Episode

Loving Someone Who Wants to Die w/ Dr. Stacey Freedenthal

Podcast
The Caregivers Podcast
Published
Jul 13, 2026
Duration seconds
4315
Processing state
not_requested
Canonical source
https://share.transistor.fm/s/dbd7f87a
Audio
https://media.transistor.fm/dbd7f87a/166c5a87.mp3
JSON
/v1/public/podcasts/the-caregivers-podcast-7504542/episodes/loving-someone-who-wants-to-die-w-dr-stacey-freedenthal
Markdown
/podcast/the-caregivers-podcast-7504542/loving-someone-who-wants-to-die-w-dr-stacey-freedenthal.md

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Summary

What changes for a caregiver when day-to-day worry transforms into the terrifying question: "Does the person I love still want to be here?" This week, Dr. Mark Ropeleski sits down with therapist, author, and associate professor Dr. Stacey Freedenthal to explore the immense, unspoken toll of loving someone who has lost the will to live. This heavy but profoundly necessary conversation dives into the heart of caregiver hypervigilance—from checking bedrooms every morning to reading every unanswered text as a warning sign. Dr. Freedenthal introduces the practice of "Brave Listening" (asking the questions whose answers you fear) and explains how caregivers can navigate complex emotions like trauma, anxiety, and even hidden anger without losing themselves entirely to the role. Together, they challenge the cultural myth that love can cure everything and discuss how a caregiver can reconcile with their own human limitations. Click here to watch a video of this episode. Support Our Guest: ▶️https://staceyfreedenthal.com/ ▶️https://speakingofsuicide.com ▶️https://www.amazon.com/stores/Stacey-Freedenthal/author/B00B0GJBEY? Connect With Us: ▶️ https://linktr.ee/thecaregiverspodcast Buy Us a Coffee: ▶️ https://buymeacoffee.com/thecaregiverspodcast Subscribe to The Caregivers Podcast on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts to never miss an episode. If you find these conversations helpful, please leave a review or share this episode with a fellow caregiver. 🔊 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1fLSHPA7ZHbOpvrmcbfcd5?si=2a71d7c4e2e9427c 🔊 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-caregivers-podcast/id1842203665 🚨 Emergency Resources & Support If you or someone you love is currently in crisis or struggling with thoughts of suicide, please know that you are not al…