Karen Sutton - The Widow Coach
Karen Sutton - The Widow Coach
In September 2016 I was suddenly widowed and left to navigate grief with two young children, I had to re-create a new life that I didn't want without my husband by my side. It was a time of complete despair and devastation not knowing if I was ever going to be ok again - whatever ok meant. The journey i've been on has been the hardest of my life, at times it was so dark and heavy I was left wondering what it was all about. However, it has also been a time of huge personal growth, It has been empowering and liberating and taken me to a place in life I didn't believe possible after such a loss. I want to share my learnings and experiences with you, I am so passionate about breaking down the barriers around grief and helping others find a more positive way through their grief. It is entirely possible to create something meaningful and beautiful after loss, to discover you and become someone you'll be really proud of. Fall in love with life again 🌻
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I lossed my husband before two month. 😢
Thank you so much for your wonderful work. It helps me in the way you want.
Karen, You know me by my tx to you. As you know, I am in the midst of selling our beautiful log home. I have been having panic attacks again since I have to help my son in moving things from the house and touching his things. I don't want to sell the house as I feel that his heart n soul could come back looking for me and why did I let him go. I think about his last hrs . I find again I am grieving again as it is like it happened yesterday. Again, I am selling a 4200sqfoot forever home to an 850sqf. apartment.. I am taking a med for these attacks.. I don't leave the house unless I have to. I feel so stuck. I miss being loved and his touches. Patricia-Michigan
Thank you for this video. I lost my husband two months ago ...
My grief is so new, 4 months ago. People say find ‘little joys’, but I can’t see beyond my sorrow right now. Finding joy? How? He was my huge joy…People who knew us talks about how we brought out the best in each other. He was THE only person who truly believed in me and loved me n my little quirks. I have some friends but I find that a lot of times they seem impatient with me. Therefore, I just keep to myself. I cry all the time, several times during the day, random places, when I’m driving, when I’m walking, even when I’m trying to exercise…
I’ve found the podcasts very comforting. I can’t join widow support groups because he’s been in a minimally conscious state for three months with no hope of recovery. He’s in hospital because he needs dialysis. I think my grief may end up being shorter because he’s been ill for 17 years and I suppose I’ve been through anticipatory grief. Anyway I’m alone for the first time in 45 years. I don’t know how things will feel when he really passes. I imagine it will be different from now.
I lost my young adult son to terminal cancer 3 1/2 months ago. I came across your channel because of the guilt and the grief that I feel. I lost my spouse through divorce and it was almost like a death. But when my son died, I feel like I’ll never be the same. I miss him terribly and cry every single day. Thank you for your videos. Even though it’s not my spouse it helps me with the loss of my son.
Lol! That made me laugh! The same "compliment " can give you different reactions. "You are so strong " has confused me so much.
Add a comment... This chapter 2 site is a joke. I live near Detroit and i cant see people in Canada cause its out of my region lol it is 15 miles from me. But i can see someone in up of Michigan 300 miles away. The only response emails from users were scammers and dic pics wtf. No regulations! #nix111$cammer opps i mean founder. Fricken plenty of fish is better then this app. Dont waste/give your money to this scammer
Hi Karen, It will be 3 yrs in October 13th since my Richard passed away from an onset of heart failure. I now find that since we are now selling our forever home . I find myself feeling the pain and grief. We hired a company to sell all the items. But just packing all his things n our things. I feel like I am back to where I was 2.5 yrs ago . I know that I have to sell our beautiful log home. As I was a working RN , they let me stay with him in the ER trauma room . I saw him sit up as I said, "Don't leave me the scalera of his eyes turned turned dark dark grey. He was still intubated while he sat up with his hand out. Then he again coded.. I now find myself being where I was 2 yrs ago. Will this go away ? I miss him so much. Patricia - Michigan , USA
Thank you so much for this. I cared for my husband for 17 years. This helped me so much.
