Opening the Floodgates

Grief may cause significant physical symptoms and psychological distress.

• Physical manifestations of grief
  
  
  • loss of appetite
  
  
  
  • changes in weight
  
  
  
  • trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
  
  
  
  • fatigue
  
  
  
  • chest pain
  
  
  
  • headache
  
  
  
  • palpitations
  
  
  
  • hair loss
  
  
  
  • gastrointestinal distress
  
  
  
• Risk for health problems and death: Grieving people are at increased risk for health problems and death.



• Physical complaints such as changes in weight, chest pain, and palpitations, while often seen in the bereaved, nevertheless should be discussed with a doctor since they may be due to other conditions.



• Chest pain that is alarming; that radiates to the neck, jaw, arm, or back; or that is sudden in onset, should prompt an immediate call to 911 for emergency medical services.



• Similarly, seek immediate help for chest pain or palpitations associated with shortness of breath, nausea, sweating, lightheadedness, weakness, or profound fatigue.


• Psychological manifestations of grief
  
  
  • sadness
  
  
  
  • anxiety
  
  
  
  • helplessness
  
  
  
  • emotional swings
  
  
  
  • irritability
  
  
  
  • apathy
  
  
  
  • disbelief
  
  
  
  • impaired concentration
  
  
  
  • lowered self-esteem
  
  
  
  • hallucination that the deceased person is present (visual or auditory)
  
  
  
  • feelings of unreality, numbness, denial
  
  
  
  • searching for the deceased
  
  
  
  • flashbacks
  
  
  
  • individuals may progress and then suddenly feel worse, without an obvious trigger
  
  
  
• Suicidal thoughts



• Thoughts of suicide occur in up to 54% of survivors and may continue up to six months after the death.



• Although it is common to have such thoughts, individuals should talk with a doctor or a mental-health professional.



• Depressive illness



• Depressive illness, not to be confused with situational depression caused by the loved one's death, occurs in 17%-27% of survivors during the first year after a death.



• Symptoms of depression typically begin after one to two months of bereavement, last for several months after the loss, and are constant.



• Depressive illness is associated with prominent thoughts of suicide, profound changes in appetite or sleep, or substantial decreases in function. The help of a mental-health professional is needed.