What Is Grief-Induced Anxiety and How Can You Cope?

While most people recognize feelings like depression, anger, or guilt after a loss, less attention is given to the anxiety that can accompany grief. Grief-induced anxiety can manifest as physical symptoms like insomnia, panic attacks, or muscle tension, as well as emotional issues such as intrusive thoughts or restlessness. Here’s a brief overview of what it entails:

What Is Grief-Induced Anxiety?

Grief-induced anxiety is the onset of fear or worry following a loss. It can take various forms:

1. Worry about loved ones: You may feel anxious about the safety and health of others after a loss, leading to sleep troubles and a need to control situations you can’t.

2. Concerns about mortality: The death of a loved one can heighten your awareness of your own mortality, causing obsessive scrutiny of your health and panic over new symptoms.

3. Existential dread: You might experience feelings that life is meaningless, leading to detachment from routine and difficulty staying present.

4. Anxiety about grieving: You may feel overwhelmed by the grieving process, fearing you’ll never recover or resist facing emotions like sadness.

5. Escape behaviors: Some resort to numbing strategies for relief, which can complicate grief and hinder healing.

6. Physical symptoms: Grief-induced anxiety can cause issues such as stomach pains, headaches, and muscle spasms.

7. Specific phobias: A significant loss may trigger fears related to that experience, like anxiety about driving after a traumatic death.

8. Hyper-control: To cope with grief, some become perfectionistic or overly controlling, mistakenly believing it can prevent future losses.

Recognizing these signs is essential for coping with grief-induced anxiety and finding healthier ways to navigate the grieving process.