Listening to a lot of the recordings, I feel widows have a lot in common, but there are a lot of differences. I feel I’m a widow but my husband has been in a vegetative state for nearly three months and he won’t recover and he won’t come home. His body is alive but he as a person is gone. I don’t know how different things will feel when he actually goes. He was ill for 18 years, so many of the losses people talk about, we had already lost on the way. The first month after his cardiac arrest, I had hope for a few days. After that, I was shocked and it was the worst month. I think I’m doing quite well now. Maybe it’s because I’m not really a widow. I don’t get accepted into widows’ support groups. I felt bad about that the first month, but maybe I’ll never need it now. Maybe years of anticipatory grief shortens the actual grief.
Thank you for posting this. I lost my husband last May 2023, He died of kidney cancer and I miss him everyday.
Hi Karen, this is my third listen to this particular podcast and the more one listens, the more it makes one understand why some people react one way and another the complete opposite. One of your best podcasts! Touché!
Karen you have been an inspiration to me and I appreciate the time and devotion you've given through so many communication channels. I am almost at the two year mark -- September 6 -- and understand the ups and the downs. Your guidance has been a blessing. Thank you.
Thank you Karen for sharing your light.
Thank you so much for all your support and knowledge, take care and live your life, that's what life for🪷💖
"We cannot heal in isolation." That is the bottom line; I must learn and remember this. I have to move forward now. I am coming Karen. XO ♥️☘️
Thank you for everything so helpful take care
Thank you Karen so very much..
It is now 2.5 yrs since my Richard has passed away. My son and I are now very close to putting my aka our "Forever home " on the market to sell. This beautiful log home was our Forever Home after we both retired. We were able to enjoy 8 yrs together in this home after 47 yrs of marriage. For a long time I could not drive into our garage as in my mind and heart as I knew I had to walk into an a special place without my man not being with me. I have moved to an apartment so I would be closer to my son and family. I am still so missing him n learning to live alone. Working on getting our very large home ready to sell is still so hard as Richard left me with so many things ie: 5 harley motorcycles. Plus the items that in our early married life we saved money to buy tools for his mechanics job. But having to look at the tools that would now belong to someone else. Will they treasure the tools like he did. So now someone will take all our things away. I am sorry to go on like this. But at 2.5 years this is where I am at. At 75 yrs old I do not think I will find another man. As i say to myself I dont want to be a purse or a nurse. Or loose my SS etc. I do listen to our record collection n pictures of all our life together. The pictures are now starting to be sweet memories. Thank you, PS: I do miss his touches, his kisses, our intimate moments. Yes I miss sex! Patricia- USA
Thank you. I’m still very early in my grief but point 8 gave me quite a lot of clarity Karen. You’re right, I have been thinking there’s nothing left for me, and if it wasn’t for my kids then maybe I’d be in a different place. My wife lost her life to cancer and didn’t get to have time to do all the things that a mum should get to do with their kids. I still have that opportunity to watch the kids grow and have a life & that’s not to be wasted or I’m just doing her disservice.
My husband has been dead a little over 2 weeks. I’m paralyzed. We married young. 29yr marriage
This is beautiful ♥️ Thank you to everyone for sharing. I am constantly searching for support and understanding in the resources around me, and I’m so grateful for this recording. I miss my beautiful Ben more than I could ever find the words to say; I just can’t believe he’s gone. He was stolen from me on the 22nd of May this year by cancer, and my heart is just completely shattered beyond belief. Thanks for sharing these stories, Karen ❤️🩹❤️🩹❤️🩹
this is 3 yes today loss my hubby this hit difference then first
Thanks for a great video. Many things i knew from my own griefmanaging course and groups.. but i rly needed to hear it all again. My husband and best friend for 13 years took his own life back in October. I have our son on 7 years, its not possible to just do what would be self care. But i try. Its devastating. Its hard. You feel so isolated in ur grief, and that s because every grief is personal i suppose. He's at peace, we deserve that too, and he would want us to be.
Iove your podcast, i a.m missing somthing simular in the netherlands as i am in my forties there is not much support avaleble. Travelling for example i went on my own, but i missed compagnie, although I made it on mij own😅
Thank you for helping me through this difficult time. I am in my second month of losing my partner. It is all new to me so I need your help!
