What grieving does to your body?
It's hard to believe that a person can go through so much pain and still keep on living. But that's what grief does to you: it makes you stronger, even if only in small ways. Grief hurts your body as well as your mind, though. If you're going through something similar, here are some common side effects of grief on the body:
Stress
Stress is a normal reaction to change, whether it’s positive or negative. But when it becomes too much there can be harmful physical and mental effects.
Stress can manifest itself in many ways: feeling tense and anxious, getting headaches or other physical aches and pains, feeling depressed, or having trouble sleeping at night. It’s important to recognize the signs of stress so you can take steps to reduce them before they become serious problems.
It’s also important not to make assumptions about how others are coping with their own loss – everyone grieves differently.
Trouble Sleeping
Insomnia
Waking early
Waking up frequently during the night
Having a hard time falling asleep, or waking up fatigued
Digestive problem
Stomach aches, diarrhea or constipation
Loss of appetite or overeating
Indigestion and heartburn
Grief hurts your body as well as your mind.
You don't have to be an expert to know that grief can make you feel sad, depressed, and even suicidal. What you might not realize is that grief also affects your body in physical ways. When experiencing loss, the combination of emotional and mental stress can cause a person's immune system to weaken.
Grief may cause physical symptoms such as loss of appetite or changes in sleep patterns. When you are grieving, it is common for people to experience chest pains or shortness of breath as well as headaches or backaches. You may also notice that your skin becomes paler than usual due to an overall decline in energy levels.
Grief is an emotional process, but it’s also a physical one. You might not always be able to see the effects of your grief on your body, but they are real and they can have long-term consequences if you don’t take care of yourself while you’re grieving. If you notice any of these signs in yourself or someone else close to you, contact a doctor immediately—and be sure to take care of yourself as well!
