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Typical Grief Reactions

These are reactions to grief as well as symptoms of grief. They can occur one at a time, in combinations and clusters, and over a period of time.  Although they will not continue indefinitely, some reactions may last longer than others. Their occurrence may be alleviated or reduced to some extent, by talking about them with a trusted and understanding listener.

Physical Reactions/Symptoms

Mental Cognitive Reactions/Symptoms

Emotional Reactions/Symptoms

Social Reactions/Symptoms

Behavioral Reactions/Symptoms

Spiritual Reactions/Symptoms

Physical Reactions/Symptoms

• Numbness
• Dry Mouth
• Shakiness and Dizziness
• Sleep and Appetite Disturbances
• Digestive Problems and Nausea
• Tightness in Throat and Chest
• Restlessness/Over-Activity
• Loss of Interest in Sex
• Lack of Muscular Strength
• Headaches, Body Aches and Pains
• Crying Episodes
• Oversensitivity to Noise
• Breathing Difficulty
• Exhaustion and Fatigue
• Hollowness in Stomach
• Increased Perspiration
• Increased Heart Rate

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Mental Cognitive Reactions/Symptoms

• Difficulty Making Decisions and Concentrating
• Denying the Reality of Death
• Sensing the Presence of the Deceased
• Fear of “Losing One’s Mind and “Going Crazy”
• Hallucinations (Visual and Auditory)
• Sense that Nothing is Real or Life is Moving in Slow Motion
• Preoccupation with Thoughts about the Deceased
• Shock
• Insecurity
• Confusion
• Forgetfulness
• “If Only” Regrets
• Sense of Unreality
• Absentmindedness

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Emotional Reactions/Symptoms

• Denial
• Guilt
• Bitterness
• Sense of Failure
• Self-pity
• Anger
• Remorse
• Relief
• Mood Swings
• Overwhelmed
• Abandoned
• Intolerance
• Hatred
• Shock
• Despair
• Panic
• Resentment
• Gladness
• Sadness
• Anxiety
• Fearfulness
• Loneliness
• Hostility

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Social Reactions/Symptoms

• Wanting Others to be Around
• Wanting to Talk About the Deceased
• Withdrawing from Usual Social Activities
• Not Wanting Others to Talk About the Deceased
• Feeling a Loss off Warmth In Relationship to Others
• Acting Angry or Hostile
• Bland Reactions to Others
• Irritable Responses
• Wanting to Be Alone
• Avoiding Friends and Family

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Behavioral Reactions/Symptoms

• Avoiding Reminders of the Deceased
• Loss of Interest in Personal Appearance
• Restlessness, Over-Activity and Aimless Wandering
• Visiting Places that Remind Survivor of Deceased
• Carrying Objects that Remind Survivor of Deceased
• Increased Use of Tobacco, Alcohol, Prescribed Medications, and/or Illegal Drugs
• Need to Tell and Re-Tell the Experience of Deceased’s Dying and Death
• Inactivity and Lethargy
• Impatience with Self and Others
• Sighing, Moaning and Sobbing        
• Calling Out for the Loved-One
• Inability to Organize Activity
• Short-Tempered and Irritable
• Forgetting to Finish Things
• Increased Risk-Taking

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Spiritual Reactions/Symptoms

• Anguish
• Angry With God
• Spiritual Emptiness
• Questioning How and Why This Could Happen
• Feelings of Being Abandoned by God
• Establishing Faith and Beliefs
• Uncertainty of Life After Death
• Questioning “Why Me?”
• Feeling of Despair
• Questioning Priorities
• Renewing Faith and Beliefs
• Finding Meaning
• Finding Comfort
• Uncertainty of Heaven and Hell

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