24. Grief is Fucking Hard: A Conversation About Attachment, Loss, and Mental Health with Dr. Annelise Cunningham

In this episode of Healthy Living Doesn't Have to SUCK, Melyssa explores the complexities of navigating grief and promoting mental health with Dr. Annelise Cunningham, author of Grief is Fucking Hard: Love Notes from a Trauma and Loss Psychologist. In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, the episode discusses breaking the stigma around mental health struggles, emphasizing the importance of support systems and self-care during tough times. Special guest, clinical psychologist Dr. Annelise Cunningham, discusses her journey into specializing in infant mental health, trauma, attachment, and grief, highlighting the need for mental health support in unexpected scenarios like the NICU. They explore the concept of procedural memory in grief, the impact of attachment styles on emotional well-being, and the power of recognizing and tending to one's vulnerabilities. The conversation offers listeners reflective questions to explore their emotional narratives and attachment styles, encouraging active engagement with one's mental health. The episode wraps up with offering practical advice on finding personalized coping mechanisms, underlining the show's mission to make healthy living accessible, empowering, and interconnected with mental well-being.

 

MEET OUR GUEST

Dr. Cunningham is a licensed clinical psychologist with expertise in attachment, trauma, and loss. She has worked in community, inpatient, and outpatient settings providing both assessments and psychotherapy. Throughout her work, she developed an interest in the grief process; noticing stages, checklists, and a desire to "move on" did not work well for those grieving. With her background in attachment, Dr. Cunningham instead believes grief is a relationship that requires an honest and authentic communication style. In her relational approach to grieving, Dr. Cunningham places a focus on decreasing self-judgement and increasing self-compassion to build an understanding of the complicated thoughts and feelings about loss. Dr. Cunningham resides in Chicago where she has a private practice which offers telehealth services to residents of Colorado and Illinois. 

• Purchase Dr. Cunningham's workbook on Amazon: Grief is Fucking Hard
• Visit Dr. Cunningham's Website: https://www.amcthepractice.com/

 

WORK WITH MELYSSA

**Join the Change Maker Collective coaching membership to receive support, accountability, and coaching from Melyssa to achieve your lifestyle change goals!

**Sign up for the Healthy Living Doesn't Have to SUCK Audiobook Group Coaching Program!

**Get your first week of my Move with Melyssa virtual fitness studio FREE! Or to try a sample class, use code MOVEWITHMELYSSA to attend a livestream class for free, or use code MWMREPLAY to catch an on-demand class for free through my Move with Melyssa virtual fitness studio!

• Grab our FREE Wellness Wheel Activity sneak peek from the book!
• Join our FREE Change Maker Community here!
• Grab your copy of Melyssa's book here!
• Follow us on Instagram: @melyssa_with_a_why and @healthylivingdoesnthavetosuck
• Email Melyssa at: [e-mail]
• Visit our website: https://www.healthylivingdoesnthavetosuck.com/

Please remember to Follow/Subscribe, Rate & Review our show to help us reach more Change Makers!

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Welcome to Healthy Living Doesn't Have to Suck Podcast
00:52 Kicking Off Mental Health Awareness Month
03:08 Deep Dive into Grief and Loss with Dr. Annelise Cunningham
12:37 Exploring the Complexities of Grief and Healthy Living
22:31 Embracing the Duality of Grief and Healing
23:36 Exploring the Power of Movement as Medicine
24:55 Embracing Self-Compassion and Grace
26:43 Understan