There are many types of grief that people may experience, and it’s not widely known that grief can be present not only when someone passes away, but also in other common life circumstances. It may be challenging at first to know or label the feelings you’re experiencing, but here are some ways it may impact your life.

What is the Emotional Impact of Grief?

While there are three key emotional impacts of grief, everybody’s grief may show up in different ways. Some of the most common emotions a person may experience are denial, anger, guilt and sadness. You may feel angry that the loved one was taken away from you. There may be some feelings of guilt or some regrets that show up: could you have acted differently, or are there certain things you wish you could have said or done? This may extend to shame depending on what you perceive those feelings or actions say about you as a person. On top of anger or guilt that is directed inwards, you may experience some disenchantment or frustrations with your faith or beliefs about the world. It’s an unfortunate truth that bad things do happen to “good people,” and this can be hard to grapple with as we’re often taught the opposite through media or stories. Difficulties with accepting the loss are common as well. It may be that you experience feelings of denial, emotional numbness, and feel urges to busy yourself with other things to help you cope with the gravity of your feelings. You may have heard the adage, “what you resist, persists,” and this is the case with grief as well. What is important to know is that everybody grieves on their own time, and it may be that you are not ready to process or hold space for your feelings at this time. Practising observing your feelings with curiosity and doing your best to remain non-judgemental of yourself can help as you near the emotional process of exploring your emotions. While these are very big feelings to experience, grief and processing these thoughts are what is part of the human experience. Additionally, there can be emotional and psychological tolls on your mental well-being. Whether you have struggled in the past with anxiety, depression, or any other mental illnesses, feelings of loss can be emotionally exhausting. This can impact your ability to cope with some things that may have felt easier before you experienced the loss. Being aware that challenges in your life will come with ups and downs to your mental and psychological health can help weather the storm and stay with the belief that these feelings won’t last forever. You can consider reaching out to others to share what you’re going through, or reaching out to a therapist that can help you.

How Does Grief Manifest Physically?

Many people don’t realise the physical manifestations of grief that can come along with the emotional challenges. You may experience sleep disturbances or even changes in appetite – eating or sleeping much more or much less than you are used to. Along with sleep and appetite changes, grief can bring about fatigue, lack of energy, and even physical discomfort. It’s important to know that these physical changes will also abate over time. Adjusting your calendar and commitments can help with this, as your body will need time to rest and recover. Additionally, you may have an increased vulnerability to illness and a weakened immune system. Doing your best to get the rest you need, eating healthy, and taking other self-care steps to maintain your body can help you put your best foot forward as you process the loss.

How Does Grief Impact Someone Socially?

Along with mental and physical impacts from grieving, there may be some social impacts that affect you as you process this loss. You may feel an urge to isolate or withdraw from social activities. This can play in part to the above mentioned issues with energy – it may feel like socialising will be too much for you at this stage of the game. While it is important to be aware of your need for rest, it is just as important to be aware of your need for social support. When the time feels right, you could consider connecting with a few trusted friends or family members that are less likely to feel draining. Taking an internal inventory of how you feel before socialising compared to after socialising can help you monitor whether meeting with a loved one felt helpful or harmful. It may be that connection is what you need right now, but this may only come with time after you have taken space for yourself to be with yourself and your emotions. It also may be the case that you experience some relationships that get strained after a loss. It’s important to remember that while you may be experiencing anger, guilt, sadness, or other feelings, others are also experiencing complex emotions too. These emotions may come at odds, especially when those that are grieving around you are experiencing fatigue or don’t have the capacity to hold space for others’ pain at this painful juncture in their lives. Losing a loved one can be a tumultuous time, but it is often the case that this is just an ebb in the ebb-and-flow of relationships and life overall. Additionally, when things feel so raw and challenging, you may encounter discomfort or difficulties forming new connections. You may also feel apprehensive about trusting others as your mind sorts through these feelings of loss. This too is often a result of the big feelings you are experiencing and processing. Do your best to remember that this challenging time is temporary and apprehension towards forming new connections or relationships will likely abate.

Coping With Grief

While the changes that come after a loss are uncomfortable and unpleasant, it is important to remember that moments of grief are both universal as well as temporary. You may feel an urge to rush the grieving process, but these feelings want to be felt. If the opposite is true, it is important to remember that detaching from the pain does not mean you are detaching from the memories or the love you feel. As you move through acknowledging or accepting grief, building self-care strategies to prioritise your well-being, and eventually reaching out to loved ones and making new connections, you will come to realise that there will be a day when you feel a new sense of normal in your life.

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