The Grieving Body

How the Stress of Loss Can Be an Opportunity for Healing

By: Mary-Frances O'Connor

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Paperback | 13 August 2026

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Paperback

Dimensions(cm)
13.4 x 20.4 x 2.5

Paperback

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“No one has done more for the science of grief than Mary-Frances O’Connor. Deeply human and wise, The Grieving Body delivers a grounded, logical understanding of the effects of stress and loss on our bodies. O’Connor doesn’t just explain what happens and why, she offers hopeful, beautiful solutions to support ourselves and our world.” - Megan Devine, author of It’s Ok that You’re Not Ok

The follow-up to celebrated grief expert, neuroscientist, and psychologist Dr. Mary-Frances O’Connor’s The Grieving Brain focuses on the impact of grief—and life’s other major stressors—on the human body.

Coping with death and grief is one of the most painful human experiences. While we can speak to the psychological and emotional ramifications of loss and sorrow, we often overlook its impact on our physical bodies. Dr. Mary-Frances O’Connor specializes in the study of grief, and in The Grieving Body she shares vital scientific research, revealing imperative new insights on its profound physiological impact. As she did in The Grieving Brain, O’Connor combines illuminating studies and personal stories to explore the toll loss takes on our cardiovascular, endocrine, and immune systems and the larger implications for our long-term well-being.

The Grieving Body addresses questions about how bereavement affects us, such as:

Can we die of a broken heart
What happens in our bodies when we’re grieving
How do our coping behaviors affect our physical health
What is the cognitive impact of grief
Why are we more prone to illness during times of enormous stress
and more

Research-backed, warm, and empathetic, The Grieving Body is an essential, hopeful read for those experiencing loss as well as their supportive friends and family.

The Grieving Body features helpful practices to support you in your grief and 4 black-and-white charts and graphs.

“An excellent choice for readers seeking bereavement support.” - Library Journal (starred review)

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