E19: Grieving While the World Keeps On Moving

How has Dad Always helped you redefine fatherhood after your loss?The hardest part of grief can be how ordinary everything looks around you. One minute you’re walking out of an ultrasound room with the worst news of your life, and the next minute someone is smiling and saying “have a good day.” That clash can feel unreal, infuriating, and isolating, especially for dads navigating miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant loss while trying to “hold it together” at work and at home.I break down a concept that puts language to that experience: dissociative detachment. I describe it as living in two realities at once: the reality where you’ve lost your baby and your future just changed, and the reality where everyone else keeps moving as if nothing happened. I begin with  the “womb of the imagination,” how becoming a father starts forming long before birth, and why the sudden end of that imagined future can leave you feeling numb, guilty, ashamed, or like you’re on autopilot.I also get practical. I share ways to handle those pockets of time when the gap between your grief and the outside world feels widest, why other people’s discomfort is not your burden, and when to reach out to a primary care doctor or licensed mental health professional. If you’re supporting a bereaved dad, I offer guidance on sharing your own life updates with care without forcing him to reassure you.If this resonates, subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next, leave a review to help other grieving fathers find the podcast, and share this with someone who needs language for what they’re carrying._____________________________________________________________________________________________SUPPORT PATHWAYIf you are a bereaved dad who's struggling to cope with baby loss and you'd like to talk one-on-one, let's have a FREE private 30-minute conversation. Go to dadalways.com for more information. PEER-SUPPORTBlack Dads in Loss Support GroupFor a list of other support groups through Postpartum Support International click here.THEME MUSIC "Love Letter” was created using AI as a creative tool, with lyrics and direction shaped by the personal experiences and emotional intent of the host.RELEVANT LITERATUREEMDR & Perinatal Mental HealthBeyond the Worry: 7 Lesser-Known Signs of Postpartum AnxietyTrauma-Related Dissociation and the Dissociative DisordersA HELPFUL VIDEO: 4 Types of Dissociation