Physical symptoms of grief
In this article, we explore how your body can sometimes react in ways that you might not understand or expect when you’re grieving.
Common physical symptoms that can result from grief include:
- feeling exhausted and as if it’s too much effort to do anything, such as talking or eating
- comfort eating or struggling to eat much at all
- finding it hard to sleep because of nightmares, disturbed sleep or dreams about the person who has died
- having panic attacks or feeling anxious, worried, scared, shaky or lacking in confidence
- feeling as if there’s a weight on your chest
- feeling forgetful; for example, you may find that you forget things like how to make a cup of tea at first.
“After he died I didn’t go to work for a month. I didn’t leave the house most of the time apart from for the funeral. I didn’t even really open the curtains... One weekend, I don’t think I even got out of bed or answered the phone. I think I just needed that time out.”
Lee shares his experience of grieving for his partner, Marc.
Read his full story.
As stress can reduce the ability of the body to fight off infections, people who are grieving might also find that they get ill or develop health problems more easily. If you’re worried about your health, visit your GP and tell them you are dealing with a bereavement. This can help them to determine the right plan of action to support you.
Sleep and eat when you can as you will need energy, and try to give yourself treats. This may be a warm bath, or something special to do. And throughout your grief journey, remember that this is a part of being human and that you will start to feel more like you again. Many people even begin to notice new growth in their lives, such as strengths or skills they didn’t know they had.
Grief is hard work, so be kind to yourself.
You might also find it helpful to browse our mindfulness articles which explore some of the reasons why mindfulness practice can be beneficial when you’re processing your grief.
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