Is It a Heart Attack or Just Grief?

In this episode of Grief Unfiltered, we’re talking about something that doesn’t get nearly enough airtime: the tangled mess of grief and health anxiety.

You know, when your chest feels tight and your brain skips the “maybe I’m stressed” step and jumps straight to “I’m dying”? Or when you swallow weird, and suddenly you’re Googling dry drowning and planning your will? Yeah. That.

Krystle shares how her grief showed up physically—from panic attacks in PetSmart to skipping doctor’s appointments for years out of fear. She talks about the anxiety spirals, the WebMD rabbit holes, and why it all makes so much sense when you’ve watched someone you love slowly (or suddenly) lose their health.

This episode is a reminder that you’re not crazy, you’re grieving, and that healing includes your nervous system too.

We’re naming it. We’re grounding it. And yes, we’re bringing some dark humor to it (Dead Dad Day, anyone?).

If you’ve ever diagnosed yourself with something terrifying… and then you were fine five minutes later, this one’s for you.

📌 Timestamps:

[00:00] Welcome to Grief Unfiltered
[00:34] “Is this a panic attack or a heart attack?”
[01:40] The PetSmart incident & full-body grief
[03:20] Health anxiety is real—and terrifying
[05:25] Swallowing wrong & spiraling into worst-case scenarios
[07:00] Why grief makes us hyper-aware of our bodies
[08:42] Cancer trauma and fear of going to the doctor
[10:33] Avoiding the dentist and bloodwork (because, anxiety)
[13:15] When your body says “danger” (even if there’s none)
[15:02] Naming the anxiety and grounding in the present
[17:00] Meet Frankie, Krystle’s anxiety alter ego
[18:15] The power of support, therapy, and finding “your person”
[20:00] Dark humor and how grievers survive awkward moments
[22:30] You’re not alone (even when your brain says otherwise)

🌿 Get Support:

🌱 Ready to grow through your grief? Get my Befriend Your Grief course for the support and tools needed to transform your pain into a meaningful journey. https://www.growthroughyourgrief.net/befriend-your-grief

🌧️ Want to see how your grief is affecting you? Download my free quiz and complete it at your own pace. https://www.growthroughyourgrief.net/how-grief-is-affecting-me

🌐 Website: https://www.growthroughyourgrief.net/

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