Grief/Loss

At some point in your life, you’ve likely heard the phrase that someone “died of a broken heart.” In most cases, people use this expression to refer to someone who fell into depression or deep sadness following the death of a loved one and eventually died without coming to a place of healing. But did you know that broken heart syndrome is a real thing and affects a small number of people every year? Let’s talk about it.

What is Broken Heart Syndrome?

Broken heart syndrome, also called stress cardiomyopathy or takotsubo cardiomyopathy, occurs when there’s a disruption of blood flow to the heart. The heart’s normal rhythm is interrupted, and the heart temporarily enlarges. This disruption is caused by extreme physical or emotional stress. Because the death of a loved one can trigger extreme stress, it’s not uncommon for cases of broken heart syndrome to coincide with a loss.

When you experience a stressful event, your body produces hormones and proteins, like adrenaline, to help you cope. However, in some rare cases, a section of heart muscle may become overwhelmed or stunned by the introduction of so much adrenaline. To compensate, the arteries narrow, causing a temporary decrease in blood flow to the heart. As a result, you may experience chest pain and shortness of breath.

What are the Symptoms?

Perhaps the two most common symptoms are chest pain and shortness of breath. Because of that, broken heart syndrome is sometimes confused with a heart attack. However, a heart attack occurs because of clogged arteries while broken heart syndrome happens when the heart can’t contract properly. In other words, a person with no history of heart ailments can still experience broken heart syndrome.

A few more symptoms to watch for are sweating, dizziness, low blood pressure, nausea, fainting, irregular heartbeat, or heart palpitations. After the stressful event begins, a person may experience these symptoms almost immediately or it may be several hours.

What are the Most Common Causes?

The trigger for this ailment is extreme emotional or physical stress, but what causes that stress differs from person to person. While researchers are still actively learning more, here are a few examples of events that have caused broken heart syndrome in others:

• Job loss
• Major surgery
• Death of a loved one
• Divorce or other close relationship loss
• A sudden illness, like an asthma attack or an allergic reaction
• Some medications, such as for anxiety (rare)
• Some illegal substances, like methamphetamine or cocaine
• Extreme anger or intense fear

Who Is Most Likely to Experience It?

While anyone can experience broken heart syndrome, it’s most common in women ages 50+. A recent study found that about 2% of suspected heart attacks were actually broken heart syndrome. However, that percentage is likely a bit higher.

Women make up about 88% of reported cases, and most are post-menopausal. It’s thought that estrogen protects the heart against the harmful effects of hormones, and when the estrogen level declines after menopause, women are more susceptible to sudden stress. Additionally, a 2020 study found that post-menopausal women dealing with anxiety disorders had a higher risk than women without anxiety.

Can You Die from Broken Heart Syndrome?

Death from broken heart syndrome is very rare, occurring in only 1% of cases. Most people make a full recovery within a month and have no long-term heart damage. Thankfully, the condition is completely reversible for 99% of cases.

What Do I Do If I See a Friend or Family Member Exhibiting Symptoms?

If you are with a friend or family member following the loss of a loved one, pay attention if they complain of chest pain, shortness of breath, or dizziness. If the person already has a heart condition, then it may be a heart attack. However, if there’s no history of heart disease, it could very well be broken heart syndrome. Only the doctor can give you a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.

Quick FAQ

Q: Can everyday stress cause broken heart syndrome?

A: According to what doctors currently know, the syndrome only occurs suddenly and resolves quickly. If you have chronic chest pains or shortness of breath, talk to your doctor to see what else may be happening with your health.

Q: Are there different types of broken heart syndrome?

A: Yes, there are 4 different types – apical, mid-ventricular, basal, and focal. It all depends on which section of the heart gets stunned, though apical is most common. Apical refers to the lower half of the heart.

Q: Can you prevent broken heart syndrome?

