Grieving Your Diagnosis

Grief doesn’t only come after loss—it can begin the moment you receive a diagnosis that changes the future you imagined for yourself.

In this deeply compassionate episode of Healing Space, host Cara explores what it means to grieve after a chronic illness diagnosis. From dismantling the myth that grief only applies to death, to walking through the emotional stages many experience after life-altering health news, Cara creates space for listeners to feel seen, validated, and understood.

Using the well-known framework of the five stages of grief, Cara gently explains how denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance may show up—not as a checklist, but as a fluid, personal experience. Through a powerful real-life scenario and her own story, she illustrates how grief can look like mourning the body you once had, the career or dreams you envisioned, or the version of life you expected.

This episode also covers:

• Different forms of grief, including anticipatory and delayed grief
• The emotional and physical symptoms that often accompany grief
• Why timelines don’t define strength or resilience
• Practical, compassionate coping tools for moving through grief with care

Above all, this episode is a reminder that grief is not failure—it’s change. And even in the midst of loss, it’s possible to find meaning, support, and a life that is still full and beautiful.

A companion worksheet is available to help listeners process and reflect alongside the episode. Find it and other resources at hsconnect.org/healingspace. 

This podcast was made possible by UCB.