Why does grief feel traumatic? Why does your body feel on edge after someone dies?

In this episode of the GRIEF Ladies Podcast, Kelly Daugherty and Karyn Arnold talk with Ramona Kossowan about the connection between grief, trauma, and the nervous system. We explore why emotional safety matters after loss, how trauma can show up in Sleep disturbances, hypervigilance, and identity shifts, and what “gentle trauma release” really means.

You’ll learn: • Why grief can feel like trauma • How the nervous system responds to loss • What emotional safety actually looks like • The role of movement and self-care in grief • Practical steps to begin feeling safer in your body

This conversation is especially helpful if you’ve been wondering why you still feel on edge, numb, or overwhelmed long after the death.

Guest Bio: Ramona Kossowan is a Gentle Trauma Release Practitioner and empowerment coach who supports individuals navigating both acute loss and long-standing traumatic grief.

She distinguishes between grief — a natural and necessary process — and trauma, which can keep the nervous system looping and stuck long after the loss has occurred. Through gentle, body-based work with the unconscious nervous system, Ramona helps clients experience restorative relief: a settling in the body that allows grief to move rather than remain frozen.

In the early days of loss, this may mean stabilization and grounding — creating enough safety to function and feel supported. In more chronic or traumatic grief, her work focuses on releasing the patterns that interfere with healing, not to erase what happened, but to restore resilience, self-trust, and the capacity to experience meaning, connection, and even joy again.

With years of experience Coaching women in sustainable movement and nourishment, Ramona brings a deep understanding of physical, emotional, and nervous system well-being to the rebuilding process. Her approach helps clients lay a solid, embodied foundation for their next chapter — one rooted not in forced positivity or “moving on,” but in feeling safe, worthy, and open to life again.

Connect with Ramona:

Ramona’s Free Download: When Grief Feels Stuck: When Grief Feels Stuck

Ramona’s free download “Is it trauma?” (self guided Gentle Trauma Assessment)

https://ramonakcoaching.com/gentle-trauma-assessment/

Links:

ramonakcoaching.com

gentletraumacoach.com

[email protected]

facebook.com/ramonakcoaching

instagram.com/ramonakcoaching

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramona-kossowan-380ba66a/

https://www.youtube.com/@RamonaKCoaching

Books:

Confident You – The Raw Conversations (New bestseller):

https://a.co/d/0hOSaoMp Paperback (Canada)

https://a.co/d/0ikwm8UF Kindle (Canada)

https://a.co/d/0hOSaoMp Paperback (U.S.)

https://a.co/d/06Y3yLXF Kindle (U.S.)

Life Lit Up bestseller

https://www.lulu.com/shop/mary-holland-and-sophia-manarolis-koulikas-and-jamie-beringer-and-donald-dy/life-lit-up/paperback/product-emnj85.html?page=1&pageSize=4

GRIEF Ladies: Your Guide to What Comes Next

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

🎧 Follow and connect: https://www.griefladies.com/

Kelly Daugherty: https://www.kellydaugherty.com/ Karyn Arnold: https://www.griefincommon.com/

Stay up to date with all the latest information about The GRIEF Ladies- Sign up for our newsletter at: www.griefladies.com

Join the FREE, Private Facebook GRIEF Ladies Community: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16WuZNsNGu/

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.

Most Recent Episodes

June 3, 2026

Polyvagal Theory & Grief: Grounding Tools to Calm Your Nervous System

Polyvagal Theory & Grief: Grounding Tools to Calm Your Nervous System. Grief isn't just emotional — it's physiological. In this episode (37) of the GRIEF Ladies Podcast, we explore how grief...

Listen · 38:21

May 30, 2026

BONUS: The First Year After Loss — Our New Book, the Grief Brain Reader Series & What Early Grief Really Looks Like

Nobody tells you what the first year of grief is actually going to feel like. Not the forgetting. Not the exhaustion. Not the moment when the casseroles are gone, the phone stops ringing, and the...

Listen · 25:32

May 27, 2026

Coping with Pet Loss: Grieving a Beloved Dog & Preparing for End of Life

Coping with Pet Loss: Grieving a Beloved Dog & Preparing for the End of Life. Losing a pet can feel devastating — and yet pet grief is often minimized or misunderstood. In this episode (36), of...

Listen · 42:15

Load More Episodes

Kelly Daugherty The GRIEF Ladies

The GRIEF Ladies grew from decades of clinical work, community building, and lived experience. It isn’t a checklist to “get over it.” It’s a path you can re-enter on the hardest days and the ordinary ones.

Kelly Daugherty from Center for Informed Grief and Karyn Arnold of Grief in Common first connected when Kelly was leading a collaborative grief book project and posted in a Facebook group looking for authors. Karyn responded, and from their very first conversation, the connection was instant. They discovered a shared passion for supporting grieving individuals and striking similarities in their approaches and professional paths. Both had worked in hospice, and both believed that there are practical tools that can truly help support someone on their grief journey.

That first book became The Grief Experience: Tools for Acceptance, Resilience, and Connection. From there, their collaboration grew naturally. What began with one project has blossomed into an ongoing partnership including building frameworks, workshops, and now the GRIEF Ladies Podcast to help others navigate life after loss with honesty and hope. Sign up for their newsletter to stay informed about their future ventures!

Karyn Arnold has served grievers for 25+ years as a facilitator, educator, and the founder of Grief in Common, an online community that connects people by shared experiences of loss. With a background in psychology and mind–body work, Karyn blends evidence-informed practice with simple daily actions that help people steady themselves and find support. She has guided thousands of grievers through groups, workshops, and online programs, and partners with clinicians and organizations to make grief resources easier to find and use.

Kelly Daugherty, LCSW-R, FT, BCC, is a clinician, educator, board-certified coach, and founder of the Center for Informed Grief in Malta, NY. A Fellow in Thanatology, Kelly has worked with individuals and families across hospice, schools, and private practice for over two decades. Her commitment to grief work began after her mother’s death during Kelly’s teen years, shaping a career focused on practical, compassionate support. Kelly develops trainings for educators and mental-health professionals, consults with schools on grief-informed practices, and leads community programs that normalize grief while teaching concrete skills. She believes accessible, plain-language tools can change how communities show up for one another.