12 physical symptoms of missing someone you love (complete list)

When we care deeply about someone, it’s natural to miss them when they are not around. But did you know that missing someone can also manifest in physical ways? 

It turns out that missing someone can affect our bodies in a variety of ways, from changes in appetite to difficulty sleeping.

From my experience, understanding these physical symptoms can help you better cope with the feelings of missing someone and offer some self-care and support during this challenging time.

So let’s explore 12 physical symptoms that you may experience when you miss someone you love.

1) Changes in appetite

Have you noticed that your appetite has drastically changed since you’ve been away from your loved ones?

For example, you may start skipping meals or eating more than usual.

In either case, you may experience this physical symptom when you miss someone you love.

The reason for the change in appetite is because of your brain’s “fight or flight” response. Let me explain what this means.

The fight or flight response is a physiological response that occurs in response to a perceived threat or danger. 

It is an automatic response that is triggered by the body’s nervous system and is intended to help an individual protect themselves or escape from a potentially harmful situation.

And guess what?

Losing someone is a serious threat to your life. Therefore, constantly changing hunger levels can be a sign that you are missing someone you love or simply stressed.

I personally struggled with this symptom when my partner moved overseas a while ago. I found myself awake at night wanting to eat cookies and ice cream, and in the morning I had no appetite whatsoever. 

I was completely overwhelmed with emotions, which led to drastic changes in my eating habits.

When you’re missing someone, you may find that your appetite changes. You might not feel like eating as much, or you might find yourself craving certain foods.

In either case, it is common for people to experience changes in appetite when they are feeling emotional or stressed. 

Missing someone you love can certainly cause strong emotions and potentially lead to changes in appetite. 

Some people may find that they have a decreased appetite when they are missing someone, possibly because they are preoccupied with thoughts of the person and do not feel hungry. 

2) Changes in sleep patterns

Not only does missing someone you love affect your appetite, but it also affects your sleep patterns.

Yes, after losing an important person in my life, I’ve figured out that missing someone can also affect your sleep patterns. 

You might have difficulty falling asleep, wake up frequently during the night, or have trouble staying asleep.

You may find that you’re having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.

The thing is that when you’re missing someone, it’s common to have difficulty falling asleep.

This is because our brains are wired to search for an unfulfilled need. In the situation of a person missing someone they love, their brain will be wandering around trying to find a way to solve this problem.

If that’s not enough, you may also wake up multiple times throughout the night. This happens due to our body’s release of hormones that help regulate sleep cycles and wakefulness.

Why does this happen?

Well, it all comes down to stress. 

We experience stress when we are missing someone. In fact, missing someone causes us to have a higher amount of stress hormones, which ultimately play a major role in the insomnia that you may experience.

As a result, some people may find that they have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep when they are missing someone, possibly because they are preoccupied with thoughts of the person or because they are feeling anxious or distressed. 

Others may sleep more than usual as a way to cope with their feelings of missing the person or to try to distract themselves from their emotions.

It is important to remember that changes in sleep patterns are a normal and natural response to emotions and stress. 

It is okay to have fluctuations in sleep patterns and to take care of yourself by practicing good sleep hygiene and seeking support if you are struggling with sleep. 

Good sleep hygiene includes setting a consistent bedtime routine, creating a comfortable sleep environment, and avoiding screens and caffeine before bedtime. 

It may also be helpful to seek support from friends, family, or a mental health professional if you are struggling with strong emotions related to missing someone you love.

However, the good news is that you can get over this symptom if you know what to do. 

So, pay attention to how your body feels during the days following the loss of your loved one, and notice when your sleep patterns change.

3) Unexplained mood swings 

Have you ever experienced mood swings?

As for me, I have experienced mood swings when I’ve been missing someone. 

I used to get angry very easily, snapping at those closest to me.

I also blamed myself for everything that went wrong in my life, and I was often too tired to make it through the day. 

And finally, I used to experience anxiety, constantly worrying about what the future held for me. 

In my case, whenever my partner went to study abroad, I went into a downward spiral of depression, which led to anxious behavior and mood swings. 

What triggers these mood swings?

As mentioned above, when you don’t have someone in your life with whom you can share your feelings, your brain seeks a way to deal with this unfulfilled need by creating new ones. 

However, later on, you remember the positive emotions associated with that person, and the feelings of anger are suddenly replaced by the feelings of sadness. This is where the mood swings came from.

So here’s the thing:

It is common for people to experience mood swings when they are feeling emotional or stressed. 

Missing someone you love can certainly cause strong emotions and potentially lead to mood swings. 

When you miss someone you love, you may find that your mood changes frequently or unexpectedly. You may feel happy one moment and then feel sad or anxious the next. 

These mood swings can be caused by a variety of factors, including the stress of being separated from the person you love, the emotional intensity of missing them, and the uncertainty or fear that can come with being apart.

It is important to remember that mood swings are a normal and natural response to emotions and stress. 

But you know what?

It is okay to experience mood swings and to take care of yourself by practicing self-care and seeking support if you are struggling with strong emotions related to missing someone you love. 

