Grief in large bursts

Abby G.

Between 1998 and 2009 12 members of my family died, including my parents and all my grandparents. I have developed a profound relationship with grief and loss, and I am often someone others turn to when they need help processing a loss. I navigated all of these deaths in my 20s because I had to, and along the way I learned a lot about grace, grief, and everything else that goes into making a life without the people you expected to be in it. I have made a life out of grief and the understanding that facing our grief can help us feel both connected and free. It can be hard to find people who want to talk about grief with you, but if you are looking for someone to do just that, I'd be honored to connect with you.

Redefining your identity

Abby G.

I think it's more common that we think to undergo a narrative reconstruction of our identities, especially after or during a great life change or loss. 2020 was the beginning for me of realizing I'd spent my life living into the expectations other people had for me, and those expectations ended up being out of alignment with who I want to be and how I seek to exist. Rewriting those narratives was challenging and asked a lot of me and I would have loved to have someone to talk it through with as I was getting started. I had to challenge a lot of the stories I'd come to believe about myself and discover if I'd actually written them or if they'd been told by someone else for me to internalize. My process of narrative reconstruction wasn't easy, but it's been the best practice I've ever picked up. Every day I try and move my life more into alignment with who i aspire to be and how I want to exist. There has been loss in the rewriting, but what I've gained has been worth it.

Getting sober after alcohol became your way of life

Adam A.

Drinking started off as fun something that helped quiet my mind and made life feel easier. I became a bartender, so it fit right into my world. But over time, it became how I dealt with everything: stress, loneliness, heartbreak. I lost a relationship I really cared about because of it, and when a family member passed, I hit one of the darkest points of my life. I tried Naltrexone, but what really changed things was realizing I just couldn’t live like that anymore. Getting sober wasn’t just about quitting it was about learning who I was without alcohol. That part was harder than I expected. But now, I’m clear-headed, present, and proud of how far I’ve come. If you’re questioning your relationship with drinking, I’ve been there and I’d be glad to talk through it with you.

Rediscovering purpose and identity in midlife

Alex H.

My midlife moment didn’t arrive all at once. The first jolt came when I had a heart attack at 39 — a wake-up call that forced me to confront mortality earlier than I expected. But in some ways, the more jarring shift happened almost a decade later, when I began aging in a way I couldn’t ignore. I had looked 35 until nearly 50, and then—seemingly overnight—I started seeing someone different in the mirror. It wasn’t just about appearance; it was about identity. I felt like I was grieving the version of myself I had been for so long: the youthful guy whose age always surprised people. Suddenly, I wasn’t him anymore. At the same time, I was recommitting to my passion for acting after over a decade in a corporate career. But that brought its own challenges. I worried I was now past the age for the roles I once longed to play. The dream hadn’t died — but the terms had changed. I found myself reckoning with feelings of failure, burnout, and the question of whether I had anything meaningful to show for all the years I’d been chasing this path. The journey since then hasn’t been linear. But now in my 50's with time, reflection, and some truly fulfilling projects under my belt, I’ve begun to make peace with what midlife means for me. I still have goals, but I no longer define success by rigid milestones or external validation. I’ve discovered the beauty of aging into new kinds of roles — on stage, in life, and in community. I’ve also come to see purpose not as a destination, but as a way of being: evolving, internal, and intimately mine. That shift has made space for acceptance, clarity, and even joy in the person I’m becoming.

Healing after divorce and finding yourself again

Alexandria K.

I married my high school sweetheart and spent seven years thinking we had it all figured out. But by 26, we were divorced, and I felt completely alone navigating the grief and change when no one around me understood. At the same time, I was also working through religious trauma as a pastor’s daughter—processing deep betrayal from within the church while still holding onto my personal relationship with God. Healing didn’t come overnight. It took therapy, deep conversations with trusted people, and a lot of time learning to love myself again. More recently, I found the strength to walk away from a 14-year friendship with someone who showed signs of narcissistic personality disorder—a relationship I stayed in for far too long because I didn’t believe I deserved better. I know now how powerful it is to choose yourself, even when it’s painful. If you’re grieving a divorce, dealing with religious wounds, or learning to trust yourself again after betrayal, I would love to be someone you can talk it through with.