A: To lower your potential risk, you can learn stress management and problem-solving techniques that will help you decrease your overall physical and emotional stress. You could journal, meditate, exercise, take a warm bath, get plenty of sleep, or do something else to relax. These practices are good during any season of life, not just stressful ones.

Hopefully you will never encounter broken heart syndrome, but if you do, you now know what it is and the best way to help a friend or family member through it. Be safe out there!

After the death of someone you love, it’s hard to come to grips with your new reality. Figuring out how to move forward, how to do life, without their presence can be both physically exhausting and emotionally overwhelming. If you are struggling with the emotions of grief, then it might be time to consider joining a grief support group.

The idea of joining a grief support group might feel uncomfortable, especially if 1) you’re an introverted person, 2) you’ve never done it before, or 3) you don’t like admitting that you need help. But really, grief support groups come in all shapes and sizes. You can choose a group that focuses on a wide range of grief types or select a group that has a narrower focus (spouse loss, child loss, suicide loss, etc.). This way, you will journey with other people going through a similar type of loss. Also, you can choose a group similar in age to yourself or one that spans generations.

No matter which type of group you choose, there are many benefits to attending a grief support group. Let’s discuss seven of those benefits together.

7 Benefits of Joining a Grief Support Group

By joining a grief support group, you can:

1. Build connections and find a sense of community

Perhaps the biggest benefit to joining a support group is finding a community you can be vulnerable with. Depending on your life and circumstances, it might be hard to open up with friends or family members. With a grief support group, you are all there for the same reason – to process your grief and move toward healing and reconciliation. There’s freedom in opening up to people who don’t inform your everyday life and who are solely interested in helping you heal. And if friendships arise from the group, all the better. You have advocates for your continued grief journey.

2. Realize you’re not alone

By nature, grief can be isolating. We all process loss in different ways, and the voice in your mind tries to convince you that you’re absolutely alone. That you’re the only person dealing with these complicated feelings. When you join a grief support group, it quickly becomes clear that you aren’t alone. Your feelings are legitimate, valid, and normal. But most of all – there are other people who understand what you’ve experienced and are figuring out how to deal with it, too.

3. Positively impact your mental health

In many ways, it’s easier to keep our feelings to ourselves, but that’s often not the best choice for good mental health. Getting things off your chest has a cathartic effect. Being open, sharing what’s going on inside, dealing with your emotions – these are all proven ways to deal with stress and improve mental health. In a recent study, it was determined that grief support groups can even help reduce depressive symptoms after loss.

4. Find hope and foster personal resilience

When you’re in the depths of strong emotions, like sadness or anger, it’s hard to see your way through. It may feel like this is just your new norm, and there’s nothing you can do about it. In a grief support group, you will find people who are at various stages of the grief journey. Interacting with people who are further along the grief journey can instill a sense of hope and inspire your own resilience. There is a better future ahead as you actively work through your feelings of grief.

5. See the reality of the grieving process

If this is the first big loss you’ve suffered, then your own feelings may take you by surprise. Is it normal to feel this way? Should I feel this sad or this angry or this lost? In a grief support group, you see people at various stages of grief. They will showcase a wide range of emotions and help you normalize your own feelings. Grief is up and down, slow and messy, strong today and quiet tomorrow. Some people will share their story freely while others will sit back and only listen. Every person processes differently. No matter where you’re at on the spectrum, it’s okay and it’s normal.

6. Discover a safe space to express yourself

Within a grief support group, there’s a commitment to listen, encourage, and help each other. This sense of commitment and camaraderie creates a unique opportunity to be real. Surrounded by a group of hurting people, you don’t have to hide your own hurt. Instead, you can open up. Create common bonds with the people around you. Express what’s going on in your own heart and mind freely. This is a safe space – a place where you won’t be judged, a place where you can find validation and encouragement.

