Have you felt like you might be losing your mind in your grief? Perhaps you have heard of grief brain which is very real! Profound grief can lead us to feel like our minds are out of control! Grief rewires the brian and can have a significant impact on our intellectual functioning and may manifest in ways that affect thinking, memory, concentration, and decision-making. After the death of my daughter, I remember lying in bed holding my head in both hands trying to keep my mind together (struggling to calm the chaos before reaching a breaking point). Thankfully, these particular moments faded with time.
There are many symptoms associated with our intellectual health when grieving. They may be temporary lasting for months or a few years. Sometimes they can last longer-especially when grief includes trauma. Mine does. This if often the case when a death is unexpected. Bereaved parents are especially vulnerable. In a study by Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, "Why do mothers never stop grieving for their deceased children? Enduring alterations of brain connectivity and function," it states that there are "novel neurobiological and neuropsychological correlates of enduring grief in mothers who have lost an adult child. Our results provide evidence of functional, structural, and neurocognitive changes associated with the presence and severity of enduring maternal grief. " It refers to bereaved mothers as being forever "forever changed." This is not to say only mothers are affected, but there are few studies available to reference.
*Mental health is closely tied to both intellectual and emotional health. I have placed information within the section Our Emotional Health & Grief.
Below are examples of how grief may affect us intellectually:
Impaired Concentration: Struggling with focusing on tasks which can make it harder to concentrate on work, reading, or conversations. Thoughts about a loss take up a lot of space in our minds leaving little mental space for other cognitive activities.
Memory Problems: Short-term memory can be particularly affected. People in grief might forget appointments, names, or even simple tasks. This is often due to the brain being preoccupied with emotional distress which can interfere with memory encoding and retrieval.
Reduced Problem-Solving Abilities: Grief can cloud judgment and decision-making. It may be harder to assess situations clearly or make well-thought-out decisions. The emotional weight of the loss can cause cognitive overload leading to slower or more impaired problem-solving abilities.
Slower Processing Speed: Delays in our cognitive processing speed may make it it harder to follow conversations, process information quickly, or make connections between ideas.
Difficulty with Abstract Thinking: Grief can lead to a more concrete, emotional way of thinking making abstract or complex thinking more challenging. Tasks that require creativity, strategy, or long-term planning may feel more overwhelming or difficult.
Disruption in Executive Functioning: Grief can impact the brain’s "executive functions," which are responsible for planning, organizing, and prioritizing tasks. People may feel overwhelmed by day-to-day responsibilities or struggle to plan and execute activities as they normally would.
Tunnel Vision: Intellectually, grief can cause someone to become fixated on the loss, leading to a form of "tunnel vision." This can make it harder to consider other perspectives, ideas, or concerns, leading to a narrower way of thinking.
Difficulties in Learning New Information: Grieving individuals might struggle to absorb and retain new information, as their cognitive resources are often diverted to emotional processing. This can make it harder to learn new skills or engage in activities that require mental flexibility.
Cognitive Fatigue: Grieving can lead to mental exhaustion, making it hard to engage in activities that require sustained attention or mental effort. This can result in feelings of mental fog, where the brain feels overwhelmed or "worn out."
Caring for Your Brain During Grief
Whether changes to the brain are temporary or long lasting, there are definitely ways to lessen the effects of trauma. Activities such as:
practicing mindfulness
meditation
journaling
grief counseling (may include PTSD treatment)
grief support groups
All of these activities help give our brains more space to process all the trauma "bouncing" around in our minds. The more we find ways to actively work on our grief, the sooner and more fully we will heal.