Self-care can include activities such as exercise, mindfulness, and spending time with loved ones. It may also be helpful to seek support from friends, family, or a mental health professional if you are struggling with intense or prolonged mood swings.

4) Your voice seems to sound different

Want to know what’s the weirdest physical symptom of missing someone you love?

Well, it’s a change in your voice. 

It’s like your voice gets a little deeper. It’s not a bad effect, but it does feel a bit different when you’re missing someone you love.

If you notice that your voice seems different, chances are that it’s because of your emotions. You might sound a little bit sadder, a little bit more tired, or irritated.

For example, you might notice that you have a whine to your voice when talking about or thinking about the person. This can make it hard to hold conversations and develop relationships with others.

One of the most common symptoms I’ve noticed is that my voice sounds different.

I felt like I couldn’t control it and that it sounded more shrill. 

This happens because your voice will change when you experience a stress response.

However, this is something I want you to realize:

Changes in your voice are a normal and natural response to emotions and stress. 

So, don’t pay too much attention and try to take care of yourself by practicing good sleep hygiene and seeking support if you are struggling with difficult emotions. 

Good sleep hygiene includes setting a consistent bedtime routine, creating a comfortable sleep environment, and avoiding screens and caffeine before bedtime. 

It may also be helpful to seek support from friends, family, or a mental health professional if you are struggling with strong emotions related to missing someone you love.

5) Your muscles are tensed

If you miss someone you love, you might also notice that you feel tense. 

Like your muscles are a little bit more firm and taut than usual. 

This is because your head is not in the right space, which causes tension that can carry through your entire body.

This is also because of the stress response I mentioned earlier. 

Why does this happen?

Well, this could be due to feelings of anxiety or stress, or it could be a physical manifestation of the emotional intensity of missing someone. 

Some people may also find that they are more prone to headaches or other physical symptoms when they are missing someone.

It is important to remember that muscle tension and other physical symptoms are a normal and natural response to emotions and stress. 

So, here’s something you should realize:

As weird as it sounds, it’s totally normal to experience tension when you’re missing someone you love. 

However, this doesn’t mean that the tension is an indicator of how much you care about that person or how much they matter to you. 

This means that these feelings will pass after some time and will get easier with time and practice.

Personally, something that helped me to overcome this physical symptom after my partner moved away was to try breathing techniques.

For example, here you can find multiple effective breathing exercises to alleviate stress and tension.

So, try those breathing techniques, and I’m sure you’ll quickly notice how your muscles get more relaxed and your tension and stress quickly disappear.;

6) You can’t concentrate

This is not completely a physical symptom, but since it’s still related to your mental activity, I wanted to share that one as well.

Whenever you miss someone you love, you might notice that you can’t concentrate at all.

You find it very difficult to focus on your work or study, you can’t stop thinking about the person, and you get distracted easily.

This is because emotions and stress affect your mental activity in two ways: 

First of all, your focus narrows so that you become more aware of only a few things in your environment. 

Second, your emotions and stress distract you from what’s going on around you, making it difficult to concentrate.

While this is perfectly natural, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s a good idea for you to ignore all your responsibilities and focus only on missing someone. 

I mean, you still need to keep working and studying in order to succeed in life. 

It can be helpful if you spend some of your time researching ways to reduce anxiety and stress or practicing relaxation techniques.

The result?

Your mind keeps wandering back to the person you love. 

You may find that it’s hard to focus on a conversation, schoolwork, or even that book that’s been on your reading list for ages.

This is because the feelings of longing and missing can be distracting and can make it difficult to focus on other tasks. 

When we miss someone we love, our thoughts often turn to them, which can make it difficult to focus on other things. 

If you are having trouble concentrating because you are missing someone you love, it may be helpful to try to find ways to distract yourself or to focus on activities that bring you joy. 

Keep in mind that taking breaks and engaging in self-care activities, such as exercising or spending time with friends, can also help.

7) You are more likely to be forgetful

Ever found yourself forgetting things that you normally wouldn’t?

For example, you might have forgotten where your keys were or that you forgot to pick up milk on the way home. All of a sudden, you’re feeling like an idiot who can’t even remember something as simple as that.

I know how it feels because it was something I also experienced from time to time: my memory seemed to deteriorate whenever I missed someone I loved.  

It got much worse when my partner decided to move away for his studies abroad. And that’s when I started having these mood swings, as I mentioned in the previous point.

Well, this is because when we feel sadness or longing, our brain makes changes so that we can better process and tolerate those emotions. 

For example, I believe that you are not actually forgetting the milk but rather the memory of seeing the milk drop to the floor from your fridge. 

These feelings will eventually pass. Of course, it depends on how much you’ve experienced them and how badly they have affected your life. 

But I’m completely positive that this is something that everyone has experienced at one point or another.

8) Your libido has decreased

If you miss your romantic partner, I’m sure this is the most natural physical sign.

Whenever you miss someone you love, chances are that you’ll experience changes in sexual drive.

