Grief doesn’t just Live in the Heart. It Lives in the Body.

I’ve seen it lodge in the chest, tighten the jaw, and settle deep into the hips.

Left unacknowledged, it weighs down sleep, narrows the breath, and even weakens immunity.

But here’s the gift: the body also knows how to release. With simple, gentle practices, sorrow can shift into softness.

1. The physical cost of unprocessed grief.

• Chronic muscle guarding and restless sleep.
• Shallow breath that keeps the nervous system in defense mode.
• Low-grade inflammation that drains energy over time.

2. Somatic cues grief may still be unresolved.

• Tightness in the chest or throat under even mild stress.
• Recurring heaviness or numbness in the body without new injury.
• Sudden waves of tears, fatigue, or fog that seem to arise from nowhere.

3. A simple release practice.

• Orient: Place your feet on the ground, soften your gaze, and name three sensations in your body.
• Breathe: Move gently toward the tightness, then away. Pair this with long, steady exhales – one hand on your heart or belly for safety.
• Integrate: Write one sentence about what shifted. Then take a small compassionate action: drink water, call a friend, or walk outside.

Sometimes healing begins not with “moving on,” but with letting the body move through.

Where has grief shown up in your body?