What happens when you push grief behind a wall for years? For Christina Kantzavelos, a licensed psychotherapist and chronic illness advocate, the answer was her body. After losing her brother Peter at 19, Christina spent years stuffing her grief down, working harder, and eventually becoming so ill she couldn't care for herself — including leaving behind her work with Doctors Without Borders in Mexico.

In this episode, Christina shares why the nervous system has to come first before any grief or trauma work can really land, how EFT tapping can be a simple and immediate tool for emotional regulation, and what it looks like to finally face the grief you've been avoiding. She also talks about survivor's guilt, identity loss in chronic illness, and why finding the right therapist is a little like finding the right bathing suit — sometimes you have to try a few before one fits.

This episode connects to the G in the GRIEF Ladies framework: Grounding — eating, sleeping, moving, and stabilizing the nervous system as the foundation for everything else.

Guest Bio: Christina Kantzavelos is a licensed psychotherapist, coach, writer, advocate, speaker, and artist. She received her Bachelor's and Master's of Social Welfare (MSW) from UCLA and her Masters of Library and Information Sciences from SJSU. In her clinical practice, Begin Within Today, she treats those with chronic illness, including Lyme disease, and physical, developmental, and age-related disabilities. She is also the author of the Begin Within daily health and wellness journals.

- Website: https://www.beginwithintoday.com

- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beginwithintoday

- Journal: http://www.beginwithintoday.com/journal

-Facebook.com/beginwithintoday

www.linkedin.com/in/christinakantzavelos

GRIEF Ladies: Your Guide to What Comes Next

If you're ready to move forward without moving on—this show is for you.

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The GRIEF Ladies podcast offers education and support for people living with grief after someone they love has died. Our content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care or crisis services. If you are in crisis or concerned about your safety, call 988 in the U.S. or contact local emergency services.

Guest perspectives shared on this platform are their own and may not reflect the views or positions of The Grief Ladies.