Physical Sensations

• Stomach or belly hollowness, "butterflies", hunger, nausea, loss of appetite and other gastrointestinal disturbances.

• Weight loss or gain.

• Heart palpitations, trembling, or shaking; chest tightness and breathlessness (If these sensations become severe or are ongoing, seek medical attention immediately. Call 911 if you have any uncertainty.)

• Throat pain or tightness, feeling like something is stuck in the throat.

• Dry mouth, increased perspiration.

• Shakiness, dizziness, or unsteady feelings.

• Headache.

• Decreased energy, initiative, and motivation.

• Overall weakness, physical exhaustion, lethargy or lack of strength.

• A feeling of emptiness or heaviness.

• Overly sensitive to noise.

• Nervousness, tension, agitation, irritability or other indications of anxiety.

• Sense of depersonalization: "Nothing seems real."

• Same physical symptoms as deceased's illness.

• Loss of pleasure.

• Decreased sexual desire or hyper-sexuality

Behaviors

• Sleep disturbances or difficulties (too much, too little, or interrupted sleep.)

• Appetite disturbances.

• Tearfulness, crying, and sighing.

• Absent-minded behavior.

• Searching behavior, expecting the deceased to be there.

• Social withdrawal.

• Marked increase or decrease in activity.

• Restlessness and searching for something to do.

• Increase in illness or accidents.

• Change in work performance: tardy, leaving early or working late, not meeting deadlines, shutting office door, eating alone, etc.

• Yelling or outbursts.

• Increased alcohol/drug/nicotine intake.

• Sloppy dressing, poor personal hygiene.

• Activity regarding the deceased: searching and calling out, visiting places or treasuring objects that remind the survivor of the deceased, talking to the deceased's picture or ashes.

Thoughts

• Disbelief: "Oh no!" "It's not happening to me."

• Confusion, forgetfulness.

• Preoccupation or obsessive thinking about the deceased.

• Finality: 'Things will never be the same." "I can't go back."

• Anger: "It's not fair." "Why did it happen?" "If only..." "I wish..."

• Forging ahead: "I have to make some decisions." "I have to get through it."

• Paranormal experiences: sense of presence, visual, tactile, olfactory, dreams.

• Dread: fear of own or another's death.

• Suicidal: "Life has no meaning." (If you have these thoughts or feelings, please seek out professional help.)