The following is a list of some of the more common physical and emotional responses a grieving person may experience:

• Feeling of tightness in the throat or heaviness in the chest.
• An empty feeling in the stomach, loss of appetite (or wanting to snack often).
• Emotional numbness and lack of motivation to do necessary daily tasks.
• Alternating anger and guilt.
• Restlessness in looking for activity, but finding it difficult to focus.
• Feeling as though the loss isn’t real, and expecting to see the one who has died.
• Sensing your loved one’s presence and talking to him or her.
• Wandering aimlessly, unable to finish what you’ve started.
• Difficulty sleeping, exhausted all the time.
• Intense preoccupation with the life of the deceased.
• Dreaming of your loved one frequently, or wanting to.
• Assuming his or her mannerisms or traits.
• Becoming easily frustrated, more irritable than usual.
• Wearing clothes, jewelry or other personal items of your loved one.
• Feeling you need to “take care” of other people who seem uncomfortable around you by not talking about your feelings of loss.
• A need to tell and retell stories of the relationship and the loss.
• Confusion about religious/spiritual beliefs.
• Mood changes over the slightest things.
• Crying often and sometimes unexpectedly.
• Low self-esteem.
• Difficulty thinking (forgetfulness, memory lapses) and making decisions.
• Anger that the world goes on and that you seem so alone in your grief.

Adapted from resource material distributed by Sutter VNA & Hospice, Santa Rosa, CA
Sutter VNA & Hospice Foundation