What’s The Connection?
Feeling grief is one of the most common emotions a human being can experience. A sense of loss and sadness that comes with difficult experiences is expected to occur. For most of us, we go through different stages of grief but eventually move on. However, in some instances, people experience complicated grief or bereavement and are unable to move on. The working definition of complicated grief (CG) is a heightened, ongoing state of mourning, which prevents someone from beginning the healing process. Some examples of CG include the loss of a child, loss of a limb and/or experiencing multiple losses in a short while.
The reason I mention the difference between grief and complicated grief is because the most significant research on substance use focuses on complicated grief as opposed to standard bereavement. Sociologists and psychologists have theorized that people turn to substances when faced with complicated grief. It’s worth noting there is insufficient research to suggest that CG causes substance use. However, there is definitely a link between grief and addiction.
According to an NCBI study, individuals struggling with substance use are more likely to use maladaptive coping strategies when faced with grief. This means that individuals who struggle with addiction are more likely to struggle with good coping strategies to overcome grief compared to people who don’t have substance use disorders. Some of the symptoms of complicated grief include, but are not limited too:
- Obsessively thinking about their loss
- Suicidal thoughts
- Avoiding reminders of their loss
- Being unable to accept that your loss occurred
- Continuously seeking out things that remind you of your loss
- Feeling purposeless
Best Practices For Coping With Grief And Addiction
Regardless of whether or not you have substance use disorder, there are several tips and tricks you can try to help overcome complicated grief. First, you should contact your therapist! If you don’t have one, try using psychology today to find a qualified grief counselor or general therapist in your area. Additionally, if you have already started to use substances and are looking for help to get sober, we can guide you in the right direction. If you haven’t begun using substances again, here are some good tips to help you work through your grief.
- Enlist a therapist trained in complicated grief therapy
- Be kind to yourself. It’s okay to not “hold it together”
- Try to get extra sleep
- Embrace and experience difficult emotions
- Utilize a recovery coach to help hold you accountable
- Move your body. Walk or engage in some form of physical activity
- Take care of your needs, whether it be spiritual, emotional, etc..
- Surround yourself with good company
If you are currently experiencing symptoms of grief and are worried that you or your loved one might turn to substances, contact us today. Our team has significant experience in these areas and might just be what you need to prevent you from engaging in poor coping strategies.