Can grief cause anxiety?

Grief is well known for the waves of intense emotional responses it can bring. Crushing sadness, loss, pain, and anger are all commonplace parts of grief. Anxiety is another emotion that may come with grief.

Anxiety is a result of the stress response cycle or fight-flight response. Grief often involves the loss of someone we love and are close to. The loss of that person and how they fit into our lives may result in the activation of this response. Changes like these are frequent triggers of anxiety. Anxiety can even crop up as we approach the anniversary dates of important losses or know we’ll encounter reminders of our loss. For example, knowing that we may run into a former coworker of a lost loved one, we may think, “I know I’ll fall to pieces!” and from there experience anxiety and its many symptoms.

Managing anxiety that arises out of grief can be a process. Understanding and normalizing the anxiety that may come up as a part of the grieving process can help. Often, people feel shame or guilt about experiencing anxiety during grief, but it is a normal facet of grieving. There can be relief in embracing anxiety as a part of the overall process of grief, which is natural.

Trying not to avoid potential triggers is another helpful step. It feels good to avoid places and people or to distract from potentially unnerving dates as they approach, but avoidance isn’t a long-term plan that will help the grieving process. It may prolong the process. Allowing yourself to experience anxiety and move through triggering experiences allows you to build confidence in your coping ability.

Anxiety management techniques can help navigate triggers and the overall process as well. Relaxation exercises, affirmations, breathing techniques, meditation, and ensuring you’re getting adequate sleep help with anxiety.

While anxiety is a normal part of grieving, it can reach a point where it becomes problematic. For some people, anxiety that occurs with grief becomes overwhelming and can cause ongoing anxiety problems. Anxiety that interferes with your daily life to the extent that it makes it difficult to go through normal tasks, work, school, or engage in other relationships may benefit from therapeutic support.