The Physical Aspects of Grief
My busy travel schedule has created a great avenue for making new acquaintances. However, is also responsible for making it difficult to keep up with many long time friends.
Not long ago though, I heard from a friend I was close to years ago. Sadly, I learned that her husband had passed away not too long ago.
I of course expected that emotionally she had experienced one of the worst times in her life. She mentioned though that she also experienced a great deal of physical issues during that period of time.
“I threw out my back, my blood pressure spiked and I was just physically exhausted. In addition, I could not sleep either.”
Grief is one of the most complex and difficult emotions to experience. Much research on the stages and process exists. It also involves a variety of additional emotions and feelings such as sadness, disbelief and grief.
It is little wonder that the body will react to such stress. Some symptoms include headaches, changes in sleeping and eating, poor physical strength and overall anxiety.
A person may appear to be barely moving, when internally they are extremely anxious. Shall breathing can occur which further contributes to anxiety and poor health.
Each person experiences loss very differently, so there are no special rules of exactly how to handle it. However, it is very important not to ignore physical health during this difficult time.
Keeping your health in check during such a difficult time is not vastly different than any other.
Exercise. Walking may be the only thing you feel up to. But that along can help improve muscle tone and keep weight in check.
Nutrition. “Comfort foods” are easy to reach for. But this is no time to deprive the body of much needed fuel.
Relax. This is important as we engage in shallow breathing during stressful times depriving the body of oxygen. Try to perform deep breathing to reduce anxiety.
Deal with the emotional aspects as well. Asking for help can make a big difference. Some people prefer the comfort of close friends or relatives. Some find one on one or group therapy extremely beneficial.
I do not suggest anyone attempt to hurry the process along. People who have experienced it as well as researchers agree that no special time frame exists for processing grief. Each loss is unique.
My friend will forever feel her loss, but fortunately is prospering physically and emotionally these days. She had to focus on herself though and make some changes to her habits.
“I had to learn to relax, really relax. When I felt like my heart was racing, I practiced inhaling deeply and exhaling slowly and completely. My sleeping and eating habits then improved significantly.”
She then added walking to her regimen which further contributed to better rest. “My spirits started to pick up gradually and my concentration improved. Even my blood pressure returned to normal.”
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