The Physical Toll of Grief: More Than Just Emotional Pain

Grief doesn't just affect your mind—it wreaks havoc on your entire body. The deep emotions of loss disrupt more than your thoughts and feelings; they alter your physical health in ways you may not even notice until much later. In the past few months, I've lost 10 pounds without even trying, and it feels like I’ve aged a decade. The realization hits when my clothes no longer fit as they once did, or when I see photos of myself from a year ago. The bags under my eyes are darker, the lines on my face more pronounced. It’s as if grief has settled into every cell of my body, wearing me down from the inside out. The stress of grieving impacts digestion, weakens the heart, and affects nearly every organ. And yet, in the midst of such immense emotional pain, the motivation to take care of yourself is almost nonexistent. How do you focus on eating, sleeping, or exercise when every ounce of your energy is consumed by loss? But that’s exactly what we must do. Not just for ourselves, but for those around us, like Maahir, who still need us, who rely on us for their future. In the fog of grief, it's easy to forget that the body also needs care, just as much as the heart and mind. We may not feel like it, but slowly, step by step, we have to make an effort to nourish and support our physical well-being. The point is, when you’re grieving, you don’t always recognize its toll on your body—not just your mind. The effects are intertwined, and while we can’t stop the emotional pain, we can try to offer our bodies the care they desperately need. If we don’t, the consequences could be long-lasting, affecting not just today, but the future we are still here to live.