10 Tips For Dealing With Grief During Addiction Recovery

Some people may relapse into addiction after the loss of a loved one. Unexpected loss can be extremely difficult for individuals to manage and navigate through. The brain deals with loss and grief in very different ways, but people struggling with addiction may struggle even more to deal with their emotions in a healthy way and seek out additional help when needed. 

Addictive episodes may also be triggered by military combat or post-traumatic stress from military service. It is also possible that people who suffer from addiction may struggle with the military deployment of loved ones. Current or past military combat can take immense tolls on the mental health of service members and their families. Due to potential trauma that was experienced during these periods of service, many people with addiction may struggle to manage these emotions and feelings in a healthy and safe manner. 

People battling addiction may also face addictive spirals after experiencing trauma such as being the victim of a crime. The mental strife and potential physical impacts of experiencing a crime can heavily impact the mental health of any individual. These emotions of stress, fear, and pain that often accompany experiencing crimes can easily trigger an addictive episode for some individuals. People suffering from addiction may also struggle to report or seek professional help after being the victim of a crime. 

Addictive episodes may also be preceded by the diagnosis of a serious illness. It is also possible for these episodes to be triggered if a loved one is diagnosed with a serious illness. It is easy to feel lost or hopeless after hearing such serious and potentially devastating news.

The diagnosis of a serious illness is known to negatively impact the mental health of both the patient and their loved ones. The patient may feel as though they are powerless and begin to feel exhausted by the overwhelming prospect of mental, physical, and financial distress that may accompany the illness. 

Denial is the process in which a person refuses to accept that they have lost a loved one. This is most often a shock response in relation to receiving tragic news. This is especially prevalent in instances where the loss of a loved one is unexpected. In these scenarios, there is no time to mentally prepare for the loss of a loved one. Because of this unexpected nature, it is common for family and friends to deny the loss initially. 

Anger is classified as the second stage of grief. Once the stage of denial has passed, it is common for family and friends to feel anger at the loss of a loved one. Depending on the nature of the loss, the anger may be directed at a variety of sources. However, the root of the anger stays the same.

This feeling illustrates the anger that family and friends feel regarding the loss of a loved one. This may manifest in anger at the world, anger at religion, or possibly anger at those that were potentially involved in the death of the loved one. Anger itself is a very strong and sometimes harsh emotion. However, it is important to remember that it is normal to feel anger after losing a loved one. 

Bargaining is the third stage of grief.  This is the stage of grief where people begin to question the role that they may have played throughout the loss process. During the bargaining period, it is common for people to feel guilty about failing to carry out actions they believe may have prevented the loss or reduced suffering. These are usually irrational beliefs that are founded on the sadness of the loss.

It is sometimes easier to try to blame ourselves for tragedy than accept that loss is out of our control. The bargaining stage may also involve religion if family and friends make pleas to save their loved one or manage the loss they are experiencing. 

The fourth stage of grief is depression. This is often the most well-known stage in the grieving process. This stage is extremely challenging as the true weight of the loss usually settles in for the bereaved. This stage is where extreme sadness and pain are most common and serious.

Family and friends usually understand at this point that the loss is final and their loved one is no longer coming back. This realization leads to feelings of despair and loneliness. These feelings can lead people to lose interest in the outside world. This emotion can be extremely challenging to overcome and live with. 

The fifth and final stage of grief is acceptance. This is the stage of grief in which the family and friends of the loved one truly recognize and acknowledge the loss of the loved one. They begin to accept that their loved one is gone. It is important to note, however, that this stage does not imply that all sadness and depression from the loss is gone. The loss of a loved one is a pain that stays with you for life.

Acceptance does not mean that the pain associated with the loss is gone completely. This acceptance can allow you to live your daily life without soul-crushing pain, but there will always be some sadness when it comes to the loss of a loved one in your life. 

After an unexpected loss or traumatic experience, those recovering from addiction should make sure to seek out professional help if possible. Grief and trauma are very complex emotions that can easily overwhelm people with feelings of hopelessness and loss. It can be easy to get swept away by these potent emotions and lose sight of healthy coping mechanisms.