It is now 14 months since he left me after 40 years being together. It is not easy, it is only by God's grace that I am going on.Thanks for helping us to go on 😢
Lost my husband of 33 years two weeks ago today.
I’m so sorry for your loss.
My husband and best friend of 44 years took his own life on April 3, 2024. It has been three raw turbulent months without him. My old life is gone, no turning back. I really miss him but I completely understand. He wasn’t at peace here. He is finally at peace. He just wanted to go home. He knew that I would understand and that I would still love him and I do.
18 months in after loosing my wife after 37 years. I found this really helpful, viewed in a period of total despair. Thank you.
Thank you
I just listened to these wonderful ladies - such courage to talk about their experiences. I can relate to each and every one of them ..... I cried through each one of the stories. I am so glad that a friend in the UK told me about you Karen, I have been in FHIW since February 2024. Thank you for being you . x
I lost my beloved Husband in january 2022, From a stroke, & even now I am taking things slowley. No children, but my little dog. My Family have been good, although other members, have not been helpful as they think i should be over grief. Last year i was ment to be going to a wedding of my niece,but i was not well with grief & anxiety & severe osteoarthritis,of joints . But i have reflexology & reiki healing, Crystal healing & sound therapy . which i love.
Dear Karen Sutton, I am so glad I have found you. I am close to four years in the journey and I still find myself earnestly looking for answers, support and perspectives from people who 'get it'. Please do consider enrolling me into any of your programs that would meet this need. Caroline Wamucii Karanja. From Nairobi, Kenya 🇰🇪
Dear Karen, I am certainly glad to have found you this past week. You are offering me so much support and connection even though you are miles away from me.
It’s been 7 days since my husband passed away in a car accident.
This is so helpful and comforting to me.
I am 8 months into the loss of my wife of 26 years. Just had 27th Anniversary without her. That was hard. Your comments about making the choice to go on living are very important. At the 5-6 month point after months of loneliness and depression, I made the decision to start living again. It is a day at a time process and not easy but better than living in the grip of grief.
4/20/24 my granddaughter could not wake my husband. My world was torn apart. That day is such a blur. He survived war. He had just given his retirement notice at his 2nd career. Idk. I am a believer in Jesus Christ and the hope in eternal life is what i hang on to, that one day we will be together again for eternity. Now, i am raising a grandchild as a single "parent" widow. I feel fortunate that i dont HAVE to get a job to keep the lights on. I am Journaling some. I have a good network of friends but the grief is mine to work through.
My husband passed way 2 weeks ago tomorrow. His birthday is the next day. I wanted to find a way to honor him in some way but it is so close to his death it hurts. His name was Dave and he loved to celebrate his birthday over a whole week. He called it Davey-Gras. He was so much fun. I miss him and I’m just not sure what to do.
I’m so sorry 🙏🏼
Since my husband passed away 2 1/2 yrs ago I have had so much trouble with my digestion. Constipation and of course heart palpitations and severe anxiety. I finally quit going to the doctor because it was a waste of time and money that I simply don't have anymore.
Emptiness is overwhelming
This is so true. I just lost my husband March 2024. Died from a long battle with Cancer over 2 years. I realize now that my family is also dealing with his lost. Which I didn’t understand til now! Thank you.
Thank you for helping me navigate this journey 😂I didn’t choose!
I am so glad I listened to this. This grieving thing is unbelievably brutal!
Thanks ever so much for your podcasts. They are such a help to me after losing my life partner one month ago!
Being with people that 'get it' is what I have treasured the most. A moment ago, I just wanted to find out how a widow feels towards former friends. I searched for relevant information on KZread, and your video appeared on my phone. I am glad I have found you. I am a widow aged 46 years old, my husband passed on four years ago following stomach cancer. Watching and learning from Nairobi, Kenya 🇰🇪
Thank you ever so much for your podcast. I am in one month of my journey. We had been married for 65 years. He was 87 years old when he passed I am 84 years old. It has been difficult but God is good and He and you will help me get through this time in my life.