Grief can feel like darkness—quiet, heavy, and hard to move through.

In this episode, Marilyn gently explores what it means to live in that darkness, and how we begin, slowly and softly, to find our way again.

When we are grieving, it’s common to feel lost, disconnected, and unsure of who we are or how to move forward. This isn’t weakness—it’s the mind and body trying to cope with something overwhelming.

Through both personal experience and professional insight, Marilyn offers a compassionate perspective on grief and reminds us that we don’t have to find our way all at once.

Sometimes… it begins with one small step.

If you are moving through the darkness of grief, this episode is a gentle place to pause, breathe, and remember—you are not alone.

This is Hope After Loss — gentle conversations for grieving hearts.

Send us Fan Mail

Thank you for listening to Hope After Loss: Conversations on Grief.

If this episode spoke to you, please consider sharing it with someone who may need support.

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment.

If you have a question or a topic that you would like me to gently explore,
you’re welcome to email me at [your email].

While I’m not able to provide individual counseling through email,
I would be honored to hold your question and possibly share it in a future episode
so others may feel less alone.

There is a kind of grief that begins long before loss.

In this episode, Marilyn shares the emotional reality of loving someone who is struggling, and what it feels like to live in the space between hope and fear.

This is the space where you find yourself waiting…
waiting for the phone to ring…
waiting for things to change…
and carrying a quiet fear that never fully goes away.

Through her personal experience as a mother and her professional understanding of grief, Marilyn gently explores anticipatory grief, the emotional toll of living in uncertainty, and the weight of feeling responsible for someone you love.

If you are loving someone through addiction or walking through this kind of grief, you are not alone.

Send us Fan Mail

Thank you for listening to Hope After Loss: Conversations on Grief.

If this episode spoke to you, please consider sharing it with someone who may need support.

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment.

If you have a question or a topic that you would like me to gently explore,
you’re welcome to email me at [your email].

While I’m not able to provide individual counseling through email,
I would be honored to hold your question and possibly share it in a future episode
so others may feel less alone.

Grief is not just an emotional experience—it is also neurological.

In this episode of Hope After Loss, Marilyn Burns, M.S., L.P.C.C., explores how the emotional brain responds to grief and loss, and why so many people experience overwhelming thoughts, anxiety, and emotional distress during the grieving process.

This episode gently explains:

– Why your thoughts may feel out of control after loss
– How the emotional brain processes grief
– The connection between grief, anxiety, and chronic stress
– Why you are not “losing your mind,” even when it feels that way

Whether you are experiencing recent loss, anticipatory grief, or ongoing emotional pain, this conversation offers understanding, validation, and hope.

If you are struggling with grief, anxiety, or the emotional impact of losing someone you love, you are not alone—and what you are experiencing makes sense.

Send us Fan Mail

Thank you for listening to Hope After Loss: Conversations on Grief.

If this episode spoke to you, please consider sharing it with someone who may need support.

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment.

If you have a question or a topic that you would like me to gently explore,
you’re welcome to email me at [your email].

While I’m not able to provide individual counseling through email,
I would be honored to hold your question and possibly share it in a future episode
so others may feel less alone.

Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional counseling, diagnosis, or treatment. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-client relationship. If you are in need of support, please seek help from a licensed professional in your area.

In this first episode of Hope After Loss: Conversations on Grief, Marilyn Burns shares a deeply personal and honest reflection on how grief often begins long before a loss actually occurs.

When a loved one struggles with addiction, families live with a quiet, constant fear—the possibility that life could change at any moment. This episode explores that experience through both personal story and professional insight.

Marilyn speaks as both a mother and a counselor, offering understanding, validation, and gentle guidance for those navigating fear, helplessness, and emotional exhaustion.

If you are walking alongside someone struggling… or living with the weight of loss… this conversation is for you.

You are not alone.

This episode is dedicated to my son, Chris.

Send us Fan Mail

Thank you for listening to Hope After Loss: Conversations on Grief.

If this episode spoke to you, please consider sharing it with someone who may need support.

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment.

If you have a question or a topic that you would like me to gently explore,
you’re welcome to email me at [your email].

While I’m not able to provide individual counseling through email,
I would be honored to hold your question and possibly share it in a future episode
so others may feel less alone.