7. Learn from the wisdom of others

No matter how many times you’ve experienced loss, every death hits different. Because of that, you may feel even more lost as to how to process your feelings. In a grief support group, you have access to a wealth of knowledge and experience. You will hear about coping skills that are new to you. You may learn more about how the mind and the body react to grief. With the valuable insights and tools you learn, you can create daily practices that will help you manage your own grief and move toward healing.

Should I Attend Online or In Person?

Ultimately, the decision between online and in person depends on either your preference or what’s available in your area.

With an online group, you can join from the comfort of your home and choose what level of involvement you want. Plus, an online group would be an excellent option for those who are homebound or have responsibilities that prevent them from attending in person.

With an in-person group, you can still choose your level of involvement, but you also have the option to go deeper. For instance, a few people may want to grab coffee or dinner after a group session. Plus, if you feel a connection to someone’s story, you have the option to catch them after class for a one-on-one conversation. That’s not easily possible with online groups.

Simply weigh the pros and cons. Evaluate your personal circumstances. Then, choose what works best for you.

What if a Grief Support Group Isn’t Right for Me?

While grief support groups help thousands of people every year, it’s not the best fit for everyone, and that’s okay. If you are feeling overwhelmed, discouraged, out of place, or unwanted, try going to one-on-one grief counseling first. After you have a better grip on your own grief, you can then transition to a grief support group your counselor recommends.

Now that you understand the many benefits of grief support groups, it’s time to decide whether or not to visit groups in your area. Contact your local funeral home, a church, a local grief counselor’s office, or go online to familiarize yourself with the grief resources available locally. Then, choose one that best fits your age, location, or type of loss and find the supportive encouragement you need for the grief journey ahead.

Losing a child is one of the most heartbreaking experiences any parent will ever face. It feels wrong and unnatural for a child to die before a parent, and you may be questioning yourself, wondering if you could have done more to protect your child. You may feel like life will never be normal again. Or that maybe it shouldn’t be.

As you try to process losing your child, keep in mind that grief is different for everyone and follows no timeline. You may be experiencing intense emotions, such as anger, guilt, doubt, fear, depression, extreme pain, and deep sadness. As a mother or father, you may have very different feelings from those around you. Losing a child can strain your relationships with your spouse, other children, or extended family members as you all try to process the loss in your own way.

As you begin your grief journey, remember that the goal is not to “move on” or “move forward” but to move toward healing, peace, and reconciliation with the loss. Renowned grief expert Dr. Alan Wolfelt says that those mourning the death of a loved one have six needs that must be met as they grieve. While it takes time to begin healing, meeting these needs can help you process your loss in a healthy way.

Acknowledge the reality of the death

According to Dr. Wolfelt, the first need of mourners is acknowledging the reality of the death or, in his words, “gently confronting the reality that someone you care about will never physically come back into your life again.” The death of a child or a teenager is often sudden and completely unexpected. When hearing of the loss, parents, siblings, friends, and other family members may respond with shock and denial. Even if your child had a prolonged or terminal illness, you might struggle to wrap your mind around the fact that they are really gone.

To help yourself begin to heal, you can take small actions to come to terms with the new reality. Viewing your child’s body before burial or cremation can be helpful. Using the past tense when telling their story can also help. It may be painful at first, especially if you wake up thinking that losing your child was just a nightmare. The mind needs time to adjust to new realities, so be gentle and patient with yourself throughout this process.

Move toward the pain of loss

The next need of mourners is to move toward the pain of the loss. As Dr. Wolfelt says, “It is in confronting our pain that we learn to reconcile ourselves to it.” When faced with strong negative emotions, many of us try to block the pain to protect ourselves. When grieving the loss of a child, you aren’t just grieving their death – you’re also grieving the loss of all the hopes and dreams you had for them. We may try to avoid the pain of the loss through numbing activities that temporarily bring relief. But this only stalls the healing process. As Dr. Wolfelt often points out, there is no way around grief. The only way to the other side is through it.

