Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
Grief is a natural response to losing someone or something deeply significant, such as through death or major life changes, and affects people both emotionally and physically. Researchers emphasize that grief is not experienced in a uniform or linear fashion but varies widely among individuals. Responses may include sadness, anger, numbness, restlessness, or guilt, with no set timeline for recovery, according to experts including Dr. Wendy Lichtenthal and Dr. Sarah Stahl.
Lichtenthal's research on meaning-centered grief therapy, particularly with parents who have lost a child, indicates that therapy can help individuals shift the meanings they associate with grief and loss, strengthening their sense of meaning in life and connection to the deceased. This approach focuses on coexistence with grief rather than moving on, finding ways to stay engaged with life while maintaining bonds with loved ones who have passed.
Grief also manifests physically, causing symptoms such as headaches, loss of appetite, fatigue, dizziness, and sleep difficulties. Older adults who lose a spouse may face compounded challenges from health issues and social isolation, which can intensify grief. Stahl's study on older adults used an online program with daily digital check-ins and health coaching to rebuild routines for sleep, meals, and physical activity, resulting in improvements in depression and anxiety symptoms despite the lack of in-person contact.