Stress and the immune system are integrated—they are tied into your mood and what you are thinking.

So the trauma of experiencing grief with a death and its associated stress, can really affect you physically. That’s why it is so important to pay attention to your body when you grieve! 

There can be tension created in your muscles (and a heightened state of awareness in the nervous system) that will consume a lot of your energy; As a result, you may feel tired or even exhausted when it seems you haven’t even done anything!

And because the stress response affects the immune system, colds and other minor infections are common.

The effects of stress can last for years in your organs and cause a lot of problems later on—recurrent infections, worsening of a chronic condition (such as eczema or asthma or diabetes), high blood pressure, hair loss, disruption of the menstrual cycle…

Heart palpitations,
Shortness of breath,
Visual and auditory hallucinations (and these are part of the normal grief reaction),
Stomach upsets,
Uncontrollable crying,
Headaches,
Sleep disruptions,
Irritability,
Sexual problems,

There are a lot of activities you can engage in and you need to find those ones that renew you and give you energy. I had a passion for going for walks in nature. It was exhilarating for me! I also enjoyed attending aerobic classes and working out with weights. You could go bike riding, skiing, gardening, or running… any sports. There’s tai chi, yoga, dancing and more. The exercise doesn’t have to be hard. It can be gentle as long as what you are doing has a positive impact on your body and your mind!

Melanie Hack
Author of Who Killed My Sister, My friend
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TV Shows and Clips about the Death of Cindy James