Wether you realize it or not, you have been living with stress since your loss. You are continually facing new aspects of life that once included your love one… you are living in an on-going state of transition and adjustment.

It’s common to have people talk about stress and grief in the sense of emotions… However, we actually can recognize grief and stress through other ways in addition to the emotions:

• physical symptoms like hand & foot tapping and eating changes
• spiritual disconnect such as losing a sense of purpose or meaning, distrust and even emptiness
• having a hard time focusing, being tired and dull senses are part of our mental indicators of stress
• we may have changes in our relationships like being easily irritable with others, having less patience or wanting to be alone.

This lesson helps you to better understand your symptoms of stress.

Watch the video. Print and complete the handout. You may want to gather come colored pencils, markers or crayons for this activity.

How are you feeling?

Choose your handout: How do you feel Female Worksheet  or  How do you feel Male Worksheet

Take a few minutes to reflect or journal:

Is there a primary area of your life that your grief is being held or impacting? Which is it? OR How is your grief spread among the areas?