If grief has brought thoughts of suicide or of not wanting to live, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, any time, day or night. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911.
The five most common physical effects of grief are strain on the heart, appetite and stomach changes, exhaustion and poor sleep, a weakened immune system, and aches and pains. Grief is a normal response to loss, not a disorder, but your body feels it too. New, severe, or lasting physical symptoms deserve a visit with your physician.
Key takeaways
Yes. The grieving process is physical as well as emotional, and it is common to feel pain and discomfort in your body after a loss. As a Cleveland Clinic psychologist puts it plainly: grieving is stressful.
It helps to say this clearly: grief is not a disorder. Cleveland Clinic describes grief as the experience of coping with loss, and says symptoms gradually improve as time passes.
In the Determinants of Myocardial Infarction Onset Study, summarized by the American College of Cardiology, the rate of heart attack was about 21 times higher within 24 hours of the death of a significant person, and it declined steadily on each day after.
Grief can also trigger broken heart syndrome. The American Heart Association explains that broken heart syndrome, also called stress induced cardiomyopathy or takotsubo cardiomyopathy, can be triggered by the death of a loved one. Its most common symptoms are chest pain and shortness of breath, and it may be mistaken for a heart attack. The AHA notes it is usually treatable and most people make a full recovery within weeks. Mayo Clinic is direct about what to do: if you think you are having a heart attack, call 911.
Cleveland Clinic lists a reduced or increased appetite, upset stomach, and nausea among the physical symptoms of grief. These changes are easy to notice, so treat them as a cue to keep regular, simple meals even when food has lost its appeal.
Moving through grief is hard work. Cleveland Clinic names fatigue, along with trouble sleeping (insomnia) or sleeping too much, as common physical symptoms of grief. If sleep problems last for weeks, talk with your physician, and know that insomnia is something talk therapy can address alongside your grief.
Cleveland Clinic notes that grief can cause a weakened immune system that makes it easier for you to get sick. Rest, fluids, and regular meals are small ways to support your body during this season.
Aches and pains are another common physical effect of grief. Cleveland Clinic lists headaches, weak muscles, and joint pain. These aches should ease with time. If pain persists or worsens, contact your physician.
Most physical reactions to grief are temporary, but keep your physician in the loop. Reach out if:
Questions about medication for sleep, mood, or any physical symptom belong with your physician. Foundations Counseling provides talk therapy alongside your medical care.
For most people, grief softens over time. Mayo Clinic explains that in normal grief, feelings of sorrow, numbness, guilt, and anger gradually ease, and it becomes possible to accept the loss and move forward. In complicated grief, also called prolonged grief, painful emotions are so long lasting and severe that you have trouble recovering from the loss.
Mayo Clinic suggests contacting your doctor or a mental health professional if intense grief and problems functioning do not improve at least one year after the death. It also lists significant sleep disturbances and an increased risk of physical illness, such as heart disease, cancer, or high blood pressure, among the complications of complicated grief. If grief has turned into depression or anxiety, counseling can help with both. You do not need a diagnosis, or a full year, to ask for help. If grief keeps you from working, sleeping, eating, or connecting with people, counseling is worth starting now.
Mayo Clinic also notes that at times, people with complicated grief may consider suicide. If that is where you are, call or text 988 now.
The season from Thanksgiving through the new year is full of reminders. Mayo Clinic calls the returning wave of grief around holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries an anniversary reaction, and notes it can bring fatigue, pain, and trouble sleeping. These reactions are not a setback in the grieving process.
Mayo Clinic offers a few ideas:
If your symptoms persist and your wellbeing is not improving, grief counseling gives you a steady place to put what you are carrying. In sessions, we make room for the relationship you lost, work through guilt, anger, or numbness, and rebuild daily rhythms around sleep, food, and rest. If the loss has stirred up older pain, individual counseling can hold that too.
Foundations Counseling offers grief counseling in person in Fort Collins, Loveland, and Windsor, plus online sessions. We are a private pay practice, and sessions are about 200 dollars. Most new clients have a first appointment within about 48 hours, and our Counselor Match Guarantee means you can keep looking until the fit feels right.
Prefer to watch? This short video covers five physical effects you may feel while grieving and when it is time to reach out for support.
Yes. Cleveland Clinic lists trouble sleeping, reduced or increased appetite, fatigue, upset stomach, nausea, headaches, joint pain, and a weakened immune system among the physical symptoms of grief. These reactions are common and usually ease with time. If a symptom is severe, new, or not improving, check in with your physician.
It can. The American Heart Association names the death of a loved one as a possible trigger of broken heart syndrome, also called takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Its most common symptoms are chest pain and shortness of breath, much like a heart attack. Most people recover within weeks, but chest pain always means calling 911.
Mayo Clinic explains that in normal grief, painful feelings gradually ease. In complicated grief, also called prolonged grief, the pain stays so severe and long lasting that it is hard to recover, and Mayo suggests getting help if it is not improving a year after the loss. You do not need a diagnosis to start grief counseling.
Holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries are powerful reminders. Mayo Clinic calls the returning wave an anniversary reaction and notes it can bring fatigue, pain, and trouble sleeping. It is not a setback. Planning ahead, starting a new tradition, and spending time with people who let you talk about your loss can help.
Call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or chat at 988lifeline.org. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911. Mayo Clinic notes that people with complicated grief may at times consider suicide, so these thoughts deserve care right away.
Yes. Foundations Counseling offers grief counseling in person in Fort Collins, Loveland, and Windsor, plus online sessions. We are a private pay practice, and sessions are about 200 dollars. We will match you with a counselor who fits, and your first meeting is a free consultation.
Clinically reviewed by Chris Berger, M.A., LPC, NCC.
You do not have to carry grief alone. We will match you with a counselor who fits, and your first meeting is a free consultation. Schedule your free consultation or call 970.227.2770.
If grief has brought thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 any time, day or night. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911.