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Dec 20, 2021 · Grief is that emotional state that just knocks you off your feet and comes over you like a wave. Grieving necessarily has a time component to it. Grieving is what happens as we adapt to the fact ...
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May 18, 2022 · As a bereavement counsellor, I often speak to people who've experienced emotional numbness after the death of a loved one – a kind of limbo state between the trauma of the death and the pain of learning to live without the person they love. We all expect to feel sad when someone dies. But feeling numb after death is actually very common. If ...
Depression. You may feel depressed after the death of someone close. It can feel like nothing matters. You might even feel like you don’t want to go on living. If you start to feel you might act on suicidal feelings please talk to someone. You can contact the Samaritans on 116 123 or contact 999 in case of an emergency.
- Overview
- Digestive Problems and Weight Changes
- Pain, Discomfort, or Illness
- Sleep Problems
- Difficulty With Daily Activities
- What Is Complicated Grief?
- Coping With Physical Symptoms of Grief
- A Word From Verywell
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In addition to the powerful emotional effects, there are also a number of serious physical symptoms of grief. Many people mistakenly believe that grief is a single emotion, but normal grief is actually a powerful, multifaceted, and often uncontrollable response that human beings experience following a personally painful or traumatic event, such as the death of a loved one.
Grief can affect us not only emotionally but also physically, mentally, and even spiritually. When you are experiencing grief, you may feel it both mentally and physically. During this time, you may experience a variety of physical symptoms that are part of the normal grief response.
This article discusses some of the physical symptoms of grief and describes some of the strategies that you can use to cope.
Digestive problems and weight changes are common physical symptoms of grief. Often connected with the disruption to normal eating habits or routines, bereavement can cause temporary digestive problems such as constipation, diarrhea, stomach pain, a "hollow feeling" in the stomach, queasiness, or feeling nauseated.
Changes in weight are also common. In the days, weeks, and months following a death, many people often gain a few pounds. Lack of exercise, lack of personal care, overeating, eating out more often, and eating more junk food can play a role in weight changes. Isolation from loved ones who might otherwise encourage healthier or more consistent eating habits can also be a contributing factor.
The experience of grieving a death can induce other physical symptoms of grief including genuine feelings of pain or discomfort, such as headaches or migraines, chest pain, heaviness in the limbs, aches in the neck, back, or skeletal joints, or overall muscular pain.
One study found that people already at high cardiovascular risk might experience an increased risk of a heart attack in the days following the death of a significant person.
The stress of losing a loved one and the subsequent grief can reduce or suppress the immune system, making you more susceptible to viruses and infections. In addition, people with an existing chronic health condition might experience a worsening of their symptoms.
Research has also shown that grief is linked to increased levels of inflammation in the body. Inflammation is a predictor of cardiovascular issues, other illnesses, and increased mortality.
Sleeping issues are also common physical symptoms of grief. Insomnia can deprive a grieving individual of the necessary recuperative benefits of a good night's sleep. This lack of sleep can affect appearance, such as creating puffiness in the face and eyes. A lack of adequate sleep due to grief often affects physical coordination, cognitive function, and blood pressure.
While sleep is an essential daily human function, sleeping for too many hours at a time, or throughout the day, can actually sap your energy and leave you feeling lethargic.
Physical symptoms of grief can make it difficult to cope with daily activities. For example, you may experience symptoms of fatigue or nervousness that make it challenging to manage normal tasks.
Feeling nervous or anxious often manifests itself in physical ways, such as tapping your fingers, pacing back and forth, fidgeting, an inability to sit and relax in one place for long, sweaty or clammy hands or feet, or feelings of tingling or numbness in those extremities.
Around 7% of bereaved individuals will experience what is known as complicated grief. This involves the continued presence of intense symptoms of grief that persist longer than the normal grieving period. These symptoms include an inability to focus on anything other than the death, intense feelings of anger and sadness, feelings of hopelessness, a...
Unfortunately, there is no method to eliminate or avoid the physical symptoms of grief that you might experience after a loss. While difficult and often painful, grief is a normal and necessary response to the death of a loved one, and most people will see a reduction of grief-induced physical effects with the passage of time.
For some symptoms, such as stomach upset, over-the-counter medications may be helpful. Always take these medications as directed.
If any of the physical effects you're experiencing do not subside in time or feel unbearable, consult your physician or healthcare provider. This is particularly the case for pain or physical discomfort, digestive problems, illness or flu, or if an existing chronic health issue worsens.
If you or a loved one are struggling with grief, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.
For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database.
The most important way you can help yourself while grieving is to take care of yourself and your needs. Many of the physical effects of grief arise from the failure to listen to our bodies and practice the healthy habits we otherwise might. Here are several important ways grievers can care for themselves.
People don't just experience grief on an emotional level; they also feel it on a physical one as well. These symptoms can be concerning at times, but it is important to recognize that the physical pain you feel is a normal part of the grieving process.
Many of these symptoms gradually resolve on their own with time. However, if they are causing serious impairment or lasting longer than you think they should, don't be afraid to talk to your healthcare provider.
- Chris Raymond
Aug 30, 2022 · When a loved one dies, your brain needs to update its virtual map of the world, O’Connor writes in her book. It doesn't happen overnight but by repeatedly experiencing mundane little things you ...
Jun 30, 2019 · 4. If you’re not able to feel anything after a traumatic bereavement, it’s probably for a very good reason. It’s not always safe to feel everything at once, and it’s important to respect ...
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Feb 5, 2024 · However, many people find that grief following the death of a loved one isn’t nearly that predictable. For some, grief can come in waves or feel more like an emotional rollercoaster. For others, it can move through some stages but not others. Don’t think that you should be feeling a certain way at a certain time. [Read: Coping with Grief ...
