What are grief symptoms?

Grief, sometimes referred to as bereavement, is a normal part of life and experienced by most of us at some point.  People deal with grief in various ways, and there is no prescribed path or predictable group of stages that must be followed.  “The Stages of Grief” by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross has proven to be a helpful guide. She describes the five stages as 1) Denial and Isolation, 2) Anger, 3) Bargaining, 4) Depression and Sadness, and 5) Acceptance.  It is important to remember, though, that people process grief in their own way and in their own time.  Some people prefer to grieve alone, while others prefer to be surrounded by others. To answer your question, however, the following list provides some of the common symptoms associated with grief: 

~a sense of loss that does not seem real at first

~refusal to believe that the death has occurred

~feeling disconnected or a sense of numbness

~sadness and yearning

~decreased sleep and fatigue

~mood swings and tearfulness

~feelings of anger

~emotions that come and go in “waves.”

~guilt about not initially feeling pain regarding the loss.`

~guilt about previous interactions with the deceased person

~seeking reminders of the person who died

~feeling that the deceased person is seen or heard

~guilt about gradually getting back to normal life

~guilt about not “remembering” to feel sad at times

~worrying about not grieving “normally” or “correctly.”

~questioning the reason for the loss

~some avoidance of feelings or talking about the deceased person

~neglect of some self-care and/or responsibilities

~trying to find the purpose of pain and suffering

~aches and pains (head, joints, muscles, and bones)

~questioning the purpose of life

~loss of appetite

~trying to find the meaning of the death  

Most people work through the symptoms described above and return to their normal lives even though they continue to feel sad about the loss.  Psychotherapy and medication are not usually required but are available in the short term if needed.  Reading self-help and personal development books or attending a support group can assist with the grieving process.  Expressing grief or honoring the loved one creatively can also be beneficial.  Maintaining a routine, a healthy diet, and participating in physical activities, such as exercise, can also positively impact.