Your past or present domestic violence situation.

Amber H.

I come from a family where violence was almost always the way disagreements were settled. My step father was full of rage and the alcohol just added fuel to the fire. Watching him hurt my mom over and over was terrifying. But watching her as she grew the strength to leave him for good, that was inspiring. Because of this childhood, I knew that leaving was an option. The first time a significant other put his hand on me, I was 17 years old. I had convinced myself that he would change, he was sorry etc. Unfortunately, it only got worse. After two years of abuse, I finally left him and never looked back. That was the first of many violent partners. But that was also the last time I let someone hurt me more than once. The most recent time almost cost me my life. And since healing from the physical and mental wounds of that occurrence, I have made it my goal to always be a safe spot for anyone going through something similar. I will always advocate for victims of dv because their lives depend on it.

Uncoupling your self-worth from romantic relationships

Amelia H.

I spent a long time believing that my worth was tied to the relationships I was in. When things were going well, I felt good about myself. But when a relationship ended or became difficult, I felt worthless and lost. It wasn’t until I went through a painful breakup that I realized I had been depending on my partner’s approval to feel okay about myself. I started reflecting on my own needs and recognizing how much I had neglected myself in the process of trying to please others. I began putting myself first, focusing on self-care, and learning to trust myself instead of relying on external validation. I also realized I was using alcohol as a way to numb the emotional pain, which only kept me stuck. As I worked on healing and strengthening my relationship with myself, I came to understand that my self-worth doesn’t depend on anyone else, no matter the circumstances of my relationships. Now, I feel more connected to myself and more grounded in who I am. If you’ve ever felt like your worth is tied to how someone else treats you, I’d love to help you work through that and come back to yourself.

Reinventing your career when you're stuck in the unknown

Andrea B.

I’ve changed careers multiple times across very different industries. Each shift started with the same feeling: stuck, uncertain, and unsure what the next step should be. I have left jobs without a clear plan, faced the silence after being forced to resign, and sat with the fear that I might never find something that felt right. The path was never linear. It involved a lot of false starts, doubt, and days when clarity felt completely out of reach. But through trial, reflection, and learning to listen to what I actually needed, I began to build a different way forward. I used tools like mindset work, personal awareness, and small experiments to create movement. Reinvention didn’t come from figuring everything out. It came from being willing to start where I was and take the next step anyway. Now, I support others who are facing the same stuckness and helping them find traction in the unknown.

Finding clarity and purpose when life feels heavy, hopeless, or stuck

Angelica A.

There was a time when I looked like I had it all together—a stable job, a plan, a life that made sense on paper. But inside, I felt stuck, numb, and completely disconnected from any real sense of joy or purpose. I had always been the strong, independent one, figuring things out on my own. But this time, I was just exhausted. Every day felt like survival mode. I kept telling myself to “just make it work,” but my soul was getting heavier by the day. When I tried to talk about it, I didn’t have the words—and when I did, I was often met with surface-level advice or silence. So I turned inward. I journaled. I followed little sparks of hope wherever I could find them. I started asking myself, “What if life could actually feel better?” and that one question changed everything. Bit by bit, I realized I wasn’t just sad or burnt out—I was misaligned. I had outgrown the life I was living, and that misalignment was draining me. The more I got curious, the more I started noticing signs and synchronicities guiding me toward something deeper: purpose. Now, I live from that place. My life is still imperfect, but I have an inner anchor. I help others who feel stuck, tired, or lost remember who they are and why they’re here. Because I know what it’s like to feel like you’re carrying it all alone—and I also know what it’s like to come out the other side with clarity, purpose, and a renewed sense of self.

Reinventing yourself and mastering your reality after addiction

Angelo F.

There came a point in my healing where I knew I couldn’t just go back to who I used to be. I had outgrown that version of myself—the one who survived by numbing out, by hiding, by staying small. Recovery gave me something I never expected: the freedom to reinvent myself. For years, I had defined myself by pain, addiction, and anxiety. But beneath it all was a deeper truth: I was powerful, creative, intuitive, and worthy of an incredible life. I just had to remember who I really was—and start building a new reality from that place. Through deep inner work, forgiveness, spiritual practices, and tools like therapeutic art, nature healing, and mindset coaching, I began designing a life in flow with my values, gifts, and passions. I stopped chasing external validation and started living from alignment. It wasn’t about “fixing” myself—it was about becoming myself. Now I help others reclaim their identity and become the architect of a new life—one rooted in joy, purpose, and authenticity.

