228. Why Grief Hurts: How Loss Shows Up in Your Body

Drop me a message or voice note!Have you ever been deep in grief and wondered: why does my chest actually hurt? Why can't I sleep no matter how exhausted I am? Why do I feel like I'm getting sick all the time? If that's you, this episode is for you.In this episode, I'm breaking down how grief shows up physically in the body and, more importantly, why it happens. Drawing from Dr. Mary-Frances O'Connor's book The Grieving Body: How the Stress of Loss Can Be an Opportunity for Healing, I walk you through some of the most common physical symptoms grievers experience, the science behind them, and a few gentle ways to take care of yourself while your body is doing some of the hardest work of your life.Here's what we cover:✨ Why grief is not just an emotional experience✨ The role of attachment theory and how our loved ones were actually regulating our nervous systems while they were alive✨ The difference between heartache and heartbreak✨ How cortisol and stress hormones stay elevated long after a loss✨ Why sleep becomes such a difficulty during grief✨ How grief suppresses your immune system✨ The gut-brain connection and how grief shows up at the dinner table✨ Crying, including why it happens, what it does for our brains, and why I am a huge proponent of letting it out✨ Five gentle, doable ways to support your body while it's grievingWhether you're in the thick of early grief, years out from a loss and still noticing physical effects, or supporting someone who is grieving, this episode is for you.📖 The Grieving Body by Dr. Mary-Frances O'Connor → https://www.amazon.com/dp/0063338904📖 The Grieving Brain by Dr. Mary-Frances O'Connor → https://www.amazon.com/Grieving-Brain-Surprising-Science-Learn-ebook/dp/B093ZZ7HZY🎙️ Episode 213: Grief Brain / Brain Fog → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/213-grief-brain-why-youre-so-forgetful-and-foggy-after-loss/id1688812587?i=1000763788105Learn more about Letters of Light 💌✨ https://lossesbecomegains.com/lettersSupport the showLetters of Light 💌✨ https://lossesbecomegains.com/lettersSupport the podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/lifewithgriefpodcast📖 Life Beyond Grief Substack: https://taraaccardo.substack.com/Connect with me:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lossesbecomegains/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifewithgriefpodcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/losses.become.gainsWebsite: https://lossesbecomegains.com/Work with me one-on-one: https://lossesbecomegains.com/work-with-taraShop the LBG Daily Journal: https://lossesbecomegains.com/journalBy accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that the entire contents are the property of Tara Accardo, or used by Tara Accardo with permission. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this Podcast may save and use information contained in the Podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purpo...