Ep 80. Grief Sabbatical, “Sad” Hours, Performance Pressure and More with Rebecca Feinglos

⚠️Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of death, divorce and postpartum depression. Listener discretion is advised.We don’t know how to allow grief in our modern society. You can keep achieving, stay productive, and appear completely fine, but that does not mean you are not grieving.In this deeply honest conversation, Dr. Amna Shabbir sits down with certified grief support specialist and Grieve Leave founder Rebecca Feinglos to explore why high achievers often feel they are not allowed to pause, fall apart, or acknowledge loss.Rebecca explains that grief is not limited to death. It can accompany divorce, illness, career changes, identity shifts, graduation, motherhood, and even positive life transitions. She shares how losing both of her parents, ending her marriage, and stepping away from work for a year forced her to stop trying to outperform her pain and finally make space for it.Together, Dr. Shabbir and Rebecca examine the powerful intersection between grief and perfectionism, including the pressure to appear strong, grieve “correctly,” and return to normal as quickly as possible. Rebecca also offers practical advice for supporting someone through loss, from what to say instead of “everything will be okay” to why specific offers of help are more valuable than “let me know if you need anything.”This conversation is a compassionate reminder that grief is not weakness, sadness is not its only expression, and healing does not require you to leave your loss behind.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why grief can arise from any meaningful loss or life transitionHow high achievement and perfectionism can become forms of emotional avoidanceWhy there is no correct timeline or “right” way to grieveWhat not to say to someone experiencing lossHow to offer practical, specific support instead of placing the burden on the grieving personWhy checking in months or years later can be more meaningful than reaching out only during the immediate aftermathHow accepting grief can create more authenticity, connection, and emotional freedomAbout Rebecca FeinglosRebecca Feinglos is a certified grief support specialist, founder of Grieve Leave, and host of the podcast Grief’d Up. After losing her mother as a teenager, her father suddenly in 2020, and her marriage in a drawn-out divorce, Rebecca took a year-long “grief sabbatical” — a journey that sparked a global community helping thousands make space for loss with honesty, humor, and practical support.Today, Grieve Leave reaches millions worldwide through education, storytelling, and workplace training, all aimed at building a more grief-informed world. Rebecca’s work has been featured in TIME, LA Times, Fortune, Slate, and more for her raw, relatable voice on grief. A former educator and senior policy advisor, Rebecca holds degrees from Duke University and the University of Chicago. She splits her time between Durham, North Carolina, and Montreal, with her senior dogs, Daisy Duke and Ralphie.Connect with Rebecca FeinglosWebsite - Grieve Leave WebsiteInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/grieveleave/?hl=en Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/grieveleave/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/grieve-leave/posts/?feedView=all About the HostDr. Amna Shabbir, MD, NBC-HWC, CPC is a Dual Board-Certified Physician and TEDx Speaker with advanced training in Integrative Well-being, Performance, and Leadership Development. She speaks, coaches, and consults on Workplace Wellness, Perfectionism, Sustainable Success, and the well-being of High Achievers.✅Want to explore Corporate Wellness Consulting and Fractional Well-being Officer work With Dr. Shabbir?Learn More:https://dramnashabbir.com/corporate-wellness-consulting/ Connect with Dr. Shabbir📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.amnashabbir/💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amna-shabbir-md/📹 Watch Dr. Shabbir's TEDx TalkPerfectionism Has A Solution - It is Not What You Think: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNIzzM4V