Symptoms Of Grief

[smhenglish]

You may have already seen this, but I thought I would just put it out there. My bereavement counselor gave me this list, and it has helped me understand what I am feeling is normal and often necessary. It is in no way complete. These are just the most common symptoms of grief.

The symptoms listed below are commonly experienced during grief. Where is grief expressing itself for you? How are you coping with these symptoms?

Well-being occurs when equal energy is distributed in all four dimensions. When grief is suppressed in one, it will often manifest in a greater degree in another.

Physical:

Weight gain or loss

Fatigue, low energy

Tightness in chest

Muscle weakness

Stomach upset

Nausea

Headaches

Sleep disturbances

Change in appetite

Frequent colds

Mental:

Forgetful

Short attention span

Difficulty concentrating

Confused

Indecisive

Easily distracted

Agitated/restless

Disorganized

Procrastinating

Emotional:

Anger

Depression

Anxiety

Guilt

Loneliness

Numbness

Sadness

Shock

Yearning

Helplessness

Relief

Emancipation

Fear

Impatience

Irritability

Spiritual:

Angry at God

Inner conflicts

Questioning values/beliefs

Lack of meaning or purpose in life

[shell]

Sarah,

Thanks for the list. Even if you know it, it's good to be reminded, as we all tend to forget some of the things we're feeling are due to our grief!

I have never heard the equal energy part, but it makes sense and I'm glad to have read that.

Hugs,

Shell