HELPING A LOVED ONE THROUGH THE GRIEF AND LOSS STAGE
Having to cope with the occurrence of losing someone who is dear to you, can be regarded as one of the greatest challenges in life. A good number of times, the pain which is associated with this, is usually great, and hard to put off. There are all kinds of possible emotions and feelings which could stem from such occurrence.
This pain could also induce insomnia, loss of appetite, inability to think straight, anxiety, depression and a host of others. However, it can be said that, such happenings are normal. Although, it could get to a stage where it becomes extreme, and the individual would need to receive extra care and attention, so that it does not lead to something else.
Basically, grief can be defined as an innate response to loss. It is the emotional suffering which is felt when someone or something you love, is taken away from you. It can be said that, the more substantial the loss is, the greater how the grief would be.
Below are common occurrences which could cause grief:
- Job loss
- Miscarriage
- Loss of health
- Divorce
- Relationship breakup
- Death of a loved one
- Death of a pet
- Loss of friendship
- Serious illness
The pain which is associated with grief, has the capacity to make someone to withdraw from the company of others, thereby staying all by yourself. However, it is not beneficial, as having the support from other people, is essential in the healing process from the grief and loss stage.
Sharing your loss makes the burden of grief to bear. There is this comfort which comes from having others to stay around you. Basically, the goal is to ensured that you or your loved one who is going through this stage is not left alone.
If your loved one is in the grief and loss stage, you can help them by encouraging them to join a support group. Grief has the capacity to induce loneliness, and this can be combatted if you have people who have gone through similar losses around you.
You can also suggest going to see a grief counsellor or a therapist who is well versed in this aspect, as they would be quintessential to passing through this phase successfully.
Treatment for Addiction Caused by Grief and Loss
Addiction that begins due to a personal tragedy in someone’s life is harmful, and will only serve to create more grief for the individual over time. People develop addictions during times of grief because they do not know how to cope with their loss so they choose escape instead. The best thing for a person who is struggling with addiction after a personal loss is professional addiction treatment.
The first step of residential addiction treatment is a detoxification for those who are addicted to a substance. This will restore the individual’s physical health and get them back on a normal sleep schedule so that they have the strength to receive the psychological treatment they need. Detoxification processes are always heavily monitored so that the individual is never alone through traumatic moments or unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.
Once the individual is detoxed, the treatment program can begin. At a quality rehabilitation center, treatment will be tailored to the needs of the individual. In selecting which treatment program they will attend, be sure that the treatment center you choose has the option of a grief and loss approach to treatment. This is an important specification to the individual’s situation. The treatment material and staff must be equipped to work with a client who fell into addiction due to grief as it changes the entire nature of the program. This will ensure that the issues the individual is dealing with will be addressed.
A quality rehab will also provide access to aftercare programs and ongoing treatment. Many rehabs make ongoing counseling with their licensed counselors accessible to their former clients. They are also able to recommend sober living houses, or halfway houses, support groups and sponsors to ensure that the individual stays steadfast in their recovery and does not succumb to relapse. The pain of going through a personal tragedy is very vivid and difficult, but it does not have to consume your life. If you or someone you care about has turned to addiction to cope with a personal tragedy, seek the services of an addiction treatment specialist today.
Ending Addiction Caused by Grief and Loss
When someone has lost themselves to an addiction that began after they experienced a loss or personal tragedy, they are more than likely in need of professional help. The pain caused by grief and loss can be debilitating, and an addiction that develops in the midst of grief and loss is an extremely unhealthy coping device that needs to be eradicated. The sooner this type of addict can begin their recovery, the better. Addiction that begins under grievous circumstances can be one of the heaviest and most unstable kinds of addiction, putting the addict at great risk. It is imperative that the grieving addict allows themselves to grieve fully in a healthy way in order for them to move on and regain their life. In order to end their addiction and begin to move on, the individual will have to face the pain of their loss and accept the reality of it. In order to be successful, the recovering addict will need:
- The love and availability of their support system. Relationships are a basic, essential therapy to humans, and in a time of grief, loss and addiction, they can mean the difference between addiction recovery and relapse.
