How Are Grief and Stress Similar?

Grief

When yourebereaved, you are mourning the loss of someone important to you.

Common responses include:cryinga lot, trouble sleeping, inability to concentrate and loss of appetite.

Unhappy young man sitting on bed with cup of coffee

Westend61/Getty

Grief can alsonegatively impact your bodyby exacerbating digestive problems and increasing inflammation, joint pain and headaches.

Grief can lower your immunity.

Most people will grieve a while and then get back to daily living.

Stress is your body’s response to that strain or threat.

Of course,how you perceive the stresswill shape that response.

They are similar as you’ve got the option to see to signs of grief.

How Are Grief and Stress Different?

Grief usually will occur in waves.

Then you return to feeling okay.

That intense form of grief many feel at the beginning usually subsides as the weeks and months pass.

Though youre down and still miss that person, its not pervasive and persistent asdepressionusually manifests itself.

Stress can come and go, but its causes are different.

Those who are stressed feel too much pressure often about things such as finances, work or relationships.

Stress triggers the bodys fight-or-flight reaction.

Broken Heart Syndrome

Being heartbroken after loss is no slight matter.

A study revealed an alarming trend.

Therefore its imperative to seek help from your physician and mental health counselors if your grief and stress persist.

Destructive Ways to Cope

Most would agree letting grief and stress take over isnt the best solution.

Writing might be one good way to help you come to terms with your loss.

Expressing deep emotions can ease the grief.

Those who suppress their feelings might be increasing muscle tension, heart rate and blood pressure.

Writing is good because it boosts mood and the sense of well-being as well as immunity.

Writing can be therapeutic.

Scientists believe that writing can support an individuals emotional functioning and help a person cope with stressful events.

2021;10(20):e019583.

2021;17(1):53-69.

Published 2021 Feb 26. doi:10.5964/ejop.2089