Psychologist Validates Four Symptoms of "Grief Attacks"
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- Sherman Lee, a psychologist at Christopher Newport University in Virginia, co-published a study of nearly 250 people who experienced grief attacks, scientifically validating a phenomenon first described by Therese Rando in 1991 as "sudden upsurges of grief"
- The research identified four characteristics of grief attacks: panic (dizziness, shortness of breath, fear), yearning, despair, and incoherent thinking — distinguishing them from standard grief by their sudden physical intensity
- Grief attacks appear to activate the brain's fear and attachment systems simultaneously, with the amygdala, periaqueductal grey, nucleus accumbens, and anterior cingulate cortex all firing in concert during an episode
- People with anxiety sensitivity may be especially vulnerable, as they are five times more likely to be diagnosed with panic disorders — a key component of grief attacks
- Lee's coping research suggests allowing grief attacks to wash over you works better than distraction, echoing mindfulness principles that the episodes typically pass within minutes
- In a broader study of more than 10,000 grieving people, 50% reported sensing a presence of the deceased and one-third said they heard the person's voice
Why it matters: For the millions who lose someone each year, Lee's work gives clinicians a validated framework — four identifiable symptoms plus a screening tool — to distinguish grief attacks from panic attacks and target treatment. The finding that anxiety sensitivity quintuples vulnerability offers a concrete, screenable risk marker for therapists working with bereaved clients.
