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April 8, 2004 |
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Depression Surviving Grief: Caring for Your Body There are many nurturing activities you can participate in to help with the healing process. The slow and gentle practice of meditation and yoga can help you begin to feel more calm and balanced. Writing your thoughts and feelings in a journal can also help you as you move through the mourning process. A strong network of friends and family can be quite powerful, and will remind you of all the positives that are still in your life, despite the loss of a loved one. Additionally, you may find it helpful to work with a grief counselor or join a grief support group. Grief can severely impair your health if it is not recognized and treated appropriately. I’ve seen patients develop health issues as varied as cancer, pneumonia, and immune dysfunction within the first year of losing a loved one. In fact, one study found that the risk of death doubled for men and women in the seven to twelve months after the death of a spouse. Boost Your Immune Function Because your body has been weakened by stress, fatigue, and possibly lack of sleep, it is crucial to protect your immune system during this vulnerable time. I have found that colostrum is a wonderful immune-system booster and energy restorer. Take 2,000 to 3,000 mg once or twice a day with 8 ounces of water on an empty stomach. Wait 20 minutes before eating or taking additional supplements. I have experienced the negative effects of grief on my own immune system. Shortly after the death of my father some years ago, I began to cough and sneeze every time I went near my bed. I realized I had suddenly become allergic to down comforters, something that had never bothered me before. Obviously this was a physical manifestation of the grief I was feeling over the sudden loss of my father. To this day, I do not use any bedding that contains feathers, probably because a piece of me is still sad that he is gone. It’s Not Just Stress Many people will attribute any physical or emotional symptoms to stress alone. Through years of clinical experience as well as detailed research, I have seen how grief can trigger many physical and chemical changes within our bodies. My friend Terry lost her father to heart disease. During his illness, she spent many hours on the phone with him, frequently flying cross country to visit him. Toward the end of his illness and after his death, Terry began to feel very shaky and lost a lot of weight. She ignored these symptoms for awhile, thinking that they were due to stress. When she finally went to her internist, she discovered she had an overactive thyroid, which required immediate treatment. Terry’s experience highlights the importance of having a medical check up within the first year of experiencing a major loss, since grief can trigger so many physical and chemical changes within our bodies.
Read More on Depression: Getting Started Quiz: How Balanced are Your Neurotransmitters? Keep it SIMPLE tip Secret Weapon Against Depression Nutritional Therapies Neurotransmitters Are Derived From Nutrients in Your Diet SAMe – the Natural Antidepressant Complementary Therapies Depression Release Breathing Exercise Yoga Pose for Depression Relief
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