The Neuroscience of Loss
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Excerpt: The Neuroscience of Loss - Loss of a Loved One Session 2
Course: Loss Of A Loved One
Speakers: Benji Horning, Jen Horning
The Neurological Landscape of Grief: What's Happening in Your Brain
As we navigate the intense emotions and overwhelming waves of grief, it's important to understand that there's a profound neurological component at play as well. What's happening in our brains during this time is truly fascinating, a testament to how God has uniquely designed us to cope with something so deeply painful and unnatural. If right now, in the midst of your grief, your thoughts feel scattered or "off," please know that this is an entirely normal response.
God's Gracious Design: Neurological Responses to Loss
Several key neurological processes occur when we experience severe loss, mechanisms that, in God's grace, help our brains engage with something so profoundly difficult and foreign:
The Gift of Numbness: When faced with significant loss, our brains release chemicals that can create a sense of numbness or disbelief. This feeling of "this can't be real" acts as a buffer, allowing us to gradually wade into the overwhelming waters of grief rather than being abruptly plunged into their icy depths.
Overtime Processing: Just as our physical bodies require time to heal from injury, our brains work intensely to process the trauma of loss. This subconscious processing can lead to confusion, slowed thinking, and a limited capacity for engaging in conversations.
The Fight or Flight Response: A primal survival mechanism, the fight or flight response, can be triggered in our brains during grief. Designed to alert us to danger and prompt us to regain control and security, an overflow of this response, with the release of adrenaline and other stress hormones, can manifest as significant anxiety and fear.
So, if you are experiencing any of these neurological shifts, please be kind to yourself. Know that these are normal responses as your brain grapples with this profound experience.
Moving Outward: The Importance of Connection
As you navigate this internal neurological landscape, remember that engaging with your grief in healthy ways is crucial. This might involve journaling to process your thoughts, seeking support from a therapist, or, most importantly, moving outward into connection with others.
This course is a starting point, but the journey of healing often requires the support of relationships – being alongside people who can offer understanding and help you carry the weight of your grief.
Hardwired for Connection: Finding Gift in the Pain
Ultimately, all of this underscores that we are beings created for relationship. We are hardwired to be deeply impacted by loss because we are made for each other.
In the pain, it can be helpful to recognize that even grief itself can hold a profound significance. It is often a testament to the deep love we shared with the person we have lost. The very intensity of our mourning reflects the depth of our connection.
So, rather than suppressing or fearing the painful and "off" feelings that arise, stepping into them, processing them with supportive people, can be a truly healing experience. Often, these difficult emotions point back to the precious gift of love and connection we were fortunate enough to experience.
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Less monologue and more direct information
The Neurological Landscape of Grief: Understanding Brain Changes
Grief profoundly impacts our brains. If your thoughts feel "off," know this is a normal neurological response to significant loss. God has designed our brains to engage with this intense experience.
Neurological Responses to Loss: God's Design
Numbness: The brain releases chemicals creating numbness or disbelief, a buffer to help us gradually process grief.
Overtime Processing: The brain works intensely to process loss, leading to confusion, slowed thinking, and limited conversational capacity.
Fight or Flight: This survival mechanism can trigger anxiety and fear as the brain seeks to regain control and safety.
Experiencing these neurological shifts is normal as your brain copes with loss.
The Importance of Connection in Healing
While understanding these internal changes is helpful, actively engaging with your grief through journaling, therapy, and, crucially, relationships is vital for healing. We are created for connection, and support from others is essential during this time.
Finding Meaning in Pain: The Gift of Love
Even the painful neurological responses can point to something significant: the deep love we shared with the person we lost. The intensity of our grief often reflects the depth of that connection. Instead of suppressing these feelings, processing them with supportive people can be healing.
If you like the content, you can continue in a few different ways…
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Loss Of A Loved One
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Loss Of A Loved One 〰️
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