Experts explains six physical signs of grief on our bodies - from headaches to pain
19.09.2022 - 17:19
/ dailyrecord.co.uk
Losing someone you love is sadly something that will happen to all of us at some point.
However, not everybody experiences grief in the same way, and we can all deal with it differently.
You may be aware of the five common stages of grief that people go through - denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance - but many people are unaware of the physical affects that bereavement can have on our bodies.
Scientists have previously discovered that there is a clear connection between feelings of grief and bodily changes, and it can manifest itself in many different ways.
Experts from UK online pharmacy Chemist Click have shared some of the key ways in which the body may respond, and how to combat them.
Immune cell function decreases and inflammatory responses rises in people who are grieving. This makes people who are grieving more likely to fall ill during the difficult weeks and months after loss, and can worsen pre-existing health problems.
Those with inflammation may notice pain, stiffness, redness, heat and loss of function which can last for several months to years.
Inflammation can be managed through lifestyle changes such as making time to exercise, avoid foods that may increase inflammation in the body like sugar, saturated fats and refined carbohydrates and introduce foods with anti-inflammatory properties like fatty fish, nuts, spinach and kale.
Aches and pains are a common physical symptom of grief.
Joint pain is caused by high levels of stress hormones being released through the body during the grieving process which can manifest into back pain, joint pain, headaches, and stiffness.
Managing stress levels throughout this time may help to elevate symptoms. It’s important to have small pockets of time for