Mary-Frances O’Connor: Grief Is Not Something to Be Overcome

In this week’s episode, I’m joined by Mary-Frances O’Connor, neuroscientist, psychologist, and author of The Grieving Brain and The Grieving Body.

Mary-Frances has spent her career researching what happens to our minds and bodies when we lose someone we love. Her work helps us understand why grief feels the way it does, how our brains adapt, and why love and loss are so deeply intertwined.

This conversation is full of insight, science, and compassion. We explore what happens in the brain during grief, why waves of grief come and go, and how we can continue our bond with those who have died. Mary-Frances also shares why resilience is the most common response to loss, and why grief is less about “moving on” and more about learning to live with love in a different way.

In this episode we talk about:

 Why grieving is best understood as a form of learning How the brain and body adjust when someone we love dies The difference between grief (in the moment) and grieving (the ongoing process) Why the second year of grief can sometimes feel harder than the first The importance of internal bonds and how they continue after physical loss What research shows about resilience, prolonged grief, and healing How grief journeys differ with sudden loss compared to after long-term caregiving Practical ways we can support ourselves, and each other, through grief

 

Explore Mary-Frances O’Connor’s books: 

The Grieving Brain by Mary-Frances O'Connor | Waterstones

The Grieving Body by Mary-Frances O'Connor | Waterstones

 

I’d love you to join me for Awakening Hope — a free five-day experience.

Find out more at: https://www.karensutton.co.uk/awakeninghope

 

For Further Support:

The Widows Membership: karensutton.co.uk/the-widow-membership

Coaching and retreats: karensutton.co.uk

 

Mary-Frances O’Connor – Photo credit: Eric Godoy 

The Widow Podcast is for people experiencing the loss of a life partner, who are looking for hope and support whilst navigating their way through this traumatic life event. If you're feeling stressed, anxious, confused, as if you're just existing day by day or you've felt isolated, disconnected and lonely in widowhood and want to find ways to manage your grief more positively, this podcast is for you.
Hosted by Karen Sutton, The Widow Coach, widow and mum. She'll share the emotional and practical ways to come through the trauma and take steps to begin to thrive. This is the show for you to learn how to accept your emotions, gain a sense of hope and give yourself permission to create a life of peace and balance. You'll discover coping strategies and personal development tools that take you from those dark places to much brighter days. We understand your grieving process and the pressures of bereavement here at The Widow Podcast.

• No. of episodes: 150
• Latest episode: 2025-09-01
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