Body Blues: The Grief Body: Navigating Loss Through Physical Sensations

Grief is sticky. It has a way of clinging to us, rearing its head when we least expect it. This stickiness often stems from a subconscious unwillingness to let go of parts of ourselves. Releasing grief can feel final, as if we're relinquishing the last tangible connection to what we've lost. This process can be daunting, but it's a necessary step towards healing.

Grief can also feel like a literal hole. Imagine someone punching a hole right through your heart space, leaving you feeling empty and exposed to the winds of change. This visceral sensation of loss can make us feel like a physical part of us is missing. We walk around feeling like half a person, even though others can't see this invisible wound.

Grief can be a heavy weight, immobilizing us and making every action feel like an arduous task. It's as if we're carrying an invisible burden that saps our energy and enthusiasm. It's the weighted blanket that we want to shed.

Grief is a universal human experience, weaving itself into the fabric of our lives. It interlocks with other emotions like anger, fear, sadness, and even joy, creating a complex tapestry that can be both overwhelming and transformative. Exploring and understanding grief—naming the physical sensations, qualities, and feelings—are tools for the journey of healing and self-discovery.

In my personal journey, I discovered the practice of somatic activated healing, which uses dance, meditation, breath, and mantra to confront grief head-on. Instead of running from it or feeling guilty for its presence in my body, I met my grief with care and compassion. These modalities helped me release the emotions that were stuck within me—the sticky, the empty, and the heavy. Through this practice, I found a way to honor my grief and even cultivate gratitude for it. The size of the little grief monster within me diminished, and while sadness may still linger, I can feel it with a sense of compassion and gratitude while the heavy grief that once sat in the driver's seat of my internal landscape.

Although that is my story, I invite you to explore your grief and bring awareness to its presence in your body. What physical or energetic form has your grief taken? How can you greet it with compassion and gratitude? Is there a part of us (and it's not easy) that can thank this grief monster for showing you what it means to be fully human?

Grief, in all its forms, is a testament to our capacity to love and to lose. It's a powerful reminder of our humanity and an opportunity for profound growth. By embracing our grief, we can begin to heal and reclaim our wholeness. It's a journey to say the least, to explore your grief, and to find the path to your own healing and transformation.