Grief is a universal emotion that is extremely powerful and difficult to control or overcome. Traumatic life experiences, the death of a loved family member or personal failures are all causes of grief. Losing loved ones can be a hard time for anyone and it can take months or even years to find normalcy again.
But grief is also a very personal emotion everyone has their way of dealing with it and coping with it. Grief isn’t just emotional but physical as well. It affects both your mind and your body in different ways.
What many people don’t know is that grief can impact you not only mentally but also physically. Stress and hurt can change your brain’s functionality and your bodily processes.
Here are the effects of grief on your body
Digestive system imbalance
Disruptions in mental health also affect your eating habits. Struggling to stick with routine results in problems with the digestive system such as constipation, pain, uneasiness or indigestion.
Heart problems
We’ve all heard the phrase “broken heart” or heartache, it is very much a reality and not just a phase or a feeling. Stressful hormones released in a grieving person’s mind can cause heart problems. Cardiomyopathy, a condition where the heart muscles are unable to pump blood, can be triggered due to extreme grief or duress. The chances of getting a heart attack increase by 25% after the loss of a loved family member or close friend.
Immune system
High amounts of stress have a drastic impact on immunity. People also tend to be more careless about their health habits this makes them vulnerable to infections like colds, flu headaches among others. Constant illnesses and stress weaken your immunity.
Feeling tired
Grief is not just psychological. It affects your muscles too. Grief can make you feel exhausted and not in the mood for exercise or any form of routine. Feeling tired or fragile is a prominent sign of grief.
Physical symptoms of grief are-
- Tightness in your chest
- Hollow feeling
- Stomach ache
- Shortness of breath
- Light or noise sensitivity
- Body ache
Grief is personal to each human some people cry or seek out emotional support while others grow more and more reserved and aloof. With the pandemic surging all around us almost every family is affected in some way and has experienced some form of loss or grief. If you’re going through such a phase, seek out help in whichever way you prefer. Try talking to a therapist or incorporating newer hobbies into your lifestyle
