Can grief make you ill at Christmas?

[OneAliCat]

I have a job that has a heavy workload in December so it's not uncommon that I feel rough by Christmas Day and need a few age to recover. But this year i started struggling about 20th of December and haven't shaken it - if anything, getting worse. Chesty cough, sore chest, sore throat, body aches, low energy and generic snotty cold.

I lost my mum to alcoholism in 2024 and I've been aware of grief being sharp over the season. Is it possible that the fried would be making it harder than usual to shake off the Christmas cold? If so is there anything I can do to help it along? The night early on that I had a good cry, I felt a bit better the next day, but as I say, feeling worse since.

Grief, like any stres can make it more likely you will catch illnesses.

Normal to have a dose at this time of year, normal for grief to tire you out and reduce your coping capacity. Just do all the usual things you'd do for a rotten virus and it'll pass.

You poor soul.

Both stress and grief can suppress your immune system, making it more likely you would catch something and harder to shake it off.

It sounds like you have had a tough time and need to find a way to rest and take care of yourself to enable you to process things.

I am sorry for your loss @OneAliCat . Grief makes everything worse including getting ill I think. As a PP pointed out it is a form of stress on the mind and body. Are you able to take some more time away from work? I am sure a GP would be sympathetic to giving you a sick note. You must try and be extra kind to yourself, rest and take whatever remedies help you personally. I like Vitamin C the sort you can make a drink with. I hope you feel better soon.

I'm sorry to hear you've had such a rough year OP. There's no way to sugar-coat it.

So sorry to hear about your mum, that alone would cause a grief that is no match for a bad cold, right around Christmas which is when most people who have lost someone they love, feel the grief the most.

This happens no matter how long it's been since the loved one died.

You also say you've had your usual heavy workload at work lately; OP it's no wonder you're immune system is under such stress, and yes, could very possibly have led you to feel quite ill.

The answer is obvious, I only hope you can make it happen or someone close to you can.
You need pampering, time to process your sadness especially over Christmas and New Year.
You need time.

You at the very least should consider building your immune system up with good rest, good food, exercise, and supplements often help too.
Massage, spa, something just for you.

I hope you'll be feeling much better, very soon, but please give yourself the time and place to grieve the loss of your mum. x
Don't ignore or push this aside, it's very crucial to healing.

I’m sorry lost your mum 🌷🌺🌹🌸

Grief and other stressors can have a very real physical impact on the body. Be kind to yourself.

The illnesses are likely viruses so strictly speaking not caused by grief or stress but these do cause us to struggle so self limiting viruses can seem worse and take longer to go. There's a lot we really can't exactly understand when it comes to the effects of psychological issues on physical health and everyone is different. Anyway give yourself time to get over the physical health issues and hope 2025 brings you good things, loosing a parent, even if self inflicted is tough but you deserve happiness