Mary-Frances O'Connor's latest work, The Grieving Body, builds on her previous book, The Grieving Brain, by examining how our physiological systems are intertwined with those of our loved ones. She emphasizes the concept of zeitgebers, or time givers, which include social connections that help maintain our bodily rhythms. When these connections are severed by the death of a loved one, individuals experience dysregulation, exhibiting symptoms like fatigue and loss of appetite. The book also highlights how isolation after injuries can reflect the dire need for social bonds.
In The Grieving Body, Mary-Frances O'Connor discusses how our social connections act as zeitgebers, regulating our bodily rhythms, which are disrupted by bereavement.
The absence of a social zeitgeber following the death of a loved one leads to tangible physiological and psychological consequences, including disrupted sleep and appetite.
Abandonment and isolation, particularly after brain injuries, can have extreme repercussions on individuals, highlighting our inherent biological social nature as a species.
The deeply impactful narrative illustrates a vivid personal account of a brain injury, emphasizing how physical ailments can mirror our emotional and social struggles.
Collection
[
|
...
]