jennifercarstensschiller

Navigating Grief: My Journey After Losing a Spouse

The pain of a significant loss never fully goes away. The pain becomes more manageable, but still exists. Since my husband, John, died in 2017, I have managed and survived grief. I will share with you my personal journey from how it started to hope to healing. How it Began John was hospitalized after aContinue reading “Navigating Grief: My Journey After Losing a Spouse”

A Widow’s Mental Health

Amid the pandemic, one common theme brought up by many physicians in differing specialties is concerns about mental health. Mental health is a public health concern especially during these trying and difficult times. Millions are out of work and are wondering how they are going to feed their families and pay their bills. Parents struggleContinue reading “A Widow’s Mental Health”

Fitting In

When my husband died, the dynamic in my little family changed dramatically. We were a tight-knit family of 3. My daughter is an only-child, so she went with us wherever we went. Even as a teen, she was usually happy to hang out with us. John enjoyed being together, so we were always a unitContinue reading “Fitting In”

Swimming with Sharks

After experiencing the horrible event of my husband’s stroke, it put everything that happened afterwards into a much different perspective. When John was in the ICU after suffering a massive brainstem hemorrhage, it was a constant bombardment of stress and chaos for me and my daughter. In a single day, family and friends were askingContinue reading “Swimming with Sharks”

Walking Alone in the Company of Horses

February, 2020 The grief journey is different for every person who experiences loss. One thing everyone has in common, however, is that they must walk through the grief alone. Friends and family support me, empathize, and sympathize, but in the end, the ‘work of grief’ is a journey you must endure alone. My daughter andContinue reading “Walking Alone in the Company of Horses”

What I learned during the first 5 years of widowhood

March 29, 2017: The Day My Spouse Died The list below is in no particular order on how I survived the first five years as a widow. I didn’t want to continue on after John’s death. Realized that wanting to die and wishing to end my life were not the same though. The pain afterContinue reading “What I learned during the first 5 years of widowhood”

Introduce Yourself (Example Post)

This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right. You’re going to publish a post today. Don’t worry about how your blog looks. Don’t worry if you haven’t given it a name yet, or you’re feeling overwhelmed. Just click theContinue reading “Introduce Yourself (Example Post)”