What Does Grief Feel Like? (Emotionally & Physically)
What Does Grief Feel Like?
Grief is not just emotional. It affects your thoughts, your behaviors, your body, and sometimes your spiritual or existential beliefs. Many people are surprised by how physical grief feels. If you’re wondering whether what you’re experiencing is normal, you’re not alone.
Grief Is More Than Sadness
People often expect grief to feel like sadness. But many describe it as a bundled-up box of emotions, multiple feelings happening all at once.
You might experience:
Sadness and anger in the same hour
Relief and guilt together
Numbness followed by intense emotion
Anxiety, fear, or irritability
A sense of meaninglessness or questioning your beliefs
Grief is rarely one emotion at a time. It can feel layered and unpredictable.
The Cognitive Effects of Grief
Grief can impact how you think. Many people report:
Brain fog
Forgetfulness
Trouble concentrating
Difficulty making decisions
Re-reading the same sentence multiple times
This is often called “grief brain,” and it’s a common reaction after a significant loss.
The Physical Symptoms of Grief
Grief is stored in the body. It can feel heavy, almost like you’re physically carrying something.
Common physical symptoms of grief include:
Extreme exhaustion
Sleep disruption
Headaches
Stomachaches or digestive changes
Muscle tension or body aches
Tightness in the chest
Changes in appetite
Research shows that stress levels increase during grief, and inflammation in the body can rise. This can make you feel run down and more susceptible to illness. You’re not imagining it. Grief can truly be physical.
Behavioral and Spiritual Shifts
You may also notice changes in how you behave or see the world:
Withdrawing from others
Losing interest in activities you once enjoyed
Avoiding certain places or conversations
Questioning your faith or long-held beliefs
Feeling different from who you used to be
Loss has a way of shaking the foundation of how we understand life.
If this sounds familiar, it's because grief can feel overwhelming, as it impacts so many areas at once. It isn’t “just” emotional. It’s a full-body, full-life experience.
If you want to hear real conversations about what grief actually feels like, including grief brain, physical symptoms, and emotional waves, we talk openly about this on the GRIEF Ladies podcast, as well as tools to help you with these feelings and symptoms. New episodes come out every Wednesday as we go through our GRIEF Ladies Framework- Grieving, Rebuilding, Interacting, Evolving, and Finding.