What does grief feel like?
Grief can feel like many things. Just after a death has occurred, it is very common for you to feel numb and as if you were in shock. This is how your body instinctively reacts to pain. You may experience some of the following physical sensations: Tightness in the chest or throat, difficulty breathing, irritability to noise, the feeling that nothing is real, muscle weakness, lack of energy, dry mouth, or trouble sleeping and eating. This is a good time to check with your own physician, especially if any of these conditions seem overwhelming or persist. You may also find yourself searching for your loved one. The forms of searching may range from dreams that seem as real as life, all the way to hallucinations caused by familiar sounds, smells, and sights. These may come when you least expect them, ca using you to be caught off-guard and unprepared. This searching is normal, and is an important part of adjusting to your loss.
