NEEDHAM, MA, August 13, 2026 -- For National Grief Awareness Day Aug. 30, trauma expert Judith A. Swack, Ph.D., whose book "Clear Trauma Now: The Powerful Solution for Getting Unstuck" has been named a top book on grief, explains how traumatic loss can keep people stuck in grief, and outlines first steps toward healing.
Unresolved trauma can keep people stuck in grief, making it difficult for them to access joyful memories of the person they lost, Dr. Swack says. Instead, every reminder of their loved one can automatically trigger the pain of the moment they died or left. That's because during a traumatic loss, the body's fight-flight-freeze response gets conditioned to remember and react to anything that happened at that time, causing people to repeatedly relive the shock of what happened.
Healing begins by calming this trauma response, so the nervous system no longer reacts as though the loss is happening in the present, Dr. Swack says. She shares these five first steps toward healing:
1. Separate the trauma from the person you loved. Many grieving people believe that if they let go of the trauma, they'll lose their connection to the person they lost. Dr. Swack says the opposite is true. Trauma can become fused with the memory of a loved one, so every remembrance triggers pain instead of love. Healing the trauma allows positive memories and gratitude to return without letting go of the relationship.
2. Identify the "hidden layers" beneath your grief. Grief rarely consists of sadness alone. According to Dr. Swack's research, loss trauma often includes shock, fear, anger, hurt, guilt, shame, and feelings of helplessness.
3. Listen for limiting beliefs that loss may have created. Traumatic loss often leaves behind unconscious conclusions such as "It's my fault," "People always leave me," "I can't trust anyone," "Who will take care of me?" or "I'm powerless." These beliefs can impact relationships, work, and self-confidence long after the loss, but being aware of them is an important step toward healing.
4. Pay attention to the feeling of emptiness. One hallmark of unresolved loss trauma is a deep sense of emptiness or a "hole" in the chest or stomach. Dr. Swack says people often try to fill this void through work, food, relationships, or other compulsive behaviors. Recognizing that the emptiness is part of the trauma response can help people seek healthier ways to heal.
5. Recognize that healing trauma is not about forgetting someone or "moving on." One of the biggest barriers to recovery is the fear that healing means leaving a loved one behind, yet resolving the trauma surrounding a loss doesn't erase the relationship. Instead, it allows people to stop reliving the worst moment of their lives and begin remembering the love, joy, and meaning that came before the loss.
"Healing trauma at all levels allows people to easily recall special memories of loving connection and appreciate the ways in which their lives were enriched by having known that person," she says.
"Clear Trauma Now: The Powerful Solution for Getting Unstuck," was recently named 2026 Silver Medal Winner for Grief Books by the Coalition of Visionary Resources (COVR). The book details healing practices Dr. Swack pioneered as part of her Healing from the Body Level Up™ (HBLU™) methodology, a comprehensive system designed to clear trauma at the conscious, unconscious, body, and soul levels.
Dr. Swack will present a "Clear Trauma Now Live Healing" webinar Thursday evenings in September: Sept. 3 from 7 to 9 p.m. and Sept. 10, 17, and 24 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. EDT. Experience trauma healing in real time — and learn how to do it yourself. Visit hblu.org/live-healing-experience for details.
About the Author: Judith A. Swack, Ph.D., is a biochemist, immunologist, and originator of the Healing from the Body Level Up™ (HBLU™) methodology, a comprehensive system designed to clear trauma at the conscious, unconscious, body, and soul levels. Author of "Clear Trauma Now: The Powerful Solution for Getting Unstuck," she combines scientific research with decades of clinical experience to help individuals resolve trauma, anxiety, and chronic conditions, often in just a few sessions. Dr. Swack trains professionals worldwide and works with clients who have not found success with traditional approaches. Her work focuses on identifying and clearing the root patterns that drive emotional and physical distress. Learn more at HBLU.org.
Online press kit: drjudithswack.onlinepresskit247.com
For more information or interview requests, contact Executive Publicist Michelle Tennant Nicholson at Michelle@WasabiPublicity.com or 828-749-3200.
