364. Working with Your Nervous System in Grief: An interview with Deb Dana

As part of my 50 Widows Forward celebration, you can currently receive 10% off Grief Essentials or Mom Goes On. This offer ends June 20… or when 50 widows join. Get the discount code and more information by going to: https://the-widowed-mom-podcast.captivate.fm/50widowsforward

What if understanding your nervous system in grief could completely change how you experience loss, healing, and emotional overwhelm? This week, I sit down with Deb Dana, a renowned clinician, author, and polyvagal expert, best known for translating Dr. Stephen Porges’ Polyvagal Theory into practical, accessible tools for clinicians and the public. Join us as we explore how grief impacts the nervous system and why so many widows feel stuck in survival states after loss. We unpack the role of polyvagal theory, nervous system regulation, and survival responses like fight, flight, and shutdown. You’ll also learn practical ways to work with your nervous system in grief, identify patterns of dysregulation, and find micro moments of safety through glimmers. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/364 Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifecoachkrista/ Check out Deb Dana's work here: https://www.rhythmofregulation.com/Mentioned in this episode:Celebrate Turning 50 With Me!As part of my 50 Widows Forward celebration, you can currently receive 10% off Grief Essentials or Mom Goes On. This offer ends June 20… or when 50 widows join. Get the discount code and more information by going to: https://the-widowed-mom-podcast.captivate.fm/50widowsforwardGet all the details on this offer here!

What if your grief could become part of an intentional, meaningful next chapter? In this powerful conversation, I sit down with my client Wendy Veazie as she shares her deeply personal journey after the sudden loss of her husband, Peter, and how she learned to reframe her grief story and navigate unimaginable pain without losing herself. In this episode, Wendy opens up about the shock of sudden loss, the physical reality of grief, the stories we tell ourselves after tragedy, and how coaching helped her shift from focusing solely on loss to honoring both her pain and the gifts of her marriage. Together, we explore how grief can coexist with gratitude, authenticity, and intentional living. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/363 Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifecoachkrista/Mentioned in this episode:Celebrate Turning 50 With Me!As part of my 50 Widows Forward celebration, you can currently receive 10% off Grief Essentials or Mom Goes On. This offer ends June 20… or when 50 widows join. Get the discount code and more information by going to: https://the-widowed-mom-podcast.captivate.fm/50widowsforwardGet all the details on this offer here!

If you’ve been wishing for grief support but assumed coaching was out of reach financially, this message is for you. Mom Goes On offers needs-based scholarships so widows can access the coaching, tools, and community they need to rebuild life after loss. Inside Mom Goes On, you’ll find live coaching, practical grief tools, emotional support, and a community of widows who understand exactly what you’re going through. If money has been holding you back, don’t count yourself out. To apply, click on the Work with Me tab on my website and apply for Mom Goes On. When you complete the application, check the box that says you’re interested in the scholarship: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/#work-with-me

Have you ever thought, “I was doing better, so why am I falling apart again?” In this episode, I want to reassure you that you are not back at the beginning, you are not failing, and you are not doing grief wrong. Grief was never meant to move in a straight line. Tune in this week to learn why grief isn’t linear, why the traditional idea of “stages” can make us judge ourselves, and why recurring grief waves do not mean something has gone wrong. Instead, I’ll show you how to think about grief as a spiral: layered, human, and always meeting you from a new place. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/362 Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifecoachkrista/Mentioned in this episode:Celebrate Turning 50 With Me!As part of my 50 Widows Forward celebration, you can currently receive 10% off Grief Essentials or Mom Goes On. This offer ends June 20… or when 50 widows join. Get the discount code and more information by going to: https://the-widowed-mom-podcast.captivate.fm/50widowsforwardGet all the details on this offer here!

What if grief journaling - something everyone seems to recommend - might actually be keeping you stuck instead of helping you heal? In this episode, I challenge the idea that journaling is always beneficial, and explain why it sometimes leaves you feeling worse instead of better. Tune in to learn how to shift from unintentional journaling to purposeful grief journaling. I’ll show you how to question your thoughts, create space from them, and use writing as a tool for growth so you can move forward with intention instead of staying stuck. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/361 Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifecoachkrista/Mentioned in this episode:Celebrate Turning 50 With Me!As part of my 50 Widows Forward celebration, you can currently receive 10% off Grief Essentials or Mom Goes On. This offer ends June 20… or when 50 widows join. Get the discount code and more information by going to: https://the-widowed-mom-podcast.captivate.fm/50widowsforwardGet all the details on this offer here!

How do widows build real resilience? It's not about "getting over it" or putting on a brave face; resilience is a skill you can develop. Whether you’re in the early stages of grief or looking to strengthen your emotional toolkit, this episode provides actionable strategies to build resilience from the inside out. Tune in this week as I break down five key ways widows can build real resilience, and show you how they’ll help you take back control and start living a fuller, more intentional life, even in the midst of grief.Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/360 Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifecoachkrista/Mentioned in this episode:Celebrate Turning 50 With Me!As part of my 50 Widows Forward celebration, you can currently receive 10% off Grief Essentials or Mom Goes On. This offer ends June 20… or when 50 widows join. Get the discount code and more information by going to: https://the-widowed-mom-podcast.captivate.fm/50widowsforwardGet all the details on this offer here!

The Mom Goes On Spring Pass is back by popular demand! This is the place where you can bring what’s on your mind, hear other widows navigating the same kind of issues, and realize you’re not alone in this. This is how you start to trust yourself again. Not by figuring it all out ahead of time, but by being supported as you go. We start May 6th, 2026, and doors close May 4th, 2026. If you’re ready for this kind of support, go to:https://coachingwithkrista.com/springpass/utm_source=podcast Learn more about Mom Goes On here: www.coachingwithkrista.com/work-with-me/ I can't wait to meet you inside!

What if you could calm overwhelming emotions in just a few minutes - anytime, anywhere?In this episode, I share one of the simplest and most powerful tools I use daily to help regulate emotions: EFT tapping. I’ll show you why it works, how it helps calm the nervous system, and why it can be especially powerful when you’re navigating grief, anxiety, or emotional overwhelm.Listen in this week to learn exactly how to practice EFT tapping yourself, understand when to use it, and experience a guided walkthrough so you can start using it immediately to feel more grounded and in control of your emotions.Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/359 Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifecoachkrista/Mentioned in this episode:Celebrate Turning 50 With Me!As part of my 50 Widows Forward celebration, you can currently receive 10% off Grief Essentials or Mom Goes On. This offer ends June 20… or when 50 widows join. Get the discount code and more information by going to: https://the-widowed-mom-podcast.captivate.fm/50widowsforwardGet all the details on this offer here!

What if the memories you hold most dear started to fade? Would that mean losing your person all over again? The fear of forgetting your person is something many widows quietly carry, and it can feel just as painful as the loss itself. In this episode, I share my own experience with the fear of forgetting your person - worrying about losing the sound of their voice, their quirks, and the tiny details that made them who they were - and what I’ve come to understand about this fear. Tune in this week to learn why forgetting details is completely human and doesn’t mean you’re losing your person. We’ll also talk about how connection evolves over time, and releasing the pressure to remember everything and embracing new ways to stay connected without fear. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/358 Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifecoachkrista/