Grief has a clever way of hiding in plain sight. You might think you have moved on. You might believe you have processed the loss. But something lingers beneath the surface. It can show up as a stubborn skin breakout, a churning stomach, or a vague sense that you are not quite okay. This is exactly what happened to sports presenter Gabby Logan. She moved to London at 19 to chase her football broadcasting dreams. She carried a heavy load of unspoken sorrow. Years later, sitting in an acupuncturist’s chair, she realised her body had been holding onto grief all along. Her story offers a powerful lens for understanding why so many of us miss the signs that we need therapy for grief.
Reason 1: Grief Masquerades as Physical Symptoms
When Gabby Logan went for a facial in her early twenties, she thought she had hormonal spots. She booked an appointment with an acupuncturist for her skin. But something unexpected happened. The therapist began asking gentle questions while inserting needles. Gabby realised the real issue was not her complexion. She needed to talk. Her body had been storing grief, and it leaked out through her skin.
This phenomenon is more common than most people realise. The mind and body are not separate. Emotions, especially heavy ones like grief, can create physical disturbances. Research in the field of psychosomatic medicine shows that around 30 to 40 percent of patients visiting primary care clinics have symptoms that are partly linked to emotional distress. Grief can manifest as chronic fatigue, headaches, digestive troubles, or unexplained aches. The gut, often called the “second brain,” is especially sensitive. Gabby herself noted, “I probably wasn’t eating properly. And I think the gut is so clever … the second brain, they call it.”
What if my grief has been stored in my body without me realising it?
It is entirely possible. The concept of somatic experiencing, developed by therapist Peter Levine, suggests that trauma and loss can get trapped in the nervous system. When you experience a sudden death — like Gabby’s younger brother Daniel dying from an undiagnosed heart condition — your body may go into a state of shock that never fully discharges. You might walk through life feeling slightly on edge, tight in the chest, or prone to unexplained flare-ups. Your body remembers even when your mind tries to forget.
How do I know if my physical symptoms are connected to emotional loss?
There is no simple blood test. But you can look for patterns. Ask yourself: Did these symptoms start or worsen after the loss? Do they flare up around anniversaries or family gatherings? Do they resist normal medical treatment? If you have seen a doctor and ruled out organic causes, it is worth exploring the emotional layer. A therapist who specialises in grief or somatic approaches can help you connect the dots. Sometimes, just naming the link between your skin issues and your sorrow is the first step toward relief.
This is why Gabby’s story resonates. She did not walk into that acupuncture session looking for therapy for grief. She wanted clearer skin. But the professional recognised the deeper need. A skilled practitioner — whether an acupuncturist, a counsellor, or a bodyworker — can sometimes see what we cannot. Their gentle probing can unlock a conversation that has been waiting years to happen.
Reason 2: Grief Gets Delayed by Major Life Transitions
Gabby Logan moved to London at 19 to build her career. She had recently lost her brother. She was navigating a new city, new university, new ambitions. When you are focused on survival and success, grief gets pushed to the back burner. You tell yourself you are fine. You convince yourself that staying busy is the same as healing.
But grief does not disappear. It waits. The term “delayed grief” describes exactly this phenomenon. According to the American Psychological Association, delayed grief reactions can surface months or even years after a loss. They often emerge during a quieter period or when a new stressor reminds the person of the original pain. For Gabby, the trigger was a quiet conversation with an acupuncturist. She suddenly realised she had been carrying her brother’s death for years without truly processing it.
Why did it take me so long to notice I needed help with grief?
The delay can be frustrating and confusing. You might think, “That loss happened years ago. Why am I crying now?”. The answer is simple: you were not ready then. Your brain protected you. It helped you get through the funeral, the move, the new job. But protection is not the same as resolution. At some point, the emotional load becomes too heavy. You start feeling irritable, anxious, or numb. Your body might send signals, as Gabby’s did. The delay is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign that your system is finally safe enough to grieve.
Can a conversation with a friend or a bodywork practitioner really help me process grief?
Absolutely. Gabby herself learned that “whether you call it therapy or whether it’s counselling, I think it’s so important, just talking to people, not necessarily a therapist, but just talking to your friends and being open.” Formal therapy for grief offers structured support, but informal conversations can also be powerful. The key is to speak the unspeakable. To say aloud what happened and how it made you feel. When you talk to a non-judgmental listener, your nervous system begins to relax. The story becomes less stuck. You start to integrate the loss instead of carrying it like a heavy backpack.
