"Grief Isn’t Linear: Ambiguous Loss, Overdose Stigma, and the Power of Small Steps"

Grief Isn’t Linear: Ambiguous Loss, Overdose Stigma, and the Power of Small StepsGrief has a way of showing up everywhere—after a death, a breakup, a diagnosis, a job change, even in the quiet after a life you thought would look different. In this episode, Chaz and Chris sit with the reality that loss is woven into the human experience, and that so much of healing is learning to stop rushing the process. They talk about why “moving on” language misses the point, how anniversaries can hit unexpectedly hard, and why grief doesn’t shrink just because you find yourself smiling again.They also explore the layers that make certain kinds of grief harder to name—disenfranchised grief, ambiguous loss, and the grief that comes with addiction and overdose, where stigma often adds another wound. The conversation closes with grounded, practical encouragement for anyone feeling stuck: you don’t have to go from zero to sixty. Sometimes the most life-changing thing you can do is take one small, safe step toward support.00:00 — Sponsors01:26 — Why Grief Keeps Showing Up08:23 — Losing Grandma (Real Life Grief)10:05 — Anniversaries Hit Hard16:55 — Overdose, Language, Stigma24:09 — Platitudes & Blame30:19 — Mortality Wake-Up Call33:52 — Guilt, Anger, The Inventory44:51 — Chris: Losing Tom49:00 — “Dog In A Trap” Compassion56:22 — Breakups, Divorce, Grief01:13:53 — Grieving The Living (Ambiguous Loss)01:16:19 — Finding Grief Support01:22:22 — Small Steps Forward01:27:56 — Closing + SponsorsThanks to our sponsors, McKelvey Insurance — https://www.mckelveyins.comand LightSource Psychotherapy — https://www.findyourlightsource.com