How Grief Affects Your Physical Health and Emotional Well-Being

Grief is universally recognized as a difficult experience, but many people don't realize just how deeply it impacts both the physical body and emotional well-being. Our bodies are made of energy — much like a battery — and grief can steadily drain that energy over time. In this article, we'll take a closer look at how grief affects the body and mind, and the profound toll it can take on those who are grieving.

First, let's talk about the physiological aspect of grief. Grief can have a profound affect on the physical body. Cortisol is known as the stress hormone. It is meant to regulate our metabolism and blood sugar, and when we deal with stressful situations, our bodies release more cortisol. What exactly does cortisol do to the body? In small doses, cortisol is beneficial. It regulates the flight or fight response. Alternatively, when you have prolonged exposure to cortisol, you can experience fatigue and weight gain...particularly around your midsection.

Another way grief impacts our physical health is through disrupted sleep — or the complete lack of it. One major reason for this is hypervigilance. According to Google, hypervigilance is a state of heightened alertness, where an individual remains constantly on guard and acutely sensitive to their surroundings. After experiencing a significant loss, it’s common to feel an overwhelming need to protect your remaining loved ones — or even yourself. This intense awareness often leads to overthinking, which can easily interfere with the ability to fall or stay asleep.

Sleep disruption during grief can also stem from intrusive thoughts. Our minds replay countless scenarios: how things might have turned out differently, words we wish we had said, actions we wish we had taken — and the list goes on. If you're anything like me, the late-night hours seem to be prime time for this kind of overthinking. Reliving trauma in this way is not only emotionally exhausting but can also leave us physically drained.

Processing emotions during grief can be incredibly overwhelming. Feelings of guilt and shame are a natural part of the grieving journey; in fact, they are recognized as one of the seven stages of grief. You may find yourself dwelling on how things could have been different, replaying decisions or moments with a sense of regret. These emotions can be deeply draining. In addition, you might try to hide your feelings or mask your pain to avoid burdening the people you love. While well-intentioned, suppressing emotions in this way can lead to emotional exhaustion, compounding the heavy toll that grief already takes.

In conclusion, the healing journey is a roller coaster of emotions, and healing is not a linear journey either. Some days you will feel better than others. Trauma can feel very isolating. It's hard to connect to others when they don't understand your grief. The important thing is to take things one day at a time and to have grace with yourself and process. If this was easy, there wouldn't be so many books written about it. Speaking of books, if you find that you need help navigating this journey, then pick up a copy of my book "Beautiful Mourning: A Guide to Life After Loss." In my book, almost every chapter opens the door to a new stage of mourning, starting from the initial shock, overwhelming pain of loss to the gradual establishment of a new sense of normalcy. It ingeniously weaves compelling personal anecdotes, expert psychological advice, and practical strategies, offering you a comprehensive understanding of your emotions. Providing more than just understanding and support, my book helps you to embrace healing and reconnect with the enduring love of those you have lost. Know that you are not alone in this journey. I have experienced the pain of losing loved ones. I'm here to help you navigate these terrential waves of grief, so you can heal and move forward on this journey we call life.