The Grief No One Sees: Healing PTSD, Living Loss, and the Courage to Be Honest With God

In this powerful episode of Healed. Whole. Called., Wendy sits down with Katy Parker, a trauma-informed well-being writer, grief and loss coach, and mental health mentor based in England. Katy’s story begins long before her diagnosis of PTSD — rooted in childhood trauma, family loss, and a life shaped by resilience.Katy shares the moment everything changed: being struck by a car in 2020, suffering serious physical injury, and later experiencing debilitating PTSD. As she describes the long road of recovery, she introduces a concept many people don’t have language for — “living loss.” These are the losses that don’t come with funerals: loss of health, work, identity, independence, dreams, and the future you thought you’d have.Throughout the conversation, Katy and Wendy explore how grief isn’t limited to death, how comparison silences healing, and why suppressing pain often deepens suffering. Katy speaks honestly about depression, suicidal thoughts, chronic pain, and the spiritual pressure she felt to “be strong” or “stay positive,” even when her body and soul were crying out for care.A turning point came when Katy allowed herself to feel — and to be honest with God. She shares how therapy, EMDR, faith, community, and learning to listen to her body became essential parts of healing. Rather than striving for perfection, Katy discovered that God’s grace met her most powerfully in weakness.Today, Katy helps others navigate grief that goes unseen through storytelling, safe community spaces, and trauma-informed support. Her work reminds us that every loss matters, no feeling is final, and healing doesn’t require pretending we’re okay.This episode is for anyone who has ever thought, “I shouldn’t feel this way,” or “Others have it worse.” Katy’s story gently but boldly reminds us: your pain is valid, your story matters, and healing begins when truth is spoken.Connect with Katy Here:Website Blog: www.journeyofsmiley.com Grief Stories on Substack: https://katyparker.substack.comEmail: [email protected] links: IG: https://www.instagram.com/journeyofsmiley FB: https://www.facebook.com/journeyofsmiley Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/journeyofsmiley TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@journeyofsmiley All freebies: https://journeyofsmiley.com/free-resources-journeyofsmiley If you’re carrying a story or testimony and sense a quiet stirring to do something more with it, but you’re unsure what that next step should be, I’ve created a resource to help you discern that.The Story Discernment Guide is a reflective guide designed to help you pause, pray, and gain clarity around the story you’re stewarding — before you write, publish, or share it publicly.You can explore the Story Discernment Guide at storycalling.info.Your story is not an accident.You are healed.You are whole.You are called — and stewarding your story well matters.