The grieving body How the stress of loss can be an opportunity for healing

Mary-Frances O'Connor

Book - 2025

"Coping with death and grief is one of the most painful human experiences. While we can speak to the psychological and emotional ramifications of loss and sorrow, we often overlook its impact on our physical bodies. Dr. Mary-Frances O'Connor specializes in the study of grief, and in The Grieving Body she shares vital scientific research, revealing imperative new insights on its profound physiological impact. As she did in The Grieving Brain, O'Connor combines illuminating studies and personal stories to explore the toll loss takes on our cardiovascular, endocrine, and immune systems and the larger implications for our long-term well-being"--

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Subjects
Genres
Informational works
Published
New York, NY : HarperOne, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers [2025]
Language
English
Main Author
Mary-Frances O'Connor (author)
Edition
First edition
Physical Description
288 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 261-273) and index.
ISBN
9780063338906
  • When a part of "us" has been cut away
  • The heart
  • The immune system
  • The endocrine system
  • The liver and lungs
  • The brain
  • The sympathetic nervous sytem
  • Energy and motivation
  • Healthy habits
  • Awareness, attention, intention, and purpose
  • Love and social connection.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

In this wise and lucid guide, O'Connor (The Grieving Brain), a professor of psychology at the University of Arizona, examines the ways grief wreaks havoc on the brain and body and how those effects can be mitigated. Drawing from scientific research and personal experience--including her mother's early death from cancer and her own multiple sclerosis diagnosis--O'Connor catalogues the physiological changes that can result from loss, as blood pressure and cortisol levels spike and a weakened immune system makes the body more susceptible to infection. As she explains, those effects are partly because close relationships "regulate our physiology," stimulating the production of such feel-good chemicals as oxytocin; their sudden withdrawal is akin to a piece of one's own body being "cut away." But by noticing signs of stress, readers can use the grieving process to heal both physically and emotionally--for example, by viewing reduced energy levels as motivation to prioritize what's important. Throughout, O'Connor balances sharp scientific insights with elegant observations about the nature of loss. The result is sure to be a balm for mourners. (Feb.)

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Review by Library Journal Review

In her second book on grief, O'Connor (psychology, Univ. of Arizona; The Grieving Brain) addresses grieving and bereavement, processes that are often disregarded in society. This title serves as a guide to anyone hoping to reduce the suffering that emerges after a loss. O'Connor recognizes that grief has both physiological and emotional effects, and the initial chapters examine the physical and potential medical impacts of grief on the cardiovascular system, liver, lungs, brain, immune system, and sympathetic nervous system. The second section considers grief as an opportunity for healing. O'Connor provides a toolkit of coping strategies to assist in the healing process, including establishing healthy eating habits, treating insomnia or sleep issues, employing mediation or mindfulness techniques, addressing loneliness, and showing oneself compassion and kindness. The book cites medical journals and includes data in some chapters, which are still approachable for lay readers. O'Connor also discusses significant theories, such as attachment and cognitive stress theory, to explain death's impact. She emphasizes that people who are grieving often don't get enough time off work (especially in the U.S.), which can heighten the physical impacts. VERDICT An excellent choice for readers seeking bereavement support.--Erica Swenson Danowitz

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