A simple daily walk can help ease depression, agitation, and sorrow related to grief. It is often difficult to find the energy to exercise, so if you lack motivation, enlist a workout buddy or join an exercise group.
Keep tabs on your health. It's easy to ignore your general health when grieving. This includes skipping doctor visits and forgetting to take your medications. Take on new responsibilities. The loss of a spouse or family member may mean you have to take over certain routine jobs.
For example, you now may be in charge of the cooking, general house upkeep, or organizing financial records. While these tasks can be additional stressors, Dr. Bui suggests turning them into a positive experience. Reach out to your social circle. While it can be painful to see people, it is important to maintain connections with others. Set up a weekly get-together for lunch or coffee, or invite people over for a monthly potluck.
Or just make an effort to communicate with someone every day, either by phone or email. As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
Stay in touch with friends and loved ones. Try to get out of your house and spend time with others, even if it's to talk about your grief. A good way to stay on top of your health when you're grieving: "See your doctor, especially if symptoms worsen, and get back to a healthy routine as soon as possible," Dr. Malin suggests. That way, you can just follow your doctor's directions, putting one foot in front of the other until you develop your own routine.
In time — and there is no standard period of grief that applies to everyone — the sun will come out again, and you'll feel a little stronger each day.
But you'll need a foundation of good health in order to get there. Give yourself that advantage. Your loved ones would want that for you. As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
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Recent Blog Articles. Everybody reacts to grief differently. Common feelings include: sadness shock denial numbness, a sense of unreality anger guilt blame relief Emotions People might feel or act differently to usual. They might have difficulty concentrating, withdraw and not enjoy their usual activities. Physical health Grief can be exhausting and this may weaken the immune system , making people prone to colds and other illness.
Grief can affect the appetite and lead to changes in weight. It can affect sleep and leave people feeling very tired. It can also lead to stomach aches, headaches and body aches. Spiritual life Some people may experience dreams about their loved one, feeling their presence or hearing their voice. People who are grieving often search for meaning and examine their spiritual beliefs. Some people find positive experiences following grief and loss, such as a new sense of wisdom, maturity and meaning in life.
In some people, grief can be prolonged or more intense, and it may interfere with their ability to cope with everyday life. This may be more likely if the loss was particularly traumatic, such as a suicide or death of a child. If you are experiencing persistent feelings of sadness and despair, and are unable to experience happiness, you may be experiencing the symptoms of depression. Healing happens over time.
If you are experiencing grief or loss, you may always carry some sadness and miss a person once they are gone, but the painful, intense feelings should gradually subside. It eventually becomes easier to deal with life. It is natural to cry. Many people find crying a relief. Exploring and expressing emotions can be a part of the healing process.
Listening to music or writing can help. Time spent alone can allow you to connect with your emotions. Set a regular daily routine and do something special for yourself every day. Try to go for a walk, eat healthily , meditate and relax. Talking to your doctor, people at a support group or a relative or friend you trust can be a big help.
Accept offers of help, talk about your loved one, or simply spend time with others. Honour the life of the person who has died. Collect photos or keepsakes, write a journal, write a letter to the person who died, or share stories and rituals with others. These can all help to create meaning after loss. Get some regular exercise , eat healthy food and make sure you have enough sleep. Avoid recreational drugs and keep alcohol use to a sensible level. Birthdays, anniversaries or holidays can trigger intense feelings of grief.
It may help to mark these occasions with a simple ceremony like lighting a candle, playing music or gathering with family. Get in touch and be available to spend time together. Anxiety and stress resulting from extreme grief can cause the mourner to experience noticeable impairment in concentration, decision making, and even physical reaction time, known as psychomotor retardation. It can be hazardous to your health to do any activity—such as driving, skiing, roof work, etc.
Sensitivity to aches and pains. Intense grief leads to feelings of depression, rejection, despondency, and loneliness. All of these understandable emotions are brought on by a decrease in serotonin and norepinephrine, the compounds that help to relieve pain and boost mood. Exacerbated medical problems. It is a well-described phenomenon that existing medical problems often worsen and healing slows down when a person is under extreme stress, such as that caused by the profound burden of mourning.
This is why people who are in mourning often have chronic medical complaints. Learn more about him at www.
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