Bereavement and the Breath.
The word bereavement comes from the root word “reave” that literally means being torn apart.
Being torn apart through losing someone you care deeply for, triggers the release of stress hormones leading to all kinds of physical symptoms such as difficulty breathing.
When the bereft are triggered with grief stricken emotions - stop and simply notice the breath.
Welcome your grief work by slowing down to invite a deepened belly breath. Incorporate breath work into your daily routine of self soothing practice to help brace and strengthen your future responses to triggers of grief-stricken states of emotion.
Notice the shortness, depth or shallowness of the breath. Is there a feeling of resistance? Slow the breathing experience down and invite the deepened breath to be the cornerstone of your self care regime.
Notice how the inhalation creates space around the heart, and how it may present the opportunity to observe a slow deepened breath: How does expansion and contraction offer space free of constriction in the heart area.
(Look into the ‘Box-Breath-Practice’)
Give yourself permission to create space in the lungs to illuminate the heart with oxygen. Deeply feel the contraction and relaxation of the diaphragm and intercostals muscles (found between the ribs). Notice the pressure changes that result in inspiration and expiration.
Surrender all thoughts and focus only on the breath while being curious about where the slower, deeper awareness may take you in the sense of body, mind, emotions, spirit.
Journal these observations.
Befriend a space of softened awareness as the breath encourages a quietening of the mind as the body sits in solitude.
Be open to witnessing your body sensations while listening to your inner voice whispering self care cues of compassion so you may feel comfort in moving forward without feeling isolated in your grief.
Celebrate our resilience with the breath of self care. The breath is a gift of life given to humans upon entering the world. We can count on the breath to help carry us through the difficult challenges that arise along each and every grief journey.
This is Grief Companion Laurie Lynn Clark's Substack.