Common Grief Reactions of Adults
Physical Reactions
- Sleep disturbance
- Appetite disturbance/change in weight
- Indigestion
- Headaches
- Hypersensitivity or hyposensitivity to sights, sounds, smell touch
- Dry mouth
- Tightness in chest
- Hollowness in the stomach
- Lump in throat
- Excessive sweating
- Immune system—greater susceptibility to illness
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness
- Body aches/nausea
Mental Reactions
- Short term memory loss
- Difficulty concentrating, increased errors and accidents
- Confusion, aimlessness
- Preoccupation with the loss, rumination
- Routine takes effort, decreased self-esteem, passivity
- Difficulty making decisions
Emotional Reactions
- A wide range of feelings that may include numbness, anger, sadness
- depression, anxiety, despair loneliness, yearning, vulnerability
- A sense that any expression of emotion may be “out of control”
- Wide mood swings that may be moment to moment initially
Spiritual Reactions
- Why questions
- Anger at God
- A change in beliefs and values
- Change in identity
- Loss or strengthening of faith
- A need to find meaning in the loss
Copyright 1996, Center for Grief, Loss & Transition
Provided by:
Center for Grief Education and Support, Seasons Hospice
1696 Greenview Drive SW, Rochester MN 55902
Phone: 507-285-1930 E-mail: shbp@seasonshospice.org