The Grieving Body
And how to nurture it
As you've likely experienced, your body holds the stress and trauma of grief. Bringing the body into the grieving process allows you to create more connection with yourself so that you can safely be with the experience and move through it.
There is nothing quite like the loss of a loved one to completely knock the stuffing out of you. Grief has a breathtaking power to turn your whole world inside out in an instant. Even when it’s anticipated, all loss is somehow unexpected and shocking.
While we’re perhaps somewhat prepared for the emotional side of loss, we are rarely prepared for the physical effects that are commonly part of grieving. Your brain and body have their own distinct, layered grieving processes.
Physical symptoms may arise like breathlessness, fatigue, headaches, digestive issues, and general aches and pains. To ease these symptoms, it’s helpful to move the body in ways that allow this pain to be released.
When we move the body with intention, we can target actions to help open areas that are filled with grief pain. Opening these areas of the body allows a release of this pain and fills the body and the brain with oxygen. Crying releases oxytocin and endorphins, natural painkillers which help ease both physical and emotional pain.
Many people, regardless of age, gender, and physical health, share common physical experiences:
Bereaved bodies are tender. Many people experience an increase in body aches and pains, and headaches. Old injuries can sometimes resurface. It is not uncommon to have an increase in overall sensitivity.
Grieving bodies are tired. Emotional distress puts huge strain on the nervous system. Between dealing with the mundane logistics around death, changes to household rhythms, and shifts in responsibilities, the compounding effects of simultaneous changes are exhausting.
Distressed bodies sleep poorly, if at all. Grief is stressful on the body and mind. Sustained system-wide distress can make falling asleep and staying asleep difficult. Insomnia is very common. Poor sleep impacts the immune system and can contribute to an increase in inflammation.
Grief impacts cardiac function. Many people report shortness of breath and tightness in the chest. Research suggests there is an increased risk of heart attack, and changes to clotting after loss.
Emotional strain disrupts appetite and digestion. Folks who are grieving often have less appetite and pleasure in food. Stress can trigger existing digestive problems such as indigestion, ulcers, heartburn, and can worsen symptoms of bowel disorders.
Grief impacts brain function. Grieving bodies often experience short-term memory loss, forgetfulness, fuzzy thinking, and poor concentration.
Bereavement can trigger depression and anxiety. With loss, there is often a lot of change, overwhelm, and a sense of sudden instability. As with other types of trauma, grief can lead to mood disturbance and anxiousness.
In Turning Toward Grief, we tend with great focus and tenderness to the areas where grief pain is commonly held in the body, allowing it to be expressed and released.
Get the Course
Turning Toward Grief is a Wilding embodiment course on navigating grief and rediscovering your wild self through somatic ritual. Whether from a recent loss, an old wound, or the weight of collective injustice, grief lives in the body. In Turning Toward Grief, we get out of our heads and access the body’s memory and wisdom. Using a variety of embodiment techniques, we release somatic tension, open our hearts to what matters most, and welcome greater ease into each day. By befriending the tender, resilient body, grief becomes a portal to insight, healing, and possibility.
INCLUDES
✷ Somatic rituals and embodiment tools including mindful movement, breathwork, vocal toning, self-massage, and meditation
✷ Lifetime access to 5 on-demand, self-paced classes
✷ Bonus deep rest meditation on softening into grief & possibility
