Grief Isn’t Just in Your Heart

Grief shows up in many ways, tears, silence, fatigue, numbness, even confusion. As a trauma therapist of over 30 years, I’ve seen how grief and loss don’t just affect our emotions, they change our brain and body. The grieving process impacts our nervous system, and many people feel stuck in sadness, anger, or numbness for longer than they expected. This is especially common in unresolved or complicated grief.

When the nervous system is dysregulated, the body can remain in a fight, flight, or freeze state, even long after the event of loss. In my experience supporting clients through bereavement and emotional trauma, grief often creates a physiological fog, something not widely talked about.

How Grief Affects the Brain and Body

When grieving, stress hormones like cortisol increase. People often experience disrupted sleep, foggy thinking, digestive issues, and emotional volatility. The brain becomes inflamed, energy drops, and many find themselves feeling emotionally shut down.

This is where holistic grief support becomes essential. Traditional talk therapy is deeply valuable, but sometimes the nervous system needs help from the body up. That’s where oxygen therapy comes in.

What Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)?

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is a non-invasive treatment that involves breathing concentrated oxygen in a pressurised environment. At Transcend Wellness London, we use hyperbaric chambers designed to support recovery and enhance wellbeing.

HBOT helps reduce inflammation, improve blood flow, and support the brain’s natural healing processes, making it a powerful complement to emotional and psychological therapies.

How HBOT Supports Grief Recovery

Grief impacts cognitive function, emotional regulation, and nervous system balance. In my clinical experience, HBOT has helped clients:
– Feel emotionally grounded
– Improve mental clarity and reduce brain fog
– Support mood stability and resilience
– Sleep better
– Begin to process grief somatically, not just cognitively

Oxygen therapy doesn’t take away the pain of loss, but it can create the physiological conditions for the body to feel safe, which in turn allows grief to move through more gently.

The Cycle of Grief – And Where We Get Stuck

The grief cycle, often described in stages like denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance isn’t linear. We move through these stages in no particular order, and sometimes get stuck in one place.

Clients often tell me they feel like something is ‘off’ but can’t put it into words. That’s often a sign the nervous system is holding onto grief the mind can’t yet express. Body-based therapies like HBOT and somatic processing can help shift that.

This is especially helpful in cases of ambiguous loss, prolonged grief, or where trauma and grief are intertwined.

Grief, Oxygen, and Holistic Healing

At Transcend Wellness London, we combine years of psychotherapeutic training with modern wellness technology. HBOT is just one of the therapies we offer, alongside infrared sauna, red light with salt therapy, PEMF, and emotional health support.

The goal isn’t to bypass emotional work. It’s to support the body to become more resilient, so the emotional work can unfold more safely and sustainably.

Healing from grief is a whole-person journey. Oxygen is just one tool, but for many, it’s been a quiet revolution in their recovery.

Client Reflections (Shared with Permission)

“After the loss of my father, I felt frozen, like I couldn’t cry or move forward. HBOT helped me feel safe enough to feel again. I didn’t expect that.”

“I came for fatigue and left realising I was grieving. The clarity I felt after my third session was like breathing again after months underwater.”

(Names and identifying details have been changed. Stories shared with full client consent.)

You’re Welcome Here

If you’re carrying grief, whether it’s new, unresolved, or quietly lingering, you’re not alone. There’s no rush. No timeline. Just support.

Explore Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy at Transcend Wellness London as part of your healing process. Book a consultation or just ask questions. We’re here to meet you where you are.

Disclaimer

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is a complementary wellness service and not a replacement for medical or psychological care. Results vary between individuals. Always consult with your healthcare provider before starting any new therapy.

Client names and details have been changed for confidentiality and stories are shared with permission.