All posts by MaryMac

MaryMac is a grief and bereavement specialist, host of The Mary Mac Show podcast, award-winning author, speaker, executive grief coach, consultant and founder of The Foundation For Grieving Children, Inc., the first national public charity of its kind which raises funds to assist, counsel, comfort and educate children, teens, young adults and their families after a loved one's death.
Death of a Child, Death of a Sibling, Emotional Challenges, Emotional Freedom Technique | EFT, The Mary Mac Show

The Mary Mac Show | Grieving the Death of a Sibling

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The Mary Mac Show Podcast

In Episode 88, we discuss our feelings and pain after the death of a sister or brother, stepsister or stepbrother, the nuances of our relationship and how to help ourselves through the grieving process.

A sibling’s death is a very painful and usually unexpected death.

We knew them almost all our lives, were brought up together, loved each other through thick and thin.

We expected to grow old with them, raise our children together, go on vacations together, enjoy family gatherings together for holidays, events and other life events.

We expected that they would be there for us when we had difficulty emotionally because most times they were our go-to person growing up and now that they’ve died or were killed, whom do we turn to when times become hard.

Experiencing the death of a brother, sister, stepbrother or stepsister, whom we were raised with, is something that shocks us to our core.

This was not supposed to happen.

Our parents were supposed to die first, not them!

Listen in to today’s episode to learn more about your responses and others’ reactions after you’ve experienced a sibling’s death.

Your grief will be intertwined with your sister or brother-in-law’s who lost their spouse, your parents who have now lost a child, and your grandparents who have lost a grandchild.

Also remember your own spouse and children may be highly affected too.

Sending you my love. xoxo

Additional Notes:

My book Understanding Your Grieving Heart After a Loved One’s Death is perfect for those beginning their journey. Click here to get yours by downloading it immediately.

Visit Crisis Connections at my website to telephone a trained counselor to speak with whenever you are feeling lonely, overwhelmed, confused, frightened, fearful or any host of emotions. Even if it is a suicide hotline, do not think they cannot help you. You do not need to feel suicidal to speak with these wonderful counselors. They are there to listen to you.

Use the Emotional Freedom Technique for Healing.

You can watch Marissa Peer’s “I Am Enough” meditation.

Treat yourself to a lovely gift from our Heart of Gold “I Remember” Products from The Mary Mac Store.

Remember, a portion of all proceeds help fund The Foundation for Grieving Children, Inc., the first national non-profit public charity which benefits children, teens, young adults after a loved one’s death which I established many years ago.

And remember to sign up for my private email list so we can always stay in touch, since social media is no longer reliable. Receive my ebook 21 Things You Must Know About The Grieving Process for immediate download.

We’d love your support for our podcast and the work I do for grieving individuals. Buy me a coffee is an easy way to help me. Click on the purple coffee cup on this page! Thanks.

Social Challenges, The Mary Mac Show, Wisdom

The Mary Mac Show | The Power of Embrace

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The Mary Mac Show Podcast

In Episode 87, we look at the value of hugs, embraces and touch to ward off despair, depression, fear, stress, disease, loneliness and isolation after a loved one’s death and instead soak in love, peace and calm.

Many of us don’t truly understand the great need to be held, hugged, embraced each day.

Especially when we are grieving a loved one’s death, it is all the more important.

Being held gives us a chance to release into their arms where calm and peace reside.

And it is needed for all ages. From a small infant to the elderly, every one needs this comfort, this security.

Many times, a person who is grieving get the release of crying into the chest or shoulder of another caring person. And they need that.

And if we are isolated or don’t have others around us, perhaps because we are widowed, live alone, are single, etc. it is important to have a pet or stuffed animal which we can cuddle with, stroke, snuggle with, sleep with just to have that connection.

Do you notice how young children love stuffed animals that they tuck under their arm and sleep with at night.

It brings them security and comfort.

And don’t you be embarrassed to do the same thing if you are alone and have no pet.

