Gallery: This is What Happens to Your Body When You Grieve

It can happen in an instant. One moment you have a mother, the next you don't. One moment you are happily in a relationship, the next he's walked out and you know he's never coming back. One moment you think you know who you are, and you lose a title, a status, a person, anything, and your heart sinks. The depth of the pain extends so far down that all you can feel is the hollow of your throat trying to make a sound, as tears well, obscuring your vision. You have lost something dear to you, and you are experiencing grief.

We know how it feels to grieve, both physically and emotionally, but have you ever wondered how you're impacted on a physiological level? Sometimes it can be healthy to take a step back, and observe your body, so that you can hone in on it later, and know what you're experiencing through a logical as well as emotional lens. Here's what happens to your body when you grieve.