- Counseling or some kind of professional guidance. It is not necessary for everyone, but it is highly recommended that someone struggling with addiction due to grief and loss seeks individual counseling, the services of a trauma and PTSD center, support group help or credible self-help literature created by a mental health professional.
- Cognitive behavioral work. No matter what kind of outside addiction remedies are sought, internal reflection on thought and behavioral patterns, as well as the reorganization of the aforementioned, is necessary to addiction recovery. This is the part of addiction recovery that requires the highest level of responsibility from the recovering addict.
- A life full of meaningful and therapeutic activities. Pursuing happiness is an important part of letting go of grief, which is why making time for enjoyable recreation and purposeful endeavors is essential to addiction recovery.
Addiction Due to Grief and Loss
When a person is grieving, they are often not thinking in their right mind. Grief has a way of overwhelming a person’s usual healthy thought patterns and replacing them with heavy feelings of depression. This can cause the person to make bad decisions or act out of character. Frequently, the way a person will try to cope with grief is through a particularly unhealthy method: addiction or substance abuse. Addictive activities and substances provide an escape from reality, which is incredibly tempting for someone who is grieving. There is nothing that a grieving person wants more than to escape from the tragedy of their reality. When someone you care about is grieving, do not take lightly signs of substance abuse or addiction. It could be that your loved one is in need of professional help.
No one intends to wind up an addict or substance abuser. These conditions are largely brought on by an inability to cope through healthy means, either due to mental unhealthiness or extreme life circumstances, such as personal tragedy. Initially, a person’s response to grief is usually shock or denial, followed by a heavy emotional period when the gravity of the situation is hitting them. As the individual relearns how to live with the permanency of the loss, the possibility of addiction or substance abuse is imminent. During this time, more than any other period, the individual may be susceptible to wanting to bury their pain beneath an escape. It is very important that their friends, family and loved ones take signs of addiction and substance abuse seriously so that they can receive the professional help they need. If they do not receive help with their addiction or substance abuse problem, they may put their own life at risk. If someone you care about has endured personal tragedy and you believe they are trying to cope with substance abuse or addiction, reach out to a mental health professional today.
Moments of Grief and Loss
There are times in life where it seems that nothing can go wrong, and then there are times when the world feels like it is crashing down around you. When life becomes consumed in grief and loss, it can be hard to imagine a way to carry on and pick yourself up. There are some life tragedies that the human mind struggles to comprehend, such as the death of a loved one, a son or daughter being diagnosed with a terminal illness or being abandoned by a beloved spouse. In these times, it is very important to let yourself accept what has happened and grieve in a healthy way.
Initially, it is natural to be in a state of shock or denial. The moment when someone learns that their life will never be the same due to personal tragedy, it is often impossible to process the information. The human mind is not meant to comprehend tragedy quickly. The best thing the individual’s support system can do for their loved one is simply be there to care for and love them in preparation of what is to come.
There is a point when the individual will process and understand the full weight of the personal tragedy they are experiencing and will need the help of their support system to get through it. This stage of grief, known as acceptance, can be a devastating moment for the individual’s emotions. Acceptance is usually accompanied by a flood of emotions and a tremendous need for support. Some people are unable to care for themselves when the full weight of their personal tragedy hits them. There are also those who go through a quiet acceptance rather than an outwardly expressive one, and may need time away from their support system. This is also completely natural.
What is to follow is a lengthy grieving process. For some it runs its course and then the individual is ready to step back into their life. For others, it is a more extended process that requires a lengthy purging of painful emotions before the individual can be functional in their life again. No two people grieve in the same way, but if you are concerned that a loved one is damaging their life due to an inability to recovery from personal grief, it is wise to seek professional mental health intervention.