How Grief Lives in the Body- How Bodywork Supports Healing

Grief is often thought of as purely emotional, but anyone who has experienced deep loss knows that it also has a profound effect on the body. It changes the way we breathe, how we hold ourselves, how we sleep, and even how our nervous system functions. When left unacknowledged, grief doesn’t simply fade away — it can become stored in the body, creating patterns of tension and imbalance that eventually show up as physical health problems.

How Grief Shows Up Physically

Grief is stress. And like any stressor, the body responds by tightening, bracing, and protecting itself. Some of the most common physical signs of stored grief include:

• Tightness in the chest or shoulders – shallow breathing and a feeling of heaviness

• Digestive upset – changes in appetite, nausea, or abdominal tension

• Chronic fatigue – the body using energy to suppress emotional pain

• Neck and jaw tension – clenching against tears or unexpressed emotion

• Weakened immune system – higher susceptibility to illness and slower recovery

• Chronic pain – unprocessed grief can settle in the fascia, muscles, and connective tissues

  
  

When grief isn’t expressed or processed, these physical patterns can harden over time. The body "remembers" the pain, and without gentle release, it can lead to long-term issues such as chronic pain syndromes, cardiovascular problems, anxiety, or depression.

The Role of Bodywork in Releasing Grief

Bodywork provides a safe space to begin softening those layers of physical and emotional holding. Massage therapy, myofascial release, lymphatic work, and energy-based practices like Reiki all work on different levels of the body’s systems to support healing.

Here’s how bodywork helps:

• Restores the breath: Releasing tightness in the chest and diaphragm allows for deeper, more nourishing breathing.

• Soothes the nervous system: Gentle touch signals safety, helping shift the body out of fight-or-flight into rest-and-digest.

• Softens protective tension: Massage and fascial work ease the "armor" the body builds in response to grief.

• Encourages emotional release: Sometimes tears surface on the massage table. This is a healthy, natural response to letting go.

• Supports long-term resilience: By addressing the body’s physical storage of grief, we prevent it from manifesting as chronic illness later on.

Moving Forward with Compassion

Healing from grief is not about rushing through the pain but about creating space for it to move. Bodywork doesn’t erase grief — nothing can — but it helps soften the body’s burden so you can carry it with more ease.

If you are grieving, consider giving your body the same care and compassion you give your heart. Your body remembers, but with gentle support, it can also release.