Signs That Grief Is Impacting Your Daily Life & How to Heal

Grief is a natural response to loss; we’ll all experience it eventually. While grieving is a normal and healthy process, it can sometimes become overwhelming and impact your daily life in subtle ways. Recognizing the signs that grief is interfering with your ability to get through the day is the first step toward healing.

You’re having difficulty concentrating

Grief can cause “brain fog,” making it hard to focus on tasks. You might be unable to concentrate at work or school or even forget the small things on your to-do list. If you’re having difficulty concentrating, try breaking your tasks into smaller, more manageable pieces.

For example, instead of saying, “I’ll clean the whole house today,” plan out your tasks room by room. Allow yourself to take breaks when needed, and show grace if you mess up.

You can’t get a good night’s sleep

Grief can disrupt your sleeping patterns, leading to insomnia or excessive sleeping. You may be tossing and turning at night, unable to turn off your thoughts. This can lead to napping throughout the day, which fuels the problem. Practice good sleep hygiene by avoiding caffeine and alcohol. It’s also best to limit screen time to an hour before bed. Getting a total of eight hours of sleep is important for processing emotions and fighting depression.

You’re isolating from others

When grieving, you may feel overwhelmed by basic social interactions. The thought of laughing and making small talk can seem too much to bear. You might avoid spending time with friends and family or engaging in activities you once enjoyed. While it’s natural to need some time alone to process your feelings, a long period of isolation can worsen these feelings of loneliness and depression. Reach out to the people closest to you. Get outside the house for a short walk each day, even if you go alone. Connecting with others and being out in the world will go a long way to easing your pain.

Your emotions are difficult to control

Grief can cause intense emotional reactions that may catch you off guard. You might experience sudden outbursts of anger, overwhelming sadness, or numbness and detachment. These feelings can also feel disproportionate to the situation—bursting into tears at picking up the wrong coffee order or yelling at your partner for not making the bed properly. Acknowledge these emotions but work to express them in healthier ways. Consider talking to a close friend, journaling, practicing mindfulness, or making art or music. Bottling up your feelings or dismissing them can actually prolong the grieving process.

Your body hurts

Often, an intense emotional and psychological experience such as grief doesn’t just take a toll on the mind. You might be feeling more aches and pains than usual. Your limbs might feel extra heavy. Maybe you’re struggling with a persistent headache or migraine. Pay attention to places your body hurts that you might typically dismiss—they could be connected to your grief. Finding self-care activities that work best to relieve these pains, such as long baths, meditation, gentle yoga, or making your bedroom a quiet sanctuary, is essential.

Are you coping with a major loss?

No one should grieve alone. Consider talking to a therapist—not to “speed up” the grieving process, but to move through it mindfully and healthily. Therapy sessions can give you the space to process the loss, learn to move forward, and take care of yourself on this journey.

To learn more about how grief counseling can help you cope with grief, please contact us.