For someone who moved cities after a bereavement, Gabby’s example is especially relevant. Moving creates a fresh start — but it also severs old support networks. You may not have a trusted friend nearby. In that case, seeking a professional, such as a counsellor or a bodywork therapist with talking therapy skills, can bridge the gap. Even a 30-minute chat with a skilled practitioner can crack open the door to deeper healing.
Reason 3: Grief Affects Family Dynamics and Blinds You to Your Own Needs
When Gabby’s brother Daniel died, the shock devastated her family. Her parents, Christine and Terry Yorath, separated under the pressure. Gabby’s younger brother, only six at the time, grew up in a different household dynamic. “He didn’t get the kind of life that we’d had with them,” she reflected. Grief ripples outward. It changes marriages, parenting, and sibling bonds. Often, the person who needs help — like Gabby — is so focused on holding everyone else together that they ignore their own pain.
How does grief isolate you from your own emotions?
Grief creates a kind of emotional tunnel vision. You worry about your parents. You try to protect your surviving siblings. You keep your own feelings locked away because they feel too big or too inconvenient. This is especially common in families where one loss reshapes everything. Gabby described two chunks of memories: before Daniel died and after. The “after” was full of sadness and change. No one had space for her grief because everyone was drowning in their own.
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This isolation can last for years. You might think you have handled it. But deep down, you feel disconnected — from yourself and from others. You might avoid intimacy or become overly independent. You might feel angry at the world but have no idea why. These are all signs that you never fully received the support you needed. Seeking therapy for grief can help you reconnect with your own story and your own heart.
What does healthy grief look like in a family?
There is no perfect blueprint, but research on family resilience suggests that open communication and shared rituals are helpful. Families that talk about the deceased, acknowledge the pain, and give each other permission to feel sad tend to fare better. When grief is silenced — when everyone walks on eggshells or pretends to be okay — the unspoken emotions can fracture relationships. Gabby’s parents’ divorce is a real-world example of how grief can strain even the strongest partnerships. “It is tough, divorce, isn’t it? Whatever age,” she said. “People who can consciously uncouple … still have got a lot of sadness.”
If you grew up in a family where grief was never discussed, you may carry a deep loneliness. You may have never learned how to ask for help. The good news is that you can learn now. Therapy offers a safe space to unlearn those old patterns. It gives you permission to feel the sadness you were never allowed to show. Gabby’s most valuable lesson came from the pain: “Daniel’s death and my dad dying in January taught me that life is going to present things that are sad. If you learn to love and really commit and love somebody, then you’re going to feel sad if you lose them.” That truth is not something to fear. It is something to accept — and to share with others.
Moving Forward: How to Recognise Your Own Need for Grief Support
Gabby Logan’s accidental therapy session teaches us that help can come from unexpected places. But you do not have to wait for a chance encounter. You can take active steps now to assess your emotional health.
Start by scanning your body. Are you carrying tension in your shoulders? Do you have frequent headaches or stomach aches? Have you gained or lost weight without trying? These can be clues that your grief is looking for an exit.
Check your timeline. When did the loss happen? How have you been coping? If you have been “fine” for years but suddenly feel tearful or angry, it may be delayed grief knocking on your door. Do not ignore it.
Ask yourself about your relationships. Have you pulled away from friends? Do you avoid talking about the person you lost? Are you secretly angry at family members? These are signals that you need to process your feelings with someone who can listen without judgment.
Consider low-commitment first steps. You do not have to book a year of weekly sessions right away. Try one session with a grief-informed therapist. Or, like Gabby, explore body-based modalities such as acupuncture, massage, or yoga with a practitioner who talks as they work. The important thing is to open a channel for your grief to be heard.
Gabby Logan did not crumble under her loss. She learned that feeling sad after losing someone is natural if you love deeply. But she also learned that ignoring grief does not make it disappear. It just waits. And when it finally speaks, it often speaks through the body, through the family, through the quiet moments when you least expect it. Listening to that voice — and seeking therapy for grief — is one of the bravest things you can do.