Going through a breakup in college

Annalisa A.

Breaking up with someone in college hits differently. You’re juggling school, figuring out who you are, and trying to hold it all together while your heart feels like it’s falling apart. I’ve been through that (more than once) and I remember feeling like I had no one to really talk to. I didn’t want to burden my friends, and sometimes I even questioned whether what I was feeling was “that big of a deal.” But it was. That pain pushed me toward something more meaningful. I started volunteering for a crisis text line, and over time I’ve supported hundreds of people. Many of them were students just like me, trying to make sense of love, heartbreak, and everything in between. I listened as they cried over situations that felt impossible. I helped them find words for their feelings, breathe through the anxiety, and take small steps toward feeling whole again. Now, as I study behavioral health and counseling, I’m more certain than ever that breakups aren’t just about relationships ending, they’re about rediscovering who you are and what you deserve. I’m here to talk with anyone feeling stuck, confused, or heartbroken, because I know how healing it can be to have someone just listen and get it.

Reinventing yourself at any stage of life

Christina S.

I tell everyone, I have lived a million lives in this one life. Although in my opinion, that is the best way to be. Try everything and see what sticks. Why limit yourself? It can be scary starting over and reinventing yourself in a new career, city, friend group, etc., although staying stuck and unhappy is even scarier.

Overcoming relationship betrayal and finding peace within yourself

Christine D.

I’ve spent the last 30 years navigating difficult relationships, each leaving a lasting impression on me. I’ve been betrayed, broken down, and lost myself in the process, but I’ve learned to redefine what it means to “overcome.” It’s not about going back to what things were before—it’s about setting boundaries and finding peace within yourself, even when the relationships around you are complicated. I’ve had many opportunities to help others, like my cousin who was in a seven-year relationship where her partner’s porn addiction and cruel comments about her body took a toll on her. We didn’t facilitate the breakup, but we talked about the unhealthy patterns and helped her realize that she deserved more than what she was accepting. The best thing I did for her was offer a neutral, caring ear and helped her see a bigger picture—one where she wasn’t stuck. I’ve been through it myself, and I know that when you’re going through emotional abuse or trust issues, sometimes it feels like you’re trapped in a tunnel with no way out. But there’s always another perspective waiting to be explored, and I want to help you find yours.

Overcoming relationship betrayal and finding peace within yourself

Christine D.

I’ve spent the last 30 years navigating difficult relationships, each leaving a lasting impression on me. I’ve been betrayed, broken down, and lost myself in the process, but I’ve learned to redefine what it means to “overcome.” It’s not about going back to what things were before—it’s about setting boundaries and finding peace within yourself, even when the relationships around you are complicated. I’ve had many opportunities to help others, like my cousin who was in a seven-year relationship where her partner’s porn addiction and cruel comments about her body took a toll on her. We didn’t facilitate the breakup, but we talked about the unhealthy patterns and helped her realize that she deserved more than what she was accepting. The best thing I did for her was offer a neutral, caring ear and helped her see a bigger picture—one where she wasn’t stuck. I’ve been through it myself, and I know that when you’re going through emotional abuse or trust issues, sometimes it feels like you’re trapped in a tunnel with no way out. But there’s always another perspective waiting to be explored, and I want to help you find yours.

Living with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and how Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) helped me find peace

Courtney H.

For a long time, I felt like my emotions ran the show and not in a good way. I’d go from feeling totally fine to totally overwhelmed in a split second, and I couldn’t figure out why I kept pushing people away when all I wanted was to feel close. When I was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, it finally gave me some answers, but also left me with even more questions. That’s when I found Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT. It wasn’t easy. I had to really sit with myself and learn a whole new way of coping but it changed everything. I started to understand my triggers, learned how to pause before reacting, and figured out what it actually meant to take care of myself. A year after graduating from DBT, I’m now a certified peer support specialist, and I love being able to walk with others through the same storm I once felt stuck in. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, misunderstood, or just tired of trying to explain yourself, I get it. I’ve been there and there’s a way through it.

