Softness in a world that says move on from grief with Amber Jeffrey

In this powerful episode I chat with Amber Jeffrey, founder of The Grief Gang, to talk about grief, mental health, and why feeling your grief is a radical act in a world that tells you to move on.Amber shares her experience of losing her mum at 19 and later her dear friend Poppy - plus the frustration that led her to build a grief community that feels human, creative, and alive.This conversation is about resisting the rush to move on. It’s about courage that looks like breath-by-breath getting through it. It’s about reclaiming grief as human — not broken. Because grief is everyone’s business. And feeling it? That’s revolutionary.Together, we explore:Why grief isn’t linear (and never neat)The harm of pathologising “prolonged grief”The failure of traditional grief support systemsThe lifelong, messy nature of griefThe importance of community in healingRadical acts of support and self-compassionWhy grief connects us all as humanityThe power of community in healingHow softness becomes survival in a harsh worldDisclaimer: This podcast is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Nor is it a substitute for professional support. Follow Death on the Daily:Do Like, Comment & Subscribe to this channel  @deathonthedaily  Share this episode with a friend who might need it. Subscribe to my Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/deathonthedaily/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanyawilkinson_ YouTube: http://youtube.com/@deathonthedailyFind out about my work as a Grief Coach and connect with me here: https://www.tanyawilkinson.co.ukYou can connect with Amber Jeffrey and find out about The Grief Gang membership (that I am a facilitator for) here: Website: https://www.thegriefgang.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegriefgangThe theme music for Death on the Daily is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Set Free by Katie Gray⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, which is used with artist's permission. You can connect with Katie and her music and work here ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.katiegray.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. This podcast is edited by David Strutt, who you can contact here for any editing needs: [email protected]:00:00 Introduction: The Softness of Grief01:08 Amber Jeffery's Personal Grief Journey02:01 Societal Support for Grief in 2016 vs Now03:48 Isolation in Grief and Support Systems07:50 Therapy Experiences and Barriers10:27 Starting the Grief Gang Community12:40 The Need for Diverse Grief Support Modalities15:33 The Power of Choice in Support Resources20:53 The Messiness of Multiple Losses22:35 Grief as a Continuous, Non-Linear Process25:48 Trusting Hope and the Process of Grief28:37 The Binary Mindset and Grief's Complexity32:56 Self-Compassion and Harsh Inner Voices34:42 Resisting Societal Grief Norms37:40 Connecting Humanity Through Shared Pain42:22 Grief as a Universal Experience of Love and Loss45:13 The Importance of Feeling and Empathy47:12 The Evolution of the Grief Gang Community53:18 Creating a Supportive, Joyful Community59:40 Final Words: Hope and Presence in Grief