Drugs, alcohol and coping

Grief greatly affects a person’s mental and emotional health, especially when that person is suffering from addiction. It can trigger depression, anxiety, and irrational behavior, as well as substance abuse. People experiencing painful grief often turn to drugs and alcohol in an attempt to numb feelings of pain and pain associated with their loss and many people enrolled in rehabilitation or sober living programs may find that avoiding drugs and alcohol during grief is particularly difficult.

In the short term, it may seem like drugs and alcohol help to silence negative feelings, emotions, and thoughts, but in the long run, using addictive substances to cope with loss can only end in more pain and devastation.

Self-medication with alcohol and drugs can even exacerbate feelings of hopelessness and depression, since many drugs act as depressants on their own. When combined with loss, substance abuse carries serious consequences and has the potential to become a full-blown addiction.

When treating people who have experienced loss (especially traumatic loss), drug and alcohol rehab centers and transitional living programs must address both addiction and trauma because both play important roles in the overall well-being of individuals. person.

The five stages of the complaint

There are five main stages that a person can experience when facing loss. Psycom states that while not everyone will go through all five or experience them in the same order, most people will experience at least one of the following stages. Swiss psychologist Kübler-Ross describes these stages in more detail in her book “On Death and Dying.”

  1. Denial- Many people are shocked and confused by their loss or try to avoid it entirely by adopting a denial mindset. In a way, this helps the person survive the initial shock of the loss and cope with it.
  2. Angel – It’s natural to want to blame family members, God, or ask questions like “Why me?” when faced with loss. Feelings of frustration, irritation, and anxiety can be overwhelming, and anger can trigger a desire to separate from family and friends.

  3. Negotiation- When experiencing loss, some people may also try to bargain with themselves or with God as they struggle to find meaning in life.

  4. Depression – Overwhelming feelings of hopelessness, isolation, and despair can take over after experiencing a loss. Many people find themselves withdrawing from everyday life and the people around them. They may even start to have suicidal thoughts.

  5. Acceptance – Accepting loss in life is something that comes with time. It is a process of readjustment to a new way of life and it is never immediate. Acceptance will take time and patience.

A person may experience some or all of these stages and still not be able to deal with their grievance. When drugs and alcohol become part of the grieving process of an active or recovering addict, it is time to seek the help of professionals at an addiction treatment center or sobriety house.

Choosing to grieve in a healthy way

According to Psych Central, healthy grief and unhealthy grief are two completely different things. There is no one right way to grieve, as this process is unique to each person, but there are several unhealthy ways to deal with loss that can lead to more problems. Unhealthy grief usually consists of things like:

  • Ignore feelings of sadness, anger, or anxiety.

  • Isolate yourself.

  • Pretending to be okay even when you’re not.

If you’re experiencing loss and know you’re at risk of relying on drugs and alcohol to cope, the Mayo Clinic recommends several things you can do to actively and healthy grieve.

  • Acknowledge all your feelings. No one grieves in exactly the same way, and you may feel some things that you think are eternal or unacceptable. It is important that you allow yourself to experience the loss and feel all of those emotions. You may need to share those feelings with a sober counselor or roommate rather than loved ones, but each emotion is important to the grieving process.
  • Give yourself time. Just know that healing takes time. It may seem easier to mask your pain and pain with drugs or alcohol, but in the end, that’s all it does. Those emotions will still be there and you will still need time to process them.
  • Ask for help. Friends, family, and counselors are excellent resources for the bereaved. Although it is tempting to grieve alone, sharing your loss with others is an essential part of the healing process. Sober homes (also known as halfway houses) are great resources for people in recovery because they provide intensive peer support in a way that other living situations cannot.
  • Prioritize self-care. During your time of loss, it is extremely important to sleep, eat well, exercise frequently, and practice good hygiene. Disrespecting your body and mind with harmful thoughts or drug and alcohol abuse will only intensify feelings of depression and sadness.
  • Lean on your spiritual beliefs. If you believe in a higher power, lean on it during your time of loss. Doing so can help you find meaning and purpose in life, even in the midst of trauma and pain.

Grief and loss are extremely powerful, but using drugs and alcohol as crutches will only mask the pain for a short time. In order to heal, you must allow yourself to fully experience the grievance and patiently process it.