Finding yourself after leaving a controlling religious group

Elizabeth M.

I grew up in a religious group that controlled every part of my life, even down to how I thought and felt. It wasn’t just spiritual, there was abuse, betrayal, and deep wounds that shaped my sense of self. Leaving that community meant losing my family, friends, and the only life I had ever known. For years, I struggled with isolation, PTSD, and questioning everything I believed in. Through therapy, art therapy, journaling, and connecting with others who had walked similar paths, I began slowly rebuilding who I was outside of those walls. It took time to trust myself again, but today, I live freely, grounded in my own values and dreams. I now support others who are stepping away from controlling environments, helping them navigate grief, find their voice, and believe that life after leaving can be beautiful.

Finding yourself after leaving a controlling religious group

Elizabeth M.

I grew up in a religious group that controlled every part of my life, even down to how I thought and felt. It wasn’t just spiritual, there was abuse, betrayal, and deep wounds that shaped my sense of self. Leaving that community meant losing my family, friends, and the only life I had ever known. For years, I struggled with isolation, PTSD, and questioning everything I believed in. Through therapy, art therapy, journaling, and connecting with others who had walked similar paths, I began slowly rebuilding who I was outside of those walls. It took time to trust myself again, but today, I live freely, grounded in my own values and dreams. I now support others who are stepping away from controlling environments, helping them navigate grief, find their voice, and believe that life after leaving can be beautiful.

Choosing sobriety from alcohol, cocaine, and other drugs when everything feels like it’s falling apart

Gibson S.

I started drinking when I was 14. Growing up in an alcoholic home, alcohol became my way of numbing fear and insecurity—it felt like it gave me a sense of control. But over time, it stopped working. I added drugs to the mix, whatever was around, trying to fill a hole I couldn’t quite name. From the outside, I looked like I was functioning. Inside, I was unraveling. I hit bottom in November of 2008, and that’s when I knew I had to choose a different path or lose everything. Through AA and a lot of personal work, I built my way back up. I’ve now been sober for over 16 years. I’ve rebuilt my life, remarried, raised two amazing kids, and built a successful career. Now, I sponsor six people in AA and work professionally as an addiction counselor. I know firsthand how tough it is to ask for help—but I also know how powerful it is when you do. If you’re struggling to find your footing, especially if you’re juggling family, work, and recovery, I’ve been there—and I’m here.

Growing up around addiction and finding your own path

Heather D.

I grew up in a home marked by instability—my parents divorced when I was young, and I lived with my mother, who struggled with addiction and mental health challenges. Things were hard, and when they became unsafe, I was placed in my father’s care. At first, it felt like a fresh start, but after his father passed away, I watched him begin using substances to cope too. That grief and addiction took a toll on our relationship and on me. Eventually, I made the choice to live with my aunt, trying to find some peace and safety. I lost my dad to cancer nine years ago, and just two years later, my mom passed away from an overdose. The weight of those losses changed me, but it also deepened my empathy and gave me a strong sense of purpose. I’ve seen what not to do in relationships, but I’ve also learned how to break those patterns.

Surviving narcissistic abuse and rebuilding your life after domestic violence

Holley B.

For a long time, I didn’t even realize I was in an abusive relationship. There were no visible bruises — just the slow, soul-crushing erosion of who I was. The gaslighting, control, manipulation, silent treatment, and constant walking on eggshells made me question my reality and my worth. Narcissistic abuse is a form of domestic violence. And it’s one of the hardest forms to explain — because you’re often left with wounds no one can see and the most difficult to heal from. Leaving that relationship was terrifying. I was emotionally shattered, financially unstable, and isolated from many people I once trusted. I also faced the devastating experience of parental alienation — where the abuse didn’t stop after the relationship ended but continued through the manipulation of my child. But I am here today, living proof that you can survive this — and thrive. I’ve rebuilt my self-worth, found deep healing through recovery, and have become a voice for those who feel silenced. It hasn’t been easy, but it has been worth it. If you’re navigating this kind of trauma, you don’t have to do it alone.