The Grieving Body

How the Stress of Loss Can Be an Opportunity for Healing

by Mary-Frances O'Connor

On Sale: 02/11/2025

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The Grieving Body

How the Stress of Loss Can Be an Opportunity for Healing

by Mary-Frances O'Connor

On Sale: 02/11/2025

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Amazon Indigo

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About the Book

The follow-up to celebrated grief expert, neuroscientist, and psychologist Dr. Mary-Frances O’Connor’s The Grieving Brain focuses on the impact of grief—and life’s other major stressors—on the human body.

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.

The Grieving Body addresses questions about how bereavement affects us, such as:

Can we die of a broken heart?
What happens in our bodies when we’re grieving?
How do our coping behaviors affect our physical health?
What is the cognitive impact of grief?
Why are we more prone to illness during times of enormous stress?
and more

Research-backed, warm, and empathetic, The Grieving Body is an essential, hopeful read for those experiencing loss as well as their supportive friends and family.

The Grieving Body is illustrated with black-and-white charts and graphs.

Critical Praise

“No one has done more for the science of grief than Mary-Frances O’Connor. Deeply human and wise, The Grieving Body delivers a grounded, logical understanding of the effects of stress and loss on our bodies. O’Connor doesn’t just explain what happens and why, she offers hopeful, beautiful solutions to support ourselves and our world.” — Megan Devine, author of It’s Ok that You’re Not Ok

“With The Grieving Body, O’Connor remarkably combines fascinating science, intimate storytelling, and her generous heart to help us better understand the very human experience of living while grieving - and how to care for ourselves and our loved ones when grief inevitably arrives at our door." – — Lisa Keefauver, MSW, Author of Grief is a Sneaky Bitch: An Uncensored Guide to Navigating Loss

"Mary Frances O'Connor demystifies the grieving process like no one else, offering comfort and understanding when we need it most. The Grieving Body deftly explains the physical changes our bodies undergo after loss and gives us the tools we so desperately need to move through the overwhelming experience of grief. I will be recommending this book to all of my clients.” — Claire Bidwell Smith, therapist and author of Anxiety: The Missing Stage of Grief

"The Grieving Body is an eye-opening read as Dr. O’Connor skillfully combines compassion with scientific insight, offering wisdom alongside practical advice. She emphasizes that loss affects not only our emotions and mental health but also our physical well-being. This book is vital for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of grief and its effects on the body’s various systems. Packed with invaluable insights and meaningful guidance, it is a crucial resource for those who are grieving." — Joanne Cacciatore, PhD, author of Bearing the Unbearable

"a profound and compassionate guide to understanding how grief manifests in the body and how healing can occur on a physical, emotional, and spiritual level. The book is grounded in scientific research, yet it maintains an accessible and empathetic tone, making it a valuable resource for both those experiencing grief and the professionals who support them. By blending scientific insight with practical advice, O’Connor offers a path toward healing that acknowledges the full complexity of the grieving process, validating the physical reality of loss while offering hope for recovery.” — James R. Doty, MD, author of Into the Magic Shop