IntroductionAdolescence is the stepping stone to adulthood. During this developmental milestone, individuals develop critically physically, mentally, emotionally, and sexually (Wetherill & Tapert, 2013). Amid these changes, adolescents develop higher cognitive abilities and begin to establish their sense of self. This developmental process can be hindered when the adolescent experiences the loss of a loved one. Currently, limited research has been conducted on the physical response of the adolescent population. Coping strategies identified to be used by adolescents included avoidance behaviors and self-medication. The following article investigates the influence that ineffective coping has on adolescent development. Areas that will be comprehensively assessed include: physical responses to grief, avoidance, and self-care efforts. Physical Responses Restlessness, difficulty concentrating, and sleep disturbances act as physical stressors on the body and contribute to the adolescent's ability to successfully facilitate the grieving process. An evaluation study of the implementation of a body awareness program, targeting adolescents to develop their understanding of the grieving process and physical symptoms (Bugge, Haugstvedt, Rokholt, Darbyshire & Solvi, 2012). The authors wanted to introduce strategies that could support grieving adolescents and offer possible techniques to effectively cope with the circumstance (Bugge et al., 2012). Research findings demonstrate the necessary need to invest in bereaved adolescents due to the debilitating effect it may have on them and their development (Bugge et al., 2012). This reinforces the negative effect that an ineffective approach has on this particular population and the need to intervene on every paper youth. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 74(8), 828-833. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.lib.ryerson.ca/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/1450179429?accountid=13631Liang, H., Olsen, J., Cnattingus, S., Vestergaard , M., Obel, C., Gissler, M., . . . Li, J. (2013). Risk for substance use disorders following prenatal or postnatal exposure to bereavement. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 132(1-2), 277-282. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2013.02.015Monk, T.H., Germain, A., & Reynolds,Charles F., I.,II. (2008). Sleep disturbances in the event of bereavement. Psychiatric Annals, 38(10), 671-678. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3928/00485713-20081001-06Wetherill, R., & Tapert, S. F. (2013). Adolescent brain development, substance use, and psychotherapeutic change. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 27(2), 393-402. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0029111