‘Grief brain’ is real: Understanding how loss impacts health and strategies to navigate through it

If you’re grieving, you may experience several different mental and physical effects. (Halfpoint Images/Getty Images)

Grief is an unfortunate but universal experience. We will all have to grieve something or someone at some point. But weirdly, we don’t talk enough about grief and its effects on our mental and physical health as we mourn our losses. They can be many, varied and intense. We spoke to senior clinical psychologist Jénine Smith, who specialises in loss and bereavement, to shed light on how grief can affect our immune system, heart, digestion, and even our cognitive function. She also offers practical tips for managing these symptoms and provides guidance on how to support someone who is grieving.

Grief can make you more susceptible to illness

Research shows that grief can weaken our immune system, making us more susceptible to infections and inflammation. This can happen due to chronic inflammation, reduced immune cell function, and a compromised response to vaccinations and illnesses.” It’s essential to be aware of these effects and take care of our physical and mental well-being during difficult times,” says Smith.