As I mention in my podcast this week, the light pink stuffed bear I bought for my grandmother gave her great comfort and when she died, I took it and still have it on my closet shelf.

I look at it all the time and it reminds me of her, but at times I hold it and stroke it and it comforts me.

So if we aren’t able to be around others, especially now with the pandemic dictating way too many months of isolation, get a stuffed or real animal to keep you company.

Speak to it, sleep with your furbaby, let it make you smile.

You need that to reduce stress, disease, anxiety, despair and depression.

Do it now so no matter what the future brings, you will have your friend there for you.

And whenever you are able to meet up with others face to face, make sure you reach open your arms and simply say “I need a hug.”

Be kind to yourself.

Sending you my love. xoxo

Additional Notes:

My book Understanding Your Grieving Heart After a Loved One’s Death is perfect for those beginning their journey. Click here to get yours by downloading it immediately.

Visit Crisis Connections at my website to telephone a trained counselor to speak with whenever you are feeling lonely, overwhelmed, confused, frightened, fearful or any host of emotions. Even if it is a suicide hotline, do not think they cannot help you. You do not need to feel suicidal to speak with these wonderful counselors. They are there to listen to you.

Use the Emotional Freedom Technique for Healing.

You can watch Marissa Peer’s “I Am Enough” meditation.

Treat yourself to a lovely gift from our Heart of Gold “I Remember” Products from The Mary Mac Store.

Remember, a portion of all proceeds help fund The Foundation for Grieving Children, Inc., the first national non-profit public charity which benefits children, teens, young adults after a loved one’s death which I established many years ago.

And remember to sign up for my private email list so we can always stay in touch, since social media is no longer reliable. Receive my ebook 21 Things You Must Know About The Grieving Process for immediate download.

Death of a Pet, Emotional Challenges, Emotional Freedom Technique | EFT, The Mary Mac Show

The Mary Mac Show | Pet Loss II

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The Mary Mac Show Podcast

In Episode 86, we continue to speak about Pet Loss and the many situations you encounter after your beloved pet’s death.

Whether this might be the first time you have experienced a pet’s death or not, that lovable furbaby was a huge part of your life and helped you get through many difficult times.

They may have been there through the death of a significant person and you snuggled with them, cried in their coat, loved when them came to console you.

They were much more than just an animal; they were your constant companion through very sorrowful times.

If you find yourself struggling with whom to speak with about your pain, don’t trust yourself to reach out to someone who won’t be supportive of your grief. Many people can’t understand the extent of your grief for a pet; after all it’s just a cat, just a dog to them.

Rather, reach out to those who will understand your pain.

I’ve created a specific Pet Loss page on my website where you can find the best people who will honor your grief. Some organizations, like Veterinarian Medical Schools, have hotlines staffed by those studying to become Veterinarians.

You can also go to my Crisis Resource tab on this website, where you can call hotlines staffed by ready and waiting trained counselors all over the world, who are willing to listen to all your pain, after a pet’s or your favorite person’s death. USE THEM!!

There is no need to stuff your pain inside and isolate yourself when you can speak with someone who understands it.

Additional Notes:

Here are some meditation music to help you rest.

You can order your Bach’s Rescue Remedy by clicking on the link below and then tab at the top of their page for Rescue Remedy Products. Remember, these do have alcohol in them.

I use the Rescue Remedy 20ml drops but they have spray and other versions which might work better for you. And…they also have products to calm pets, too.

*To find a homeopathic doctor, visit here or here. Many offer phone consultations if you cannot find one in your area. They work with patients around the globe. You can also research in your area of the world.

Grab my free ebook, 21 Things You Need to Know About the Grieving Process, right here on my site.

Please share with anyone who may need to know this. Also subscribe, rate and review this podcast on whichever podcast platform you listened in.

xoxo

Death of a Pet, Emotional Challenges, Emotional Freedom Technique | EFT, The Mary Mac Show

The Mary Mac Show | Pet Loss I

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The Mary Mac Show Podcast

Many of us are fortunate to have beloved pets that brighten our days and calm us when we are in pain.

