Fatigue and bereavement

From "How to Deal With Grief If You're Exhausted"

Grief and exhaustion go hand in hand. The grieving process can use up incredible amounts of energy and may also leave you exhausted beyond belief. Sometimes, it may feel as if you can barely keep your head above water to face the reality of your loss.

Every breath you take can seem like your drowning in sorrow, but you’re too tired to react. You feel immobilized and unable to take any action - even when necessary. Trying to cope with grief when you're exhausted can be debilitating. However, it is good to know that chronic fatigue is a common and natural response to profound sorrow. Every day can feel like a new wave of pain hitting you like a ton of bricks. Grief is incredibly draining on you mentally, physically, and emotionally.

The physical and mental effects of grief are so overpowering at points that it can be hard to function even in day-to-day life. The emotional ups and downs that you’ll experience, coupled with lack of sleep and an erratic eating schedule can all contribute to feeling tired and unable to function at your normal levels. Finding ways to balance your grief responses with proper rest is crucial as you try to deal with your loss.

Taking things day by day will help you to take control of your life sooner rather than later. Whenever a person who’s grieving tries to take on too much way too soon, they’re left feeling defeated and out of control. One of the best ways to handle the debilitating exhaustion resulting from grief is to go slow and not try to do too much.

Permit yourself to slack on the everyday chores and routines. Only do as much as you want and feel able to. No one should be keeping score of what you’re accomplishing each day. And, indeed, you shouldn’t be competing against yourself.  

Rest and sleep are two very different things. Aim for getting rest throughout the day, even when you’re not sleepy. Resting both the mind and body will help you to feel less stressed and more refreshed. 

For the Queen, her Faith is a great comfort and guide. Despite the fact that she is surrounded by family and friends who can comfort her, ultimately, like the rest of us, she is alone in her grieving. However, she is driven by duty, and the promise she made on her 21st birthday,

I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong,

drives her actions

I cannot begin to imagine how painful it must be for Queen Elizabeth. Her grief is public and she is stubbornly trying to carry on as normal, to the detriment of her physical health.