How Dr. B Survived the Death of Her Children and Husband

Welcome back to Groove with Portia.I’m joined by Dr. Cristi Bundukamara, known as Dr. B., who shares one of the most profound stories of pain, survival, and spiritual evolution I’ve ever witnessed. Dr. B. has endured the unimaginable—the loss of three children and her husband—and yet she still shows up in the world with purpose, compassion, and a fire to help others heal.We talk about her “Mentally Strong Method,” born out of necessity when faith alone wasn’t enough to hold the weight of grief. Dr. B. opens up about how her spiritual beliefs have evolved, how she wrestled with anger, and why grief and trauma must be treated separately. She speaks from both lived experience and clinical expertise as a psychiatric nurse practitioner.We also get real about the self-help industry’s anti-medication bias, the silence around spiritual conflict in therapy, and the way women often internalize pain—especially when navigating anger, depression, and the crushing expectations of faith communities.This episode is a safe space for anyone who’s ever been told to “just pray through it,” for anyone navigating grief layered with spiritual conflict, and for those who feel like they’re barely holding it together.If that’s you—this one’s for you.Connect with Dr. B: https://mentallystrong.com/