How Grief Affects the Body: Physical Symptoms, the 6 Stages of Grief, and Finding Meaning After Loss with David Kessler

hol+ with Dr. Taz MD | The Future of Medicine is Holistic · Aug 4, 2026 · 54m · transcript

Can grief cause physical symptoms? Learn how loss may affect cortisol, inflammation, hormone balance, heart health, sleep, energy, and the nervous system. Grief is not only an emotional experience. It can affect the brain and body, yet many people feel pressured to stay strong, move on, or process their loss alone. In this episode, grief expert David Kessler explains what grief does to us physically and emotionally, why grief must be witnessed, and how meaningful healing can begin.

We explore the five stages of grief, why they are not linear, and the misconceptions surrounding denial, anger…