Coping with an addiction is no easy task, and these challenging events may push some people to relapse into their old addictive habits that could be dangerous for themselves and those around them. To minimize this threat, seeking professional help from therapists can offer valuable support to individuals suffering from addiction. 

Another important way to manage grief and trauma while struggling with addiction is to maintain a healthy body and mind. Remember not to lose sight of caring for yourself during recovery. Exercising and practicing healthy mental activities can help people manage the emotions they experience after the loss of a loved one.

It may be difficult for some to motivate themselves to move their body or practice mental exercises such as meditation. In these instances, it can be helpful to enlist friends and family to act as accountability partners. Finding a group of people that can help motivate you to exercise and practice healthy coping mechanisms can assist in the healing process. These activities can also help to minimize the temptation of relapsing for many people recovering from addiction.

Recovering addicts might also feel the desire to numb their pain or disconnect from the emotions they are experiencing after loss or trauma. This behavior is quite normal; however, it can be extremely damaging for those individuals. Numbing or minimizing their emotions can halt the healing process.

The pain of losing someone or experiencing a traumatic event can lead people to seek to numb that pain through the abuse of substances such as drugs or alcohol. In these instances, while it may be hard, people recovering from addiction should fully experience the emotions that come with loss or trauma. By allowing themselves to feel that pain, they will be able to work towards a healthy form of healing. 

Another way to deal with grief while suffering from addiction is to anticipate potential scenarios or events that might trigger an addictive episode. Developing an awareness of potential triggers can help people recovering from addiction avoid relapses. If you can anticipate a particular trigger, it can be easier to develop strategies that can minimize its impacts.

In some instances asking for the company from family or friends can serve as a healthy way to minimize and manage potential triggers. Preventing potential spirals is a key part of recovering from addiction. 

It can be difficult to ask for help when one is struggling, however, there are a plethora of trained individuals and loved ones that would be happy to help people struggling with addiction recovery. Experiencing loss and the grief that accompanies it can be one of the most difficult experiences in the world.

Finding the strength to ask for help when one is struggling is such a powerful tool in battling addiction. For those who know of a recovering addict, ensure that you are supportive of them by helping an addict during grief.   

Sometimes the fear of forgetting a loved one or moving on after their passing can trigger some individuals into a downward spiral. These spirals can be extremely dangerous for those recovering from addiction. In order to prevent these spirals from occurring, it can be helpful to find a way to memorialize the loved one that was lost.

Jewelry Keepsakes offers a variety of jewelry pieces that can help an individual always remember their loved one. If you need help selecting the perfect piece of keepsake jewelry, the site has very helpful educational articles pertaining to this topic. 

When dealing with grief after losing a loved one, recovering addicts should remember to surround themselves with family and friends. The loss of a loved one can feel very isolating which may cause some people to relapse.

In order to prevent these dangerous coping tendencies, keeping busy with family and friends can prevent these emotions and feelings. Spending time with family and friends can allow people to remember that they are loved and supported. These emotions may help them healthily cope with the loss. 

Loss and grief can be debilitating at times. These feelings may cause people to lose all interest in their previous hobbies and activities. This lack of interest can be alarming to some and may trigger negative spirals. To prevent this, it may be helpful to pick up a new hobby.

It is common for interests to change after loss and finding a new hobby can help recovering addicts manage their emotions in a healthy way. It can also be healing to find someone to participate in new hobbies and activities with. These shared experiences can distract an individual from the addictions they struggle with. 

Nature is known to have healing properties that can improve your mental and physical health. After a loss, it can be extremely beneficial to get out into nature and breathe some fresh air. Taking a walk or a hike can help people to cope with loss as they can enjoy the scenery and wildlife. Nature has a calming effect on many and these relaxing emotions can help people who are recovering from addiction. 

Joining a group that focuses on recovering from addiction can really help individuals manage their addictive tendencies. Groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous can help recovering addicts feel less alone. These settings can help show people that they are not alone in their struggles. This can help negate feelings of hopelessness and loneliness.

Understanding that others are facing similar struggles can help motivate people to keep striving toward healthier habits that can offer safer coping mechanisms. These groups can help people navigate their emotions and deal with grief in a safe way.