How Grief Affects the Body—Understanding the Physical Toll of Loss

When people talk about grief, they often focus on the emotional pain: the sadness, the heartbreak, the longing. But grief doesn’t just live in our minds—it lives in our bodies too. In fact, many people experiencing loss report intense physical symptoms that they weren’t prepared for.

In this post, we’ll explore how grief shows up in the body, why this happens, and what you can do to care for your physical health while you’re grieving.

The Body Keeps the Score

Grief is not only an emotional experience; it’s a physiological one. When we lose someone important to us, our entire system is impacted. The nervous system, immune response, cardiovascular system, and sleep-wake cycles can all be thrown off balance.

Stress hormones like cortisol surge through the body, disrupting our ability to function normally. This isn’t “in your head”—it’s real, and it matters.

Common Physical Symptoms of Grief

Some of the most commonly reported physical experiences during grief include:

Fatigue or exhaustion: A deep tiredness that doesn’t go away, even with rest.
Muscle aches and tension: Particularly in the shoulders, neck, or jaw.
Changes in appetite: Either not wanting to eat or using food to self-soothe.
Digestive issues: Nausea, stomach pain, constipation, or diarrhea.
Sleep disturbances: Insomnia, oversleeping, or nightmares.
Heart palpitations or chest pain: Sometimes referred to as "broken heart syndrome."
Weakened immune response: You might find yourself getting sick more often.
Brain fog: Trouble focusing, memory lapses, or difficulty concentrating.

These symptoms can be confusing and scary, especially if you’re not expecting them. It’s important to recognize that this is your body’s way of responding to loss—it’s trying to make sense of the rupture.

Why the Body Responds This Way

Our minds and bodies are deeply connected. The death or loss of someone meaningful disrupts our sense of safety, familiarity, and control. Your body may interpret this loss as a threat, triggering the fight-or-flight response—even if there’s no physical danger present.

In grief, your brain may struggle to process the finality of what’s happened. This mental disorientation can translate into physical disorientation, like dizziness or disconnection from your body.

Grieving Bodies Need Care

During periods of grief, basic self-care can feel impossible. But tending to the body—slowly, gently—can support emotional healing too. Here are a few grounding practices that might help:

Hydrate: Grief is dehydrating. Drinking water can help regulate your system.
Eat regularly: Even small, simple meals can support your energy levels and nervous system.
Move your body: Gentle walks, stretching, or yoga can ease physical tension and release stress.
Rest: Prioritize sleep and reduce screen time where you can.
Soothing touch: Warm baths, massages, or weighted blankets can bring comfort to a dysregulated body.
Grounding techniques: Try placing your feet on the floor, breathing slowly, or pressing your palms together to bring your awareness back to your body.

When to Seek Medical Support

Some physical symptoms of grief overlap with other conditions—like depression, anxiety, or chronic illness. If you’re concerned about any symptom, speak with a healthcare provider. It’s important to rule out any other issues and to make sure you’re getting the care you need.

Grief can exacerbate pre-existing health concerns, so this is especially important if you already live with chronic pain, diabetes, heart conditions, or other medical diagnoses.

Listening to What the Body Needs

In many ways, your body is trying to get your attention during grief. It may be asking you to slow down, to care for it, to feel what you’ve been avoiding. Pain and fatigue are not signs of weakness; they are signals.

Rather than forcing yourself to "bounce back" or return to your routine too quickly, try to build small moments of restoration into your day.

Final Thoughts

Grief lives in the body as much as it lives in the heart and mind. If you’re finding it hard to breathe, sleep, eat, or function—know that you’re not alone. This is your body grieving, too.

Honor your physical experience. Be tender with yourself. Healing takes time, and your body deserves just as much compassion as your emotions do.

Grishma Dahal is a psychotherapist at Catharsis Psychology and Psychotherapy.