Grief, Disentrainment, and the Body’s Way Back: A Science-Backed Note

Grief is not only an emotion; it’s a whole-system event. Brain networks that keep us oriented to meaning, reward, and self-story become disrupted in bereavement, which is why normal tasks can suddenly feel unreal or effortful. Neuroimaging shows alterations in limbic and default-mode circuits and amygdala connectivity in grieving people—especially when grief is intense or prolonged.

Alongside talk-based support, two practical lanes can help the nervous system re-organize: (1) rhythmic neuromodulation—what pioneers like Thomas Budzynski called disentrainment, using sound frequencies and photic light modulation, always guided in person with skilled facilitators, and (2) gentle somatic movement such as yoga or tai chi that restores vagal flexibility and interoceptive calm.

Disentrainment: Budzynski’s Protocol

Thomas Budzynski and colleagues demonstrated that rhythmic sound and light stimulation could disrupt maladaptive brainwave patterns and help establish healthier neural rhythms. This “disentrainment” is different from simple entrainment—it seeks to interrupt rigid or stuck states of brain activity. Studies across decades suggest AVE/disentrainment may reduce depressive symptoms, improve attention, and support recovery from stress-related disorders.

Important note: Disentrainment is not a do-it-yourself practice. It should be facilitated in person with professional-grade devices, protocols, and proper screening. Budzynski’s photic-light and sound-frequency modulation is best delivered in collaboration with trained neuroscientists or therapists familiar with brainwave safety.

Gentle Somatic Work: Yoga & Tai Chi

Grief also loads the autonomic nervous system. Practices that increase heart-rate variability (HRV)—a marker of vagal flexibility—are consistently linked with improved stress adaptation.

• Yoga: Systematic reviews show yoga increases HRV and vagal tone, enhancing resilience under stress.

• Tai Chi: Clinical trials demonstrate tai chi improves HRV and reduces depressive symptoms, particularly in older adults.

• Mindfulness-informed movement: Both practices downshift the sympathetic “fight/flight” system and build tolerance for difficult emotions, allowing grief to be processed rather than suppressed.

Mindfulness & Grief

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) can reduce grief-related anxiety and change brain connectivity in bereaved individuals. However, when grief becomes prolonged grief disorder, structured grief-focused CBT remains more effective for symptom reduction, while MBCT supports regulation and quality of life. The most effective path often blends specific grief-targeted work with ongoing mindfulness practices for resilience.

Ambiguous Loss & Brain Injury

Not all grief is about death. Families living with traumatic brain injury (TBI) know the daily ache of ambiguous loss—the person is still here, yet profoundly changed. Research describes this grief as uniquely chronic, often leaving families without closure.

I know this intimately. I have family members navigating TBI. It changes people in ways that cannot be explained nor expected. We say goodbye to who they once were, and we learn daily to love through acceptance.

A Personal Note …

I have sat beside many families as they said farewell in palliative care—witnessing last breaths, last words, and long silences. But those are not the only losses I’ve walked with. As a trauma-informed therapist, I sit weekly with stories of endings—relationships dissolved, health deteriorating, careers lost, dreams derailed.

The common thread is this: the body carries grief. Sometimes it needs help to reset. Sometimes it needs gentle movement to soften. And always, it needs compassion.

Disentrainment, when facilitated safely, offers one modern neuroscience-based tool. Yoga, tai chi, and mindfulness offer timeless ones. Together, they remind us: grief may not disappear, but our nervous system can relearn balance. And in that balance, love still flows.

References

• Huang FY et al. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on bereavement grief: resting-state connectivity changes. Hum Brain Mapp (2020).

• Bryant RA et al. Grief-focused CBT vs MBCT for prolonged grief disorder (RCT). JAMA Psychiatry (2024).

• Chen G et al. Amygdala functional connectivity features in grief. Front Psychiatry (2020).

• Tyagi A, Cohen M. Yoga and HRV: comprehensive review. Int J Yoga (2016).

• Liu J et al. Tai Chi and HRV in older adults. Int J Environ Res Public Health (2018).

• Zeng L et al. Tai Chi reduces depression: systematic review. Front Psychol (2023).

• Porges SW. Polyvagal Theory—clinical applications. Compr Psychoneuroendocrinol (2025).

• Pino O et al. RCT: Audio-visual stimulation entrains EEG & reduces depression. Sensors (2022).

• Rahmani M et al. Audiovisual Entrainment: review of neuromodulation evidence. Brains (MDPI, 2025).

• Kean S et al. Ambiguous loss in families of brain-injured patients. Int J Nurs Pract (2010).

• Whiffin CJ et al. Family experience after TBI. Int J Nurs Stud (2021).