How the Mind and Body are Affected by Grief
Grief can cause changes in your heart, immune system, and sleep patterns. But support is available to help you cope during this time.
Far from just sadness, grief can cause physical and mental changes and symptoms. But support is available to help you cope during this time. Understanding how grief may affect you and observing changes in your body may help you manage your grief. For many, the symptoms will go away as you process your grief, but the grieving process looks different for everyone. Experiencing loss can be difficult, but you are not alone. There is no amount of time that is right or wrong for you to cope with a loss.
How Grief Affects the Body
A 2022 review indicates that intense grief may trigger the acute onset of a heart attack. Your chances of a heart attack may increase for those who experience cardiovascular issues. Research suggests that stress from grief can cause changes within the cardiovascular system. Blood pressure and pulse rates tend to increase, which triggers blood to thicken and their stress level to rise. This phenomenon is not just limited to losing a loved one but can occur whenever a person feels grief. Some of these changes may be responsible for broken heart syndrome. Broken heart syndrome can also be called stress-induced cardiomyopathy or takotsubo cardiomyopathy. People experience broken heart syndrome due to a surge of stress hormones that cause chest pain and heart rhythm changes similar to what you would see in a heart attack. It can lead to short-term heart muscle failure.
Over forty years of research and studies have shown there is a link between grief and responses in the mind and body.
Impaired Immune System
Grief can negatively impact your body's ability to heal and fight infections. Over 40 years of research studies have shown a link between grief and:
Sleep Issues
When you grieve the passing of a loved one or another major loss, it may negatively affect your sleep. According to a 202 study, complicated grief, known as prolonged grief disorder, can cause sleep disturbances. Findings also indicate that prolonged grief disorder can affect the quality of your sleep at higher rates than post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. You are not alone Consider speaking with a mental health professional to support you in regulating your sleep patterns.
Other Physical Changes
Everyone responds to grief differently, in how they process their emotions and how their body responds to the loss.
Some physical changes you may notice include:
Other Psychiatric Issues
Grief can lead to developing several distinctive psychological conditions. Some potential conditions you may experience include:
Changing in Thoughts
When you go through grief., you will most likely experience changes in how you think, remember and process information.
Changes to thoughts you might undergo may include:
Grief and Stress
Researchers have noted that losing a loved one is the greatest stressor you may experience. You can experience grief related to the loss and new stressors related to your changing role and taking on new responsibilities. Studies that look at the effects of social support for people who suffered a sudden or violent loss of a loved one showed any loss of a loved one could lead to stress. When the loss is the result of violence or if it is sudden and unexpected, you may experience even more stress. Grief related to other losses can also cause stress. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Major changes to daily life can trigger or cause grief, which can then cause distress. Stress no matter the cause, affects physical and mental health.
The American Heart Association links chronic stress to:
Depression and Grief
Depression and grief share several symptoms and signs. In most cases when you grieve, you will experience symptoms similar to depression, such as:
When to Seek a Professional
Everyone grieves a loss in their own way and in their own time. Even if you do not seek professional healthcare, you might find that reaching out to a support network helps. This does not mean you need to talk or process your feelings with someone. A strong support network can help you:
If you feel like your grief is affecting your day to day life, you may consider seeking treatment, such as:
Next Steps
Grief can cause several changes in how you think and feel as well as physical sensations. The changes tend to be temporary and go away as you process your grief. The changes you experience include impaired thinking, sadness, increased stress levels, and potentially heart related issues, such as having a heart attack. You may also experience changes in how you sleep. When you experience grief, having a strong support network can help. This can include family, friends, and professionals, such as grief counselors or psychiatrists. If you or a loved one has experienced a grief triggering loss, you can take one or more of these steps:
Content from PsychCentral
How Grief Affects the Body
A 2022 review indicates that intense grief may trigger the acute onset of a heart attack. Your chances of a heart attack may increase for those who experience cardiovascular issues. Research suggests that stress from grief can cause changes within the cardiovascular system. Blood pressure and pulse rates tend to increase, which triggers blood to thicken and their stress level to rise. This phenomenon is not just limited to losing a loved one but can occur whenever a person feels grief. Some of these changes may be responsible for broken heart syndrome. Broken heart syndrome can also be called stress-induced cardiomyopathy or takotsubo cardiomyopathy. People experience broken heart syndrome due to a surge of stress hormones that cause chest pain and heart rhythm changes similar to what you would see in a heart attack. It can lead to short-term heart muscle failure.