Instead, focus on grieving in a healthy way. Slow down and let yourself feel. Try going on walks or runs or writing in a grief journal. Visit your child’s grave, talk to them out loud, or speak with a friend or family member that you trust. Let yourself cry, scream, and vent your emotions in a way that helps you. It may feel unnatural to you at first, especially if you tend to bury your emotions. Remember that it’s okay and healthy to fully feel your emotions and set them free, as long as you aren’t hurting yourself or anyone else. By facing your grief and emotions head-on, you can begin to understand them and continue healing.

Honor your child’s memory

After moving toward the pain of the loss, the next need of mourning is to transition from a physical relationship with the person who died to a relationship of memory. Whether your child was with you for minutes or years, they made an impact on your life, and they live on in your memories of them. Dr. Wolfelt says that “remembering the past makes hoping for the future possible.” By holding your memories of your child close and sharing them with others, you will continue to keep their memory alive.

There are many ways you can honor your child’s memory. For example, you can share stories about them with your friends and family, journal your memories, or write a letter to your child. Doing creative projects, like making a memory box or a scrapbook, can also help you process your grief. These physical memorial projects are a great option to do as a family, with your spouse or your other children. You may find it painful at first to think about your child, but learning to treasure the moments you were able to spend with them will bring them even closer to your heart and allow you to find hope for the future.

Develop a new sense of identity

The fourth need of mourners is to develop a new sense of identity. As Dr. Wolfelt explains, “We all have mirrors in our life that remind us of who we are. But after a death, we experience identity diffusion, a sort of confusion about who we are and the purpose that we serve in the greater scheme of things.” Your relationships with your closest friends and family members are a part of your identity, and your child made up an even bigger part of who you are. Your brain is likely struggling to understand life without your child, and you may feel like a part of yourself died with them.

A funeral or memorial service can be the first step to recognizing your new identity. While you wrestle with your change in identity, don’t be afraid to seek the support of family and friends who know you best. Losing a child can also strain your other relationships, especially with your spouse or other children. Life can become even more difficult if you, your spouse, or your children avoid talking to each other or close yourselves off. Instead, take time to sit down as a family and talk regularly. By opening up lines of communication, you and your family can work through your new identities together and learn how to continue life in your new identities.

Search for meaning in the loss

As you grieve, you’ll also need to search for meaning in the loss. After your child’s death, you may ask yourself many questions – especially “Why?” You might feel like you’ll never understand. As Dr. Wolfelt says, “The death reminds you of your lack of control. It can leave you feeling powerless. At times, overwhelming sadness and loneliness may be your constant companions.” The death of someone we love makes us confront mortality – our loved ones’ mortality and our own.

It’s completely normal to ask these questions, but remember that death is a mystery, and some questions will be left unanswered. That’s okay! Exploring deep questions, even without finding answers, can help you examine your own life and consider whether you are where you want to be. Take this time to ask yourself what you can do to live a meaningful life. You can use this experience and your questions as an opportunity to make positive changes to become the person you want to be. While you may not find all the answers you’re looking for, asking these questions can help you find meaning in your continued living and discover hope for the future.

Receive ongoing support

The final need for mourners is ongoing support. Grief comes and goes in waves – you’ll likely struggle more on some days than others. That’s why finding ongoing support from your family and friends is important. As Dr. Wolfelt says, “Drawing on the experiences and encouragement of friends, fellow mourners, or professional counselors is not a weakness but a healthy human need.” As you work through your grief journey, don’t be afraid to reach out to a grief or family therapist or join a grief support group. It can be hard to reach out for help, but taking this step can give you the support you need on the hardest days.

Special days, like your child’s birthday, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, or holidays, can be especially difficult. Plan ahead for those days, and don’t be afraid to let your friends and family know if you need extra care on a certain day.

Losing a child is heartbreaking, and it will take time for you and your family to heal. As you begin your grief journey, be patient and gentle with yourself, and allow yourself time to heal and grieve so that you can find healing, reconciliation, and hope.