Symptoms of grief

Loss affects people in different ways and as such the symptoms following the loss take many forms. Grief is a normal process, but how we experience it is very personal. Here are some of the common symptoms associated with grief:

 Shock and disbelief

Your first reaction to loss may be a numbing feeling, disbelief in the reality of what has happened. You may want to even deny the truth. If someone you love has died, you may involuntarily keep expecting them to show up, even though you know they’re gone.

Sadness

A deep and profound sadness is the most universally experienced symptom of grief. The loss leaves you feeling empty and lonely. Life has changed and will never be the same. Despair or yearning for the past may leave you feeling emotionally unstable.

Guilt

Do you regret something you did or said? Do you feel guilty about things you didn’t do or say? Even when the loss is out of your control, you may feel guilty for not doing more to try to prevent it.

Fear

If you have lost your partner, a job, your home, or a loved one, this can trigger a sense of worry and fear. Helplessness, anxiety over the future, and panic attacks are quite common, especially if you are now facing life alone without your significant other.

Anger

When you lose a loved one, you may be angry with yourself, the doctors, or even the person who died for abandoning you. It is common to feel the need to blame someone for the injustice of the loss and your new feelings of sadness and loneliness.

Fatigue

The waves of emotions can be overwhelming and cause fatigue. It may also be true that your appetite is gone, and your energy stores are being zapped.

Nausea

Bereavement can often cause temporary digestive problems such as constipation, diarrhea, stomach pain, or nausea.

Lowered immunity

The experience of grief can cause numerous physical and mental health consequences leading to a weakened immune system.

Weight loss or weight gain

Surprisingly, grief and eating are closely connected. Some people lose their appetite and start to eat less, while others gravitate to comfort food, consuming more than they normally would.

Aches and pains

Aches and pains are a common physical symptom of grief. Grief can cause back pain, joint pain, headaches, and stiffness. The pain is caused by the unusual amount of stress hormones being released, which effectively stun the muscles they contact.

Insomnia

Sleep issues are common during the grieving process. People who are grieving are more likely to take longer to fall asleep, wake up for periods of time after falling asleep, and find it difficult to fall back to sleep after waking up.