The Anniversary of My Cancer Diagnosis

In this deeply personal solo episode, Dr. Christina Zampitella opens up about the emotional weight of the two-year anniversary of her leukemia diagnosis. From lingering fears and disrupted sleep to a powerful reminder that grief and trauma don’t follow a linear timeline, Dr. Z shares how even after healing begins, the body and mind continue to carry echoes of the past.

Whether you're a survivor, a caregiver, or someone supporting a loved one through illness, this short but powerful reflection reminds us of the importance of compassion — especially toward ourselves.

CHAPTERS

00:00 – Introduction 00:49 – Remembering the gap in podcast episodes 01:10 – Cancer diagnosis, multiple losses, and memory triggers 02:00 – Signs of emotional and physical distress around the anniversary 03:00 – Lingering fear of symptoms returning 04:00 – Practicing self-compassion and facing mortality 04:52 – Reflection on hair loss, visual comparisons, and milestones 05:45 – Sharing as a way to heal 06:20 – Final thoughts: Navigating anniversaries with honesty and hope

💬 Let’s Talk

Has an anniversary ever hit you harder than expected? Do you feel your body remembering even before your mind catches up?

Drop your thoughts or questions in the comments — we’d would love to hear from you.

#PhoenixRising #CancerAnniversary #GriefSupport #TraumaHealing #Survivorship #MentalHealthAwareness #DrZ #PodcastForHealing #SelfCompassion

Unanticipated Loss with Jennifer Levin, FT – Part 2

Grieving the unimaginable takes more than time — it takes validation, stabilization, and the space to be fully human. In Part 2 of this deeply moving conversation, Dr. Christina Zampitella continues her discussion with grief and trauma expert Dr. Jennifer Levin, diving into what it really means to navigate unanticipated loss.

This episode offers a rare and honest look at:

• The internal and external experiences of traumatic grief
• How the body carries the weight of sudden loss
• What it means to "resource" someone before they’re ready to process
• How grief shows up in real life — not just theory
• The dangers of toxic positivity and forced timelines for healing
• How to find the right kind of therapeutic support for traumatic grief

Whether you're grieving or supporting someone who is, this episode is filled with insight, warmth, and clarity.

00:00 – Welcome back & setting the stage 01:10 – Why trauma work doesn’t begin right away 04:50 – Stabilization and building a therapeutic alliance 06:00 – Moving the trauma out of the center of the grief 08:30 – Resourcing clients: what it means and why it matters 12:00 – When your way of grieving makes others uncomfortable 14:45 – The power of group support and shared grief 17:20 – How unanticipated loss can reshape who we are 21:10 – The body keeps the score — even in grief 23:30 – Why avoidance can feel protective (but isn’t sustainable) 25:30 – Oscillation in grief: approach and withdraw 27:00 – Advice for people navigating unanticipated loss 28:30 – The pain of losing a child and the depth of guilt 30:00 – What not to say to someone grieving 32:00 – Finding the right therapist for traumatic grief 35:00 – The need for trauma-informed grief care 36:00 – Dr. Levin’s resources and closing reflections

Unanticipated Loss with Dr. Jennifer Levin (Part 1):

Unanticipated loss can shake the very core of who we are — leaving us not only grieving but questioning, searching, and trying to make sense of the senseless. In this special two-part episode, Dr. Christina Zampitella sits down with Dr. Jennifer Levin, a nationally recognized expert in traumatic grief, to explore what makes these sudden losses so different — and why the healing process often looks unlike anything else.

Together, they explore:

• The distinction between traumatic and non-traumatic grief
• How rumination and the need for a cohesive narrative impact healing
• The emotional fallout of ambiguous or unexpected loss
• Why grief isn't something to "fix" but rather something to companion

Whether you’ve experienced a sudden loss or support others who have, this episode offers insight, compassion, and powerful validation for anyone navigating the unthinkable.

Part 2 drops next week, so stay tuned!

00:00 – Welcome + Intro to Dr. Jennifer Levin 02:00 – How Jennifer got into traumatic grief work 08:30 – The difference between anticipated and unanticipated loss 13:45 – Why sudden loss is uniquely disorienting 18:15 – “Unexpected but not surprising” vs. “sudden and shocking” deaths 23:20 – The emotional and psychological aftermath of traumatic loss 25:00 – Rumination, narrative gaps, and meaning-making 29:30 – The addiction model of grief: Is rumination a form of coping? 32:00 – The long arc of healing and why it takes time