Yes, your libido and sexual desire may be affected. You’ll notice that it’s much more difficult for you to get aroused and that you’re more likely to just feel like watching TV rather than going out and having some fun. 

There can be many factors that contribute to a decrease in libido when someone is missing someone they love. 

One possible reason is that feelings of sadness and longing can affect a person’s emotional state, which can in turn affect their desire for physical intimacy. 

If this happens, it’s not necessarily a bad thing, and it can be helpful to take action. 

I recommend joining a dance class or simply going to the gym with a friend or family member. 

Why? 

Physical activity increases dopamine levels in our brain, which makes us feel great! 

It can be really beneficial to your sexual health and make you feel more energetic and enthusiastic about romance.

9) Changes in the menstrual cycle

If you’re a female who menstruates and has lost someone you love, chances are that you will experience some changes in your menstrual cycle. 

Why?

Because hormonal changes, stress, and emotional upset can all affect the menstrual cycle.

The most common changes are a delay in the onset of menstruation or an increase in its length when it’s time to get your period.

These changes may also be accompanied by other symptoms like pain or cramps because of tension and stress. 

It is not uncommon for a person’s menstrual cycle to be affected by their emotions and stress levels. 

Missing someone you love can cause feelings of sadness and stress, which can in turn affect the menstrual cycle. 

Stress can interfere with the body’s normal hormonal balance, which can disrupt the menstrual cycle and lead to irregular periods or changes in the duration and severity of menstrual symptoms. 

However, it is important to note that there are many other factors that can also affect the menstrual cycle, such as age, weight, and underlying medical conditions.

So, if you are concerned about changes in your menstrual cycle, it is always a good idea to speak with a healthcare provider for a proper evaluation and to determine the cause of any changes.

10) Constant headaches

Have you been getting headaches more frequently than usual because you miss someone you love?

Well, tension headaches may be more frequent or severe when you miss someone you love. 

It can be caused by stress, anxiety, and sadness. When you miss someone you love, it is natural to feel sad and experience sadness that can cause tension headaches. 

They can also be caused by muscle tension in the neck and shoulders combined with fatigue. 

You may need to take some time for yourself just to relax and let go of the negative feelings in order to reduce your headache pain.

The reason is that stress and emotional distress can be common triggers for headaches, and missing someone you love can certainly cause feelings of stress and emotional distress. 

What’s more, feelings of sadness and longing can also affect a person’s sleep and eating habits, which can also contribute to the development of headaches. 

If you are experiencing headaches due to missing someone you love, it may be helpful to try to manage your stress and emotions through healthy coping mechanisms, such as exercise, relaxation techniques, or spending time with friends and loved ones. 

But most importantly, you should accept the fact that, however bad it might feel right now for you physically, as time goes by, it will definitely pass and you’ll feel better in no time.

11) You feel chest pain

Speaking of physical pain, you might even notice that you feel chest pain when you miss someone you love.

It can be an ache or a pressure. 

But no, your chest pain, which is not caused by a physical issue with the heart, can be a sign of heartbreak. So don’t worry about that.

Instead, you experience chest pain when you miss someone you love because something else is happening in your body. 

It can be caused by emotional distress and a reduced level of serotonin in your brain. There can also be other physical symptoms that are associated with anxiety and depression, such as increased muscle tension and persistent insomnia. 

These conditions can cause the body to experience physical pain, which can result in chest pain when you miss someone you love. 

Stress and anxiety can also contribute to a reduction in the supply of serotonin, which leads to an increase in pain due to increased muscle tension and decreased blood flow within the heart.

In any case, if this happens, it’s important to see a doctor so that he or she can check for underlying issues, such as high blood pressure. 

However, chest pain is one of the most common physical symptoms of missing someone you care about. It is usually accompanied by other symptoms of depression, such as headaches and stomach pain.

12) Changes in immune function

Finally, the last physical symptom I’d like to discuss in relation to missing someone you care about is changes in immune functions.

This means that you may be more susceptible to illness due to feelings of loneliness and social isolation.

The reason is that research has shown that stress and emotional distress can affect the immune system. Missing someone you love can certainly cause feelings of stress and emotional distress. 

When we are under chronic stress, our bodies produce stress hormones, such as cortisol, which suppress the immune system and make us more susceptible to illness. 

Besides, stress and emotional distress can also affect our sleep and eating habits, which can also impact the immune system. 

However, it is important to note that there are many other factors that can also affect the immune system, such as age, overall health, and underlying medical conditions. 

So, before jumping to conclusions, it is always a good idea to speak with a healthcare provider for a proper evaluation and to determine the cause of any changes.

Final thoughts

All in all, if you’re missing someone you love, you might be experiencing any of those physical symptoms that I mentioned earlier.

However, it is important to remember that the most powerful tool to overcome those physical symptoms is your mind. 

It’s what you think about your situation that makes all the difference in the world. 

So, no matter how bad you feel at this moment and no matter what physical symptoms you might experience, if you’re missing someone you love, just keep in mind that as time goes by, eventually everything will be okay and your pain will go away.