How does grief affect our physical health?

Question

Could someone explain in detail the effects of grief on our physical health and why it causes pain?

Answer 1

Thank you for reading. If you enjoyed this topic and episode, please express your appreciation.
Thank you for your interest in science!   -- Andrew

Comments

Thank you <3 My dog died in February, he was 17, we were one for 11 years, always playing outside, for hours. I did not really have parents or family, my best friend died when I was 14, a lot of abuse in my house. Loss, grief, and celebrating what there was and is, it is such an important, impactful subject. I have been frozen since February, it's summer, I know, but I just can't leave the house for long. I am going to listen to this episode. Love to all beings, culture and nature.

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❤❤❤

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Comment ❤❤

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He used to have Blond Hair. His beef jerky and sponges have been delivered to Stanford.  Love, Elizabeth.

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WAIT. DID YOU WANT TO KILL WHITNEY BC YOU THOUGHT SCHULZ AND HER DATED AND HAD SEX? WERE YOU MORE IN LOVE WITH SCHULZ? I NEED FACTS.

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YEAH. I TRIED TO SEE HUBERMAN WITH COMPASSION AND LOVE BUT I DESPISE HIM AS MUCH AS I DESPISE ANDREW SCHULZ AND CHRIS DISTEFANO.

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THANK YOU FOR THE GUESTS WHO ARE SHOWING SUPPORT FOR WHITNEY AND ME. THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.

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ERASE? PAY ME. NOT BLACKMAIL. MY VOICE MATTERS MORE THAN YOURS HUBERMAN, ANDREW.

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Thank you.

Answer 2

I am living proof you can suffer heart issues after major loss. Hence the term: broken heart. Within a few months time I lost both parents and a sibling, 3 funerals in a short period, lost a beloved 15 year old pet, a best friend and at the peak of my business, had to walk away because I could barely catch my breath. Ended up in ER four times due to heart palpitations. Turns out my broken heart and grief overwhelmed my nervous system. I went on small dosage heart RX and sought counsel from a wise 85 yr old therapist to process the 5 stages of grief. I’m doing great now. Thank you for this very important topic.

Comments

And it’s been now revealed 5 stages are not linear and come in waves

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therapy was well and thorough, one can pass through those waves very smoothly.

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Jenny Florence, Accredited Councellor 26 Yrs Going Through her Own Immense Immediate Family Incredible Loss and Shock. Wrote a Book about Emotions and Wellness ... Mindfulness meets Awareness...and a Huge Career..Or More...Purpose Change Life. To help Process and Understanding ❤️❤️❤️

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Glad you are doing well !

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What does 'RX' mean? This is not a standard abbreviation here in the UK. Kind thank you.

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means prescription medication.

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The medical term for a broken heart is Takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

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Aaaaw sending you the BIGGEST hug ❤ I’m so sorry you had to go through all that, heartbreaking literally, but happy to hear you are better. I am with you on the nervous system and healing the heart, I had similar experience healing mine as my intuition said if I just heal my mind and nervous system I will be fine. Still alive despite what I was told. All the best from the French alps ❄️

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is a Latin abbreviation for a prescription. Pretty much used in modern day as a doctors prescribed medication

Answer 3

Going through the hardest breakup of my life. This is what I needed

Comments

Hang in there. Andrew's single content on Grief also helps. He also mentions Mary-Frances there. I'm looking forward to reading this one as well.

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Hi, I see and hear you. Break ups fucking suck. I hope you find comfort soon.

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Break ups? My wife lost her breast, lost her hair, and suffered for years with cancer until she died. If you are young, and going thru a break up, try again! What does someone do after caring for a loved one for years in terror? Try again?!?

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Grief comes in many forms. Try pausing before reacting to someone else's pain when it doesn't meet your own. I wish you solace in your loss.

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I hoped to provide the break up ppl with some perspective. …and that’s I never wished myself dead or heart attack after a “break up”. Thanks for your input, and ideas as to finding solace, I’m open? So far, she is saying grief is natural? Others say love is our nature? Which is it?

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It is hard to leave and even harder to be left. Regardless, I have been there many times in my 50+ years of life on both sides of the coin.
What has helped me is having a dog to co-regulate your heart and getting a couple of new sets of sheets to lessen the scent of the other.
Take good care of yourself. Love will come again.

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, you try again. Condolences to you and yours.

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a dog and trying again is what they all say. You ever try to paint something pretty with only black colors?

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I’m so sorry for your loss- this grief is just as strong as any that someone can feel. I pray you heal soon

Answer 4

Grief is just love with nowhere to go. If you’re here reading, you’re not alone. Sending love to anyone hurting today ❤️

Comments

Thank you, I am taking all of it very hard.

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Thanks, sending you good vibes

Answer 5

Dr. O'Connor's explanation of grief as a natural process tied to love and attachment really resonated with me. Grieving isn't something to fix—it's something to understand and live through. Thank you both for sharing these insights with such compassion and clarity.

Answer 6

My grandmother passed this morning and I’m struggling. Perfect timing, thank you

Comments

Sincerest condolences. I will be thinking of you.

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Condolences to you

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❤

Answer 7

Been grieving the loss of my husband of 34 years.... he took his own life almost 2 years ago and I gotta say year two is worse than year 1. The heaviness of grief can take my breath away.  I'll carry it forever and that thought can be exhausting

Answer 8

Oddly enough, I always feel like I’m grieving someone. Lost love. Lost fur babies. I’ve even been grieving the missed opportunity to have a good relationship with my dad. I needed this today. Thank you so much.

