Grief attacks: sudden panic-like surges that can accompany mourning

Sudden surges of anguish known as “grief attacks” can overwhelm people who are mourning, experts say. Jane Griffin, 71, of Arizona described being unexpectedly seized by intense anxiousness after her husband’s death, saying a small reminder could “send me on a downhill spiral.” Researchers and therapists use several names for the phenomenon — pangs of grief, grief spasms or loss-related panic — and a recent study surveyed 247 bereaved adults who reported having experienced grief attacks, nearly half of them once or twice a day.

The study found these episodes often presented with panic-attack symptoms such as shaking, sweating, numbness and dizziness, alongside aspects of grief like yearning, despair or a breakdown in coherent thinking. Grief attacks can be triggered by reminders of a loved one but often arise unexpectedly during quiet moments, Robert A.

Neimeyer and other experts said. Clinicians offer coping strategies similar to those for panic attacks, including slow belly breathing, repetitive physical movements, cold water and focusing on a comforting image; some clinicians also view grief attacks as potentially therapeutic if they help a person confront the reality of a loss.

Experts caution that grief attacks are concerning if they put someone in physical danger, persist too long, fail to decrease over time or interfere with daily functioning.

Key Topics

Health, Grief Attacks, Panic Attack, Jane Griffin, Robert A. Neimeyer, Therese A. Rando