"Loneliness in grief isn't just about missing your person—it's about missing the version of yourself you were when they were alive. Naming that loneliness is how you stop drowning in it."
In this episode of Grieve That Shit, Sharon Brubaker takes on one of the hardest truths of grief: loneliness. Even in a crowded room, grief makes you feel like you're on another planet. People may surround you, but no one else can feel the exact pain you're carrying.
Sharon unpacks why grief is so isolating—why people avoid your pain, why you feel like you don't belong anywhere, and why loneliness feeds the heaviness of loss. Most importantly, she shows you how to name it, face it, and take small steps to soften it so it doesn't drown you.
What You'll Learn in This Episode
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Why grief makes you feel lonely, even when you're not alone
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How silence and avoidance from others deepen the isolation
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The difference between missing your person and missing the version of yourself when they were alive
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Why naming loneliness out loud is a powerful first step
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Small ways to create connection when everything feels hollow
Homework for You
Print this out and do it this week:
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Write down the moments when loneliness hits you the hardest.
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Is it in the morning?
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At night?
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During family gatherings?
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For each moment, write one small action you could try—not to erase the loneliness, but to soften it.
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Call one safe person.
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Light a candle and say their name.
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Sit with someone who will let you cry without fixing it.
Resources + Next Steps
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Download your free eBook: https://clickhereforhope.com/
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Join Grief Study Hall – live support with Sharon every Tuesday at 1 PM CST. Sign up at Grief Study Hall