Appetite Changes

Grief often disrupts hunger in both directions.

Some people lose their appetite entirely. Food feels tasteless, heavy, or unnecessary.
Others find themselves eating more than usual - craving comfort, sugar, warmth, or familiarity.

Both responses are normal.

When you’re grieving, your body is under stress. Stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline can suppress hunger, upset digestion, or create intense cravings. Your nervous system is focused on survival, not balance.

This isn’t about discipline.
It isn’t about control.
And it isn’t a sign that something is “wrong” with you.

Eating less can be a sign of shock, numbness, or exhaustion.
Eating more can be a form of self-soothing - your body looking for safety, grounding, or predictability.

Grief also affects routines.
You may forget meals.
You may eat at odd times.
You may only manage one kind of food for weeks.

That’s okay.

Right now, nourishment doesn’t have to look perfect.
It only has to look possible.

A biscuit counts.
Soup counts.
Toast counts.
One bite counts.

Your body is doing its best to keep you going - even when it feels confusing or frustrating. Appetite usually finds its way back, slowly, as safety returns.

Until then, kindness matters more than balance.