Answer 9

I’m red eye crying because both are describing just what I’m feeling. I had a dream about my dad approving of a big purchase. And I have not been able to shake the feeling of his loss even after sharing with my siblings.
This content definitely helps me understand the loss process.

Answer 10

I lost my 11 year old daughter in 2013. The point at which she was gone longer than she was here has been a hard thing to sit with. It seemed like just yesterday that she passed but that her life was so long and full. How can that be? I live in beautiful San Diego and her death was on June 19th and it also feels terrible that the sun shines on that day even though it’s always shining here anyways. I have found that I sit alone in my grief mostly because I know others have loss and I don’t want anyone to feel like theirs isn’t important if I’m outwardly crying about my own. So much to unpack, I know. Thank you for doing an episode on this topic. I’m having to digest it in small doses but will get through it all. Much love to you and keeping science real. ❤

Answer 11

I wrote my first novel, "A Broken Hallelujah" to deal with my own grief and to explore how many types of grief affect our choices and life's trajectory. As my brother just passed last week, I am using that as a guide on how to move through it.

Comments

I am truly sad for your loss, keep him close in your heart.

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How and why did you loose your brother? I am so sorry.

Answer 12

This would have been helpful to me a decade ago. When I finally had a minute to grieve the loss of my marriage and dream, I became completely unhinged and unrecognizable as I sought dopamine through unhealthy situations. Glad it's being talked about.

Answer 13

I took care of my husband (who had end stage lung disease)for 4 yrs and lost him in my arms at home last May. It was the death he wanted and we got to say all we needed to. That said, one year later I continue to be LOST.  My children are grown, and his side of our family is grieving, so I find myself slowly deteriorating as I compartmentalize my grief.
I had no idea how traumatic it would be to turn off his breathing equipment and see his limbs turn purple as he died.  I am an Occupational therapist by trade, so I’m so grateful I was able to care for him, but I sure have no desire to go back to healthcare. Now that I’m on a fixed income I mostly live in sadness and fear.
Thank you for this podcast.

Comments

Thank You so much for the love and support for late husband. Thank you for the sacrifices you’ve made. Others will tell u to get a dog, or try again at love, but they don’t full understand what is happening. My profession was not health care, yet cared for my wife who also suffered a lot. The coldness of the hands when they pass away, the terror and horror we have experienced, I don’t know who can help with this? While Andrew and Mary were writing books, we were holding hands. I’ve tried to move forward, and ya get more pain.

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I hope you can get better, my son died, and a couple of months later, my soul dog, that held me through, it's incredibly hard to get through, you'll never forget, because you loved, but maybe, you'll find a new purpose, that holds you true

Answer 14

Hollyhocks are blooming like crazy in my garden. Every time I walk by them, I think of my Mom. When I was a little girl, she told me they were her favorite flower. I'm not sure they really were her overall favorite, but in that moment they were, and hollyhocks always take me right back there.

Answer 15

I have lost both parents. My dad suddenly of an aneurysm 22 years ago. My mother 2 years ago to an adverse reaction to an RX—so a few months, but nothing like cancer or dementia where there’s extended planning/preparation time like with her siblings. For me, the sudden was worse. But there could be a few other factors like I was only 33, I am a daddy’s girl, and he was my first parent to go. Thank you for this episode!

Answer 16

Thank you for posting this very important topic, Andrew.
O'Connor's book "The Grieving Brain" helped me immensely in understanding my process after the loss of my spouse. Grief is a continuous journey that has no end, but you do get better at navigating the course. Understanding how it affects you physically and neurologically offers you the grace you need to move onward with hope.

Answer 17

My father passed away last year, and recently I lost my dog, who meant the world to me. Thank you Dr. Huberman, for everything that you do.

Answer 18

I am learning how to live with the loss of my beautiful Frida, my soul-dog, my best friend ever. When I spontaneously start looking for her and then realize she is not here, I find her inside my heart.

Comments

I totally understand, I feel the same with my loss of my pets, being parrots, especially those that became ill and even with veterinarian intervention I couldn't save them... accept keep them cuddled with me until the end. Most people understand the grief of a dog or cat, but don't understand how precious birds are as well. I wish you the best in healing.

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Same. My brain still expects to see the dog chillin' in his crate when I come down the stairs every morning. I'll never forget how soft his ears were, and I'll always be looking for the light on his collar in the darkness when I sit on the back porch at night.

Answer 19

Going through an incredibly tough time after a divorce, health and financial issues and tragic loss of a friend in 6 months. I'm a skater from Sydney from back in the 90's and ended up moving into medical technology.
I just wanted to say thanks, Andrew, for getting me through another lonely week, mate. You give a lot of us sad souls a bit of hope, and with practical protocols I can do, even in this dark place is everything right now.
I don't think I'd be alive this month if it wasn't for your podcast brother. Keep up the good work ❤

Comments

Hi Ken sounds like you’ve had a nightmare time lately and I’m so sorry for your losses and troubles. Hang in there, things will get better in time. Just wanted to say hi from the UK

Answer 20

My wife is about to be tested for Huntington’s. We’ve been stuck in a space of potential grief for years. It’s been a journey of learning to accept the impermanence of life - nobody is guaranteed tomorrow, but it’s hard to embrace that idea.

Comments

Thank You for caring for her and loving her as you are doing. Be grateful she is still alive. I can't speak for what to do after a loved one passes. I listen to these scientists who haven't a clue about real grief, or know how to handle the horrors of tumors and convulsions, but write books and talk abundantly about navigating their wonder filled lives.