BW 104:  Moving Forward: Melissa's Journey as a Widow Through Separation, Addiction, and Healing

Melissa, a solo mom of three young boys, shares her journey of separation, addiction, grief, and healing. Melissa candidly shares her experience of separating from her husband, who struggled with alcohol addiction, and the subsequent grief she navigated following his unexpected death in 2022 while they were still legally married.    Throughout the conversation, Melissa provides insight into the complexities of grieving a spouse from whom she was separated, addressing both the support and challenges she faced. She highlights the importance of therapy, open conversations with her children, and the crucial role of a supportive community.     Key Takeaways: 1. Navigating the grief of separation and unexpected loss. 2. The role of therapy and open communication in the healing process. 3. Importance and benefits of a supportive community. 4. Resources for widows, including therapy, Grief Share, and Safe Families. 5. Encouragement to join Brave Widow membership for support and connection.    Watch the episode here: https://youtu.be/IaSpb0MDam0   Resources   Safe Families: https://safe-families.org/ (This is available in the US and also in a lot of countries all over the world)   Grief Share: https://www.griefshare.org/ (This is available all over the US)   Facebook Group: Extremely Young & Widowed: https://www.facebook.com/share/ENDJbFYEy4eMrtTy/   Facebook Group: Chicagoland Widows and Widowers: https://www.facebook.com/share/a9uTxwYU1sfYa8Wq/   Facebook Group: Widows of Addiction: Safe Zone: https://www.facebook.com/share/XDSkThFhC4HK8y7h/   Celebrate Recovery: https://www.celebraterecovery.com/ (This is available all over the US)   Some Books that were super helpful:   For Young Kids: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400074460/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1   Kids Grief Journal: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08C7GVXCH/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1   For Adults (any painful experience, not just death): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0718039858/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1   Devotional: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400239087/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1   Hey hey, I’m Emily Tanner.  I was widowed at age 37, one month shy of our 20 year wedding anniversary.  Nathan and I have four beautiful children together, and my world was turned completely upside down when I lost him.     Now, I love my life again!  I’m able to experience joy, achieve goals and dreams I thought I’d lost, and rediscover this next version of me.   I did the work. I invested in coaching for myself. I learned what I needed to do to move forward and took the steps. I implemented the tools and strategies that I use for my clients in my coaching program.     This is for you, if:  You want a faith-based approach to coaching  You want to move forward after loss, and aren’t sure how  You want to enjoy life without feeling weighed down by guilt, sadness, or regret  You want a guide to help navigate this journey to the next version of you  You want to rediscover who you are   For 1-1 Coaching: https://www.bravewidow.com/coaching-options   Find and take the next steps to move forward (without “moving on”).