Open Mind Event "The Grieving Brain" with Mary-Francis O'Connor and Brenda Bursch

In THE GRIEVING BRAIN: The Surprising Science of How We Learn from Love and Loss, renowned grief expert, neuroscientist, psychologist, and the first recipient of The Friends of Semel/Drown Foundation Scholar Award in 2006, Mary-Frances O’Connor, PhD, shares groundbreaking discoveries about what happens in our brain when we grieve, providing a new paradigm for understanding love, loss, and learning.

[@VAgnerian18]

Very appreciative for making this informative and detailed and comforting ' emotional discussion about '' The Grieving Brain'' available through UA-cam to me too' ... A widow of four years' having been the caregiver for my husband through his degenerative Parkinson's' and still dealing with complicated and prolonged grief' pretending to be fine among family' not to bother them with my deep sadness within' or concern them about me in their work/family responsibilities , as no one can relate to the aloneness I'm left with' being uncoupled after 45 years of old school traditional type marriage feels so strange and wierd. - - - Laura'

[@mgmail7279]

I wasn't able to be on live with this call, but I wish I could have asked if there is a way to lessen disenfranchised grief. I finally realized that I will never get my mother's love - or even have her like or care about me. The loss of the dream of having a mother after decades of hoping for it is horrible.
Yet, I can't explain it to anyone as most people - fueled by endemic media messages - assume ALL mothers are loving and caring, not abusive and cruel as mine is. So I have to grieve the loss of my dream (and of a mother for whom I did so much for over the decades), yet I will never get the sympathy or understanding from others. I will never get a funeral or other rite to process the grief. I just have to disengage by myself and never get to say goodbye or even grieve.
What do we do when there is disenfranchised grief?

[@jenniferwaters1842]

I witness your pain. I wonder if deeply processing the anger and frustration over the abandonment and the death of your hopes, practice accepting your reality, and embrace and support yourself and the maternal figures you can reach toward and count on will help you heal?

[@mgmail7279]

@@jenniferwaters1842 Thank you. I'm old so no other woman (and most in my age category have children and grandchildren) are there for me.

[@jenniferwaters1842]

@@mgmail7279 Holding you in my heart. Sending compassion and prayers for your deep healing.🙏💗🙏

[@mollysweeney3430]

Thank you

[@miltonvann646]

T.VANN: Thank you, this was so very helpful. It has taken a huge burden off my shoulders as I travel this grief journey.

[@Marietta463]

❤

[@debandhov]

❤❤❤❤