This week in Episode 85, we discuss how we grieve after a pet’s death.

Whether this is our first pet’s death or not, or the amazing pet which was by our side through the painful death of a significant person in our life, losing a pet can be as difficult as losing another person.

And many people in our world simply don’t put as much emphasis on this loss and they do when a person dies.

But for animal lovers, our furbabies have taken us through many painful experiences and their death is overwhelming for us.

And we might struggle with who to talk to about this for fear they won’t understand.

Take the time to comfort yourselves. You need this.

Additional Notes:

I’ve created a specific Pet Loss page on my website where you can find the best people who will honor your grief. Some organizations, like Veterinarian Medical Schools, have hotlines staffed by those studying to become Veterinarians.

You can also go to my Crisis Resource tab on this website, where you can call hotlines staffed by ready and waiting trained counselors all over the world, who are willing to listen to all your pain, after a pet’s or your favorite person’s death. USE THEM!!

Here are some meditation music to help you rest.

You can order your Bach’s Rescue Remedy by clicking on the link below and then tab at the top of their page for Rescue Remedy Products. Remember, these do have alcohol in them.

I use the Rescue Remedy 20ml drops but they have spray and other versions which might work better for you. And…they also have products to calm pets, too.

*To find a homeopathic doctor, visit here or here. Many offer phone consultations if you cannot find one in your area. They work with patients around the globe. You can also research in your area of the world.

Grab my free ebook, 21 Things You Need to Know About the Grieving Process, right here on my site.

Please share with anyone who may need to know this. Also subscribe, rate and review this podcast on whichever podcast platform you listened in.

xoxo

Emotional Challenges, Emotional Freedom Technique | EFT, The Mary Mac Show

The Mary Mac Show | The Stages of Grief

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The Mary Mac Show Podcast

In Episode 84, we take a serious look at the stages of grief and how we often do not follow any certain path. We may also encounter various stages in different orders and revisit some along our journey.

Many people believe the stages of grief were developed for the bereaved, but the truth is they were originally for those who were going to die.

And the way we grieve if we are dying vs. if we are surviving someone who has died, is completely different.

We don’t go through all the stages of grief in a straight line; we never did.

That’s why you more than likely are in shock at the beginning of your grief, whether they were expected to die as in the case of illness, or died suddenly as in the case of a heart attack, stroke, car accident or violent death.

But as we endure the suffering of grief, we will see that we move back and forth in the stages of grief.

It might be many years later and you find yourself crying when a movie comes on that you and your beloved used to watch together. And this is perfectly fine. It happens to all of us.

Whether it’s a movie or a song on the radio, or something else you shared.

So don’t expect yourself to go through the stages of grief in a particular line. It won’t happen for you.

Take your grieving process as it comes.

Everyone grieves in a particular way and you shouldn’t beat yourself up by thinking you’re not doing it well.

There is no special way.

It is your journey and whatever comes up for you along the way will be much different than another person you know.

Take your time and be kind to yourself.

Sending you my love. xoxo

Additional Notes:

My book Understanding Your Grieving Heart After a Loved One’s Death is perfect for those beginning their journey. Click here to get yours by downloading it immediately.

Visit Crisis Connections at my website to telephone a trained counselor to speak with whenever you are feeling overwhelmed, confused, frightened, fearful or any host of emotions. Even if it is a suicide hotline, do not think they cannot help you. You do not need to feel suicidal to speak with these wonderful counselors. They are there to listen to you.

Use the Emotional Freedom Technique for Healing.

You can watch Marissa Peer’s “I Am Enough” meditation.

Treat yourself to a lovely gift from our Heart of Gold “I Remember” Products from The Mary Mac Store.

Remember, a portion of all proceeds help fund The Foundation for Grieving Children, Inc., the first national non-profit public charity which benefits children, teens, young adults after a loved one’s death which I established many years ago.

And remember to sign up for my private email list so we can always stay in touch, since social media is no longer reliable. Receive my ebook 21 Things You Must Know About The Grieving Process for immediate download.