EAP 31: Choosing to Win After a Great Loss - A Widow Masters the Art of the Bounce Back

Summary: Our guest on this episode of the Early Accountability Podcast is Maya Tyler, who was suddenly and tragically widowed when her children were very young. When her husband died in a freak accident, Maya desperately searched for resources that could help her know what she was supposed to do next, but there was nothing out there that fit her situation. As she found her way, she dedicated herself to helping other people in her situation find their own road maps to healing. Despite the stigma in the African-American community around mental health and the expectation that women “hold their own”, no matter the circumstances, she sought help through therapy. Maya’s outlook on life changed completely when her therapist said “You know who you are now. Who do you want to be next?” At the time, she had no idea who she wanted to be or how to get there, but now she provides resources for other women to accept their situation, assess themselves and their environment, and create an action plan to become who they want to be. This is a process, but Maya’s best advice is to just keep moving forward. Topics Covered in this Episode: • Recovering after a great loss • Grief, depression, and anxiety • Figuring out who you want to be next