How Grief Affects the Brain and Body

Grief is a deeply personal experience—and it doesn’t always show up the way we expect. Whether you’re facing the loss of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or a sudden life change, grief can affect your mind, body, and spirit in surprising ways.

As a grief therapist in Raleigh, I often hear clients say, “I thought I was doing okay—but now I feel like I’m falling apart.” If you’re noticing unexpected physical symptoms or emotional shifts, it’s not a sign that something is wrong with you. It’s a sign that your grief is real, and your whole system is trying to adjust.

Understanding the Grieving Brain

In her book The Grieving Brain, neuroscientist Mary-Frances O’Connor explores how grief impacts brain function. Our brains are wired for attachment, and when someone we love dies, the brain has a hard time updating that internal “map.” It still expects them to walk in the door, answer the phone, or appear where they once stood.

This mismatch—called a prediction error—can leave you feeling disoriented, foggy, or emotionally numb. Common cognitive symptoms of grief include:

• Difficulty concentrating or remembering things

• Feeling mentally scattered or disconnected

• Emotional numbness or mood swings

• A sense of being “stuck” in time or place

These experiences are not just emotional—they are neurological. Grief literally reshapes how your brain processes information. And while this can be distressing, it’s also a normal and natural part of adjusting to loss.

How Grief Affects the Body

Grief also shows up in the body. The physical symptoms of grief can mimic chronic stress, as your nervous system struggles to regulate in the face of heartbreak and absence. The grieving body may express itself through:

• Fatigue or insomnia

• Chest tightness or shortness of breath

• Aches, pains, or tension

• Stomach issues or appetite changes

• Frequent illness or lowered immunity

If you’ve been wondering why you feel exhausted or physically unwell since your loss, you’re not imagining it. Grief lives in the body, and healing from loss often means learning to care for both your emotional and physical well-being.

You’re Not Broken—You’re Grieving

The experience of grief is a reflection of love. The brain and body respond to loss because the relationship mattered deeply. When you’re grieving, you deserve support that addresses the emotional, physical, and cognitive symptoms of grief with compassion and care.

At the Center for Loss, Grief, Hope & Healing, we offer specialized grief counseling and trauma therapy for individuals navigating all kinds of loss. Together, we can explore somatic approaches, trauma-informed care, and evidence-based therapies like EMDR to help support your nervous system and create space for healing.

You don’t have to go through grief alone. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or simply not like yourself, there is a path forward.