Coping with Grief: The Importance of Addressing Its Impact on Health and Well-Being

The death of a loved one, the end of a significant relationship, or any other significant life change - grief is an inevitable emotion experienced by virtually everyone at some point in our lives. Often, it's a natural process that can lead to personal growth and heightened emotional intelligence. However, when not addressed, grief can have profound implications on our physical, emotional, and mental health. Many of my coaching clients realize years later that there is a connection between their grief and their current health status.

Watch my latest Coffee With Coach Episode ‘Loss, Grief, and Healing’ on YouTube @xpandhealth here.

Grief and Health

Physical Health

Untreated grief can result in a cascade of physiological problems. Disturbed sleep patterns, changes in appetite, fatigue, constant muscle tightness, and a compromised immune system. Studies have also shown that the prolonged stress from unresolved grief can lead to heart disease, hypertension, and even stroke.

Mental Health 

Grief can exacerbate existing mental health challenges or lead to the onset of new ones, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Unaddressed grief can also lead to feelings of isolation, loneliness, guilt, or overwhelming sadness.

Emotional Well-being

Grieving might result in struggling to find joy, maintain relationships, or pursue passions we once loved. 

Given the wide-ranging effects of grief, it is important to address and process it.

Here are some science-backed strategies to help individuals cope:

1.  Seek Social Support: Sharing your feelings, memories, and emotions with someone you trust can be therapeutic. Joining a community of people with similar grief can give support.
2.  Engage in Physical Activity: Regular physical activity can help alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety that might accompany grief. Physical activity releases endorphins – the body's natural painkillers – which can promote feelings of well-being.
3.  Avoid Alcohol and Drugs: While they might seem like temporary solutions, alcohol and drugs can intensify feelings of sadness, despair, and hopelessness.
4.  Set a Routine: Establishing a routine can offer a sense of normality. Regular sleep, meals, and small daily tasks can act as anchors. A good morning routine can set the tone of the day.
5.  Consider Professional Therapy: Grief counseling can reduce the symptoms of acute grief. Whether individual therapy, group sessions, or more specialized grief counseling, professional guidance can offer tools and strategies to cope.
6.  Express Yourself: Creative outlets like writing, painting, or music can provide avenues for the expression and processing of feelings.
7.  Mindfulness and Meditation: A 2014 study in JAMA Internal Medicine showed that mindfulness meditation can alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression. By focusing on the present moment, individuals can process their grief more organically.

Grief is a natural response to loss and if unaddressed can have negative effects on our health and well-being. It is a challenging journey but with strategies we can become more resilient and can create a path of healing.

Need help to get started on your journey? Schedule a free consultation with me here.