss was profound, including the deaths of her mother, brother, sister, andfather, as well as multiple miscarriages. These experiences, coupled with otherlife stresses and strains, piled onto her emotional burden.

 

Ghulam reflects on how people often resort to various coping mechanisms to deal with

grief, such as binge-watching TV shows or seeking solace in fantasy worlds. Shementions that while these activities can provide temporary relief, they don'taddress the underlying pain and issues.

 

When it comes to seeking help for grief, Ghulam explains her approach. She offers a

free guide called "The Five Key Steps in Handling Your Grief"and a discovery call to assess whether someone needs professional help. Findinga values match between the client and the specialist is crucial. Her griefprogram focuses on knowledge, tools, and processes for healing.

 

Regarding the duration of her program, Ghulam believes that around 12 weeks is optimal.

An extended program not only helps clients maintain their progress but alsoprovides ongoing support and accountability. She emphasizes the importance ofinvesting time, energy, and finances in the full program to equip clients forlifelong coping.

 

Ghulam also touches on the significance of recognizing unresolved grief. Common signs

include regrets, guilt, and disappointment. She shares a personal story of howshe learned to communicate openly with her father before his death to avoidregrets. Ghulam's "going from grief to gratitude" process aims tohelp individuals address unresolved grief and improve their lives.

 

In conclusion, Ghulam Fernandes invites listeners to explore her website,

www.handling-grief.com, where they can find resources and guides on handling

grief. She expresses her commitment to helping individuals navigate their griefjourneys and ultimately find healing and growth.

Ghulam's website - Handling Grief

Facebook page - Grief Transformation Coach

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ghulam-fernandes-griefspecialist/