Sign up to join my free text program and receive mental health care tips and strategies, exclusive offers and more! Just text DRLEAF to 1 (833) 285 3747 (*Only available for U.S numbers at this time)   The world is in mourning. We have lost friends, family, jobs, finances and our sense of normality to COVID-19. We are coming face to face with the pervasive effects of systematic racism in our society, and its terrible human toll. 2020 has not been “our year”...or perhaps it has, but just not in the way we expected it?  In this episode I spoke to grief expert and therapist Claire Bidwell Smith about how grief is a process that helps us face and deal with loss, how this will look different for everyone, how unresolved grief can cause anxiety and affect our mental health, how to help our children deal with grief and loss, and how grief is a normal part of life and integral to the healing process. We also discus how to deal with the loss of a job, a routine, financial security and more! Special offers from our sponsors:   Blinkist (my favorite reading app): To get your free week on Blinkist AND 25% off your subscription see: https://www.blinkist.com/nc/partners/cleaning-up-the-mental-mess   NOOM (the best healthy habit company): For your NOOM special offer see: https://noom.com/drleaf    Podcast Highlights  2:13 How losing her parents to cancer motivated Claire to help others deal with grief  7:00 What is grief, and is it a progression?  9:30 Why even kids experience grief, and how to help your children deal with grief  13:15 What advice should you give to a loved one who is grieving, and how do you deal with grieving in isolation? 1 6:10 Grief and anxiety: how are they related?  20:15, 44:31 How anxiety is inextricably linked to grief, and how to deal with both  40:00 How do you deal with the guilt that often comes with remarriage?  47:00 How do we deal with the COVID-19 transition period? 48:33 What is Claire struggling with right now, and how is she dealing with the COVID-19 crisis?    For more info on Claire and to get her book visit: https://clairebidwellsmith.com   Read the full blog and show notes here:   https://drleaf.com/blogs/news/how-to-deal-with-loss-grief-how-unresolved-grief-could-be-causing-anxiety-problems-tips-on-how-to-help-your-children-deal-with-loss-grief-with-grief-expert-therapist-claire-bidwell-smith      Additional Resources:   -Get my new brain detox app SWITCH on sale now! Get 50% off a 3 month subscription. Just look for Switch on Your Brain in the App Store or Google Play or visit: https://theswitch.app   -Get any of my books, DVDs, and workbooks for less 25% with code DRLEAF at checkout: https://drleaf.com/collections/all   Visit my website at https://drleaf.com for more free resources, tips, and tools to help you improve and heal your mental health! And be sure to sign up for my weekly newsletter to get even more mental self-care tips delivered to your inbox weekly and to see my upcoming events (you can sign up at drleaf.com!)      Follow me on social media for daily mental self-care tips!  -Instagram: @drcarolineleaf: https://www.instagram.com/drcarolineleaf/  -Facebook: Dr. Caroline Leaf: https://www.facebook.com/drleaf  -Twitter: @drcarolineleaf: https://twitter.com/DrCarolineLeaf  -Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/drcarolineleaf    If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5 review on iTunes, Google Play, or wherever you are listening! And don't forget to subscribe and share this podcast with friends and family! I love seeing your posts on social media!