How to Overcome the Physical Effects of Grief

Grief is a powerful conglomerate of multiple emotions, including depression, sadness and loneliness. Not only are the mental and emotional symptoms of grief devastating for millions of people, but also the physical effects can be. Grief is exhausting and can result in additional physical complications such as pain, drowsiness, insomnia, shortness of breath and numbness. Overcoming the physical effects of grief requires time, patience and a constant effort to improve your life and alter your perspective.

Instructions

• 1

  Talk to a therapist. It is very beneficial to let out your feelings of grief, hurt, anger, fear and other emotions associated with the loss of a loved one. Friends and family can be helpful, but you may tend to hold back more. A therapist is a neutral party who you can completely speak your mind to without worrying about judgment or reaction.

• 2

  Write about your feelings in a private journal or blog. This allows you to vent your feelings uninhibited.

• 3

  Go out with friends or family. Social activity is very useful in distracting yourself from your loss; even something simple like a night out to the movies can give you a temporary reprieve.

• 4

  Maintain a healthy diet. It is easy to turn to junk food in times of stress, but you need to stay physically healthy to help get over the physical maladies of grief.

• 5

  Sleep eight hours a night. Insomnia is a common symptom of grief, so this may be difficult at first. Be aware of how much rest you're getting. Physical symptoms will likely get worse the more exhausted you are.

• 6

  Avoid drug use or alcohol. Drinking in moderation can help ease stress, but excessive use will make physical problems worse and can quickly lead to deeper depression and more severe physical symptoms.

• 7

  Remain patient. Time is one of the greatest assets in recovering from grief, and it may take time for the physical symptoms to fade. Communicate with a physician regularly if physical problems persist.