Over forty years of research and studies have shown there is a link between grief and responses in the mind and body.
Impaired Immune System
Grief can negatively impact your body's ability to heal and fight infections. Over 40 years of research studies have shown a link between grief and:
- Heightened Inflammatory Response
- Lowered Antibody Response to Vaccination
- Changes in Autoimmune Response and Sensitivity
Sleep Issues
When you grieve the passing of a loved one or another major loss, it may negatively affect your sleep. According to a 202 study, complicated grief, known as prolonged grief disorder, can cause sleep disturbances. Findings also indicate that prolonged grief disorder can affect the quality of your sleep at higher rates than post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. You are not alone Consider speaking with a mental health professional to support you in regulating your sleep patterns.
Other Physical Changes
Everyone responds to grief differently, in how they process their emotions and how their body responds to the loss.
Some physical changes you may notice include:
- Nausea or Vomiting
- Tight, Heavy Feeling in the Throat or Chest
- Numbness, Loss of Sensation in the Muscles
- Headaches, Dizziness and Fatigue
Other Psychiatric Issues
Grief can lead to developing several distinctive psychological conditions. Some potential conditions you may experience include:
- Anxiety
- Post-Traumatic Stress
- Chronic Grief
- Panic Disorders
- Inhibited or Delayed Grief
- Anger and Guilt
- Shock and Denial
- Yearning
- Helplessness and Sadness
Changing in Thoughts
When you go through grief., you will most likely experience changes in how you think, remember and process information.
Changes to thoughts you might undergo may include:
- Disbelief
- Preoccupation and Concentration Issues
- Confusion
- Hallucinations
Grief and Stress
Researchers have noted that losing a loved one is the greatest stressor you may experience. You can experience grief related to the loss and new stressors related to your changing role and taking on new responsibilities. Studies that look at the effects of social support for people who suffered a sudden or violent loss of a loved one showed any loss of a loved one could lead to stress. When the loss is the result of violence or if it is sudden and unexpected, you may experience even more stress. Grief related to other losses can also cause stress. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Major changes to daily life can trigger or cause grief, which can then cause distress. Stress no matter the cause, affects physical and mental health.
The American Heart Association links chronic stress to:
- Heart Disease and Stroke
- Changes in Appetite
- Decreased Fertility
- Sleep Problems
- Upset Stomach
- Depression
- Anxiety Disorders
Depression and Grief
Depression and grief share several symptoms and signs. In most cases when you grieve, you will experience symptoms similar to depression, such as:
- Fatigue
- Changes in Sleep
- Switching Usual Routines or Tendencies
- Loss of Interest in Enjoyable Activities
- Trouble Concentrating
- No Longer can Feel Pleasure
- Noticeable Impairment in Functioning
- Continued Isolation from Others
- Unable to Cope with the Pain
- Thoughts of Suicide
When to Seek a Professional
Everyone grieves a loss in their own way and in their own time. Even if you do not seek professional healthcare, you might find that reaching out to a support network helps. This does not mean you need to talk or process your feelings with someone. A strong support network can help you:
- Take Care of Everyday Tasks
- Listen when you need to Talk
- Help look after the Kids
- Help getting final arrangements
If you feel like your grief is affecting your day to day life, you may consider seeking treatment, such as:
- Cognitive Behavior Therapy
- Talk Therapy
- Medication
Next Steps
Grief can cause several changes in how you think and feel as well as physical sensations. The changes tend to be temporary and go away as you process your grief. The changes you experience include impaired thinking, sadness, increased stress levels, and potentially heart related issues, such as having a heart attack. You may also experience changes in how you sleep. When you experience grief, having a strong support network can help. This can include family, friends, and professionals, such as grief counselors or psychiatrists. If you or a loved one has experienced a grief triggering loss, you can take one or more of these steps:
- Allow yourself time to go through the grieving process
- Learn more about what to expect with grief
- Reach out to friends and family for emotional as well as other kinds of support
- Find a professional to talk with for formal treatment
- Learn about the many signs of depression and other psychological conditions.
Content from PsychCentral