Week 2 – Grief & Letting Go

Primary Body Region: Chest, lungs, ribcage

Key Systems Involved:

• Respiratory system: Lungs and breathing muscles

• Vagus nerve: A major calming nerve that connects brain, lungs, heart, and gut

• Parasympathetic nervous system: Helps us rest, feel, and recover

• Intercostal muscles: Muscles between the ribs, often tight in grief

Theory

Grief is not just an emotion—it’s a full-body process that often constricts the breath. Many people unconsciously hold their breath when they’re sad, which reduces oxygen and reinforces shutdown.

The vagus nerve, which runs from the brain down through the lungs and heart, helps regulate emotions. It’s part of the parasympathetic nervous system, which allows the body to rest, cry, or release tension.

When we breathe deeply—especially when we lengthen the exhale—we stimulate the vagus nerve and move from grief paralysis into emotional processing.

The lungs are also linked to grief in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and the intercostal muscles often become tight during prolonged sadness or emotional holding.