How To Handle Grief In Your Relationship Without Falling Apart [Ep 115]
Fri Feb 06 2026
What happens when grief hits your relationship? Every single one of us will face it — but how you handle it as a couple can either bring you closer together or tear you apart.
In this episode, John and Nicole get brutally honest about navigating grief while in a relationship. From losing parents to watching your partner struggle, they break down the uncomfortable truths nobody talks about — including why your grief isn't a free pass to treat people badly, and why shutting your partner out actually hurts more than letting them in.
🎯 What We Cover:
Why grief hits differently when you're in a relationship vs. singleHow to support your partner without forcing them to grieve "your way"The balance between giving space and being presentWhat to do when your partner shuts down after a lossProcessing slow loss (like a parent with Parkinson's) vs. sudden deathWhy refusing to share grief deprives your partner of the chance to show up for youCreating a "new normal" after loss⏱️ Timestamps:
0:00 - Preview: Your parents are going to die
0:41 - Episode intro
1:17 - Today's topic: Grief in a relationship
2:18 - Personal experience with loss
3:20 - Balancing support without forcing conversation
5:45 - TV show parallel: His and Her on Netflix
7:15 - When grief leads to isolation
9:22 - Why does grief affect people so differently?
10:37 - Being there without smothering
13:34 - We're all going to experience loss
16:24 - Grieving divorce and a parent's Parkinson's
17:36 - Slow loss vs. sudden death
20:00 - Dealing with potential loss and mortality
25:10 - The importance of preemptive acceptance
30:00 - "Dead before they're dead" mentality
33:11 - Pre-grieving the inevitable
34:35 - Appreciating life and living for those we've lost
35:50 - Creating a "new normal"
38:39 - You owe your partner honest communication about grief
42:05 - Grief beyond death: grieving changes in yourself
45:03 - "It hurts more when you DON'T come to me"
48:05 - Accepting your new normal together
50:32 - Wrap up
📬 Connect With Us:
📧 betterthanperfectpodcast@gmail.com
🌐 betterthanperfectpod.com
📺 Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/@BetterThanPerfectPodcast
New episodes every Friday at 7am PST! 🔔
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What happens when grief hits your relationship? Every single one of us will face it — but how you handle it as a couple can either bring you closer together or tear you apart. In this episode, John and Nicole get brutally honest about navigating grief while in a relationship. From losing parents to watching your partner struggle, they break down the uncomfortable truths nobody talks about — including why your grief isn't a free pass to treat people badly, and why shutting your partner out actually hurts more than letting them in. 🎯 What We Cover: Why grief hits differently when you're in a relationship vs. singleHow to support your partner without forcing them to grieve "your way"The balance between giving space and being presentWhat to do when your partner shuts down after a lossProcessing slow loss (like a parent with Parkinson's) vs. sudden deathWhy refusing to share grief deprives your partner of the chance to show up for youCreating a "new normal" after loss⏱️ Timestamps: 0:00 - Preview: Your parents are going to die 0:41 - Episode intro 1:17 - Today's topic: Grief in a relationship 2:18 - Personal experience with loss 3:20 - Balancing support without forcing conversation 5:45 - TV show parallel: His and Her on Netflix 7:15 - When grief leads to isolation 9:22 - Why does grief affect people so differently? 10:37 - Being there without smothering 13:34 - We're all going to experience loss 16:24 - Grieving divorce and a parent's Parkinson's 17:36 - Slow loss vs. sudden death 20:00 - Dealing with potential loss and mortality 25:10 - The importance of preemptive acceptance 30:00 - "Dead before they're dead" mentality 33:11 - Pre-grieving the inevitable 34:35 - Appreciating life and living for those we've lost 35:50 - Creating a "new normal" 38:39 - You owe your partner honest communication about grief 42:05 - Grief beyond death: grieving changes in yourself 45:03 - "It hurts more when you DON'T come to me" 48:05 - Accepting your new normal together 50:32 - Wrap up 📬 Connect With Us: 📧 betterthanperfectpodcast@gmail.com 🌐 betterthanperfectpod.com 📺 Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/@BetterThanPerfectPodcast New episodes every Friday at 7am PST! 🔔