Podcast Transcript

Hey, dear listeners. Welcome back to another episode of "Grief Untangled: Untangling the threads of grief, healing, and hope." I'm your host, Coach DD, and Today, we are going to talk about Stress in the context of Grief Response

Let’s start with Understanding Stress Hormones:

In times of stress, the body initiates a complex response known as the "fight or flight" response, and at the forefront of this reaction are stress hormones, mainly cortisol and adrenaline.

Cortisol: 

Think of cortisol as your body's natural alarm system. When something stressful happens, cortisol gets released to help your body deal with the situation. It influences things like your energy levels, inflammation, and sleep patterns.

Adrenaline:

Adrenaline is like your body's superhero hormone. It gets released in moments of stress to prepare you for action. It makes your heart beat faster, opens up your airways, and directs more blood to important parts of your body.

Now, let’s understand the Impact of these hormones on Overall Physiology:

Cardiovascular System:

Stress hormones make your heart beat faster and can raise your blood pressure. If this happens too often, it might put a strain on your heart and increase the chances of heart problems.

Immune System:

In the short term, stress can give your immune system a little boost. But if stress continues for a long time, it can actually weaken your immune system, making you more susceptible to getting sick.

Metabolism:

Cortisol affects how your body handles sugar. In stressful situations, it releases more sugar into your bloodstream for a quick energy boost. But if you're stressed a lot, it might mess with how your body uses insulin, which can lead to health issues.

Central Nervous System:

Stress hormones influence your brain and emotions. Too much stress, especially over a long time, can contribute to feelings of anxiety, depression, and difficulty concentrating.

Finally, let’s understand the relation between Grief and Stress:

Emotional Turmoil:

Grief is a rollercoaster of emotions. The intense feelings of sadness, anger, guilt, and sorrow trigger the release of stress hormones, adding a physical aspect to the emotional pain.

Disruption of Routine:

Losing a loved one shakes up your daily life. This disruption can be stressful as you try to figure out how to navigate life without your loved one.

Uncertainty and Fear:

Grief often comes with uncertainty about the future and fears about the changes that come with loss. These uncertainties and fears activate the body's stress response.

Physical Manifestations of Grief:

Grief doesn't just affect your emotions; it shows up in your body too. Trouble sleeping, changes in appetite, and fatigue are physical signs of grief that also contribute to the overall stress load.

In simpler terms, stress hormones are like your body's emergency team, helping you deal with tough situations. When it comes to grief, the intense emotions and changes in life trigger these hormones, affecting not just your feelings but also your body. It's important to recognize and address both the emotional and physical aspects of grief to support overall well-being.

If you are finding it tough to navigate the stress accompanying grief, I recommend registering  for my free webinar that happens every week (on Fridays) where I help my participants navigate the grief journey with Emotional Resilience. In the webinar, I reveal the essential elements of Resilience, 3 secrets to resilience and introduce you to scientifically researched tools in the area of Grief and Resilience.

The link is available in the channel and episode description for you.

Until next time on "Grief Untangled," this is Coach DD signing off. Have a wonderful day and a weekend.