Unresolved Grief and Addiction: Understanding the Connection

Unresolved grief is a state of mourning a loss for prolonged periods of time, but instead of pain fading away, it intensifies. Unable to deal with the overwhelming emotions that come with this state, people turn to self-soothing and self-medicating, which, unfortunately, can result in additional problems. 

Unresolved grief and substance abuse can easily become co-occurring mental health issues, requiring additional effort and support to deal with. Turning to professional help might be the best solution in situations like these. Co-occurring conditions require a dual-diagnosis treatment when licensed staff works on both problems simultaneously.

We Level Up California is an accredited rehab facility with years of experience in addressing various addiction problems, as well as co-occurring problems such as grief and addiction. With this blog, we would like to introduce you to substance abuse and grief and offer some input on how to address both issues. 

Understanding Unresolved Grief

Grief is the pain a person experiences after a significant loss, usually the death of a beloved person. Grief may also come in the form of regret for something lost (for instance, health, youth, or opportunities), remorse for something done, or sorrow for a mishap one suffered. 

There are various forms of grief. Typically, we grieve something that has passed, but one can grieve something that is supposed to happen. It’s called anticipatory grief, and it occurs when a person is facing impending death, whether theirs or of a loved one. Prolonged or complicated grief takes place if a person is not able to move on from the loss and feels the pain even a year after the loss. Finally, unresolved grief is the kind of severe grief that intensifies over time.

Grief manifests itself with physiological distress, separation anxiety, confusion, yearning, obsessive dwelling on the past, and worry about the future. Intense grief can become life-threatening as it can disrupt the immune system, lead to self-neglect, or even lead to suicidal thoughts. In addition to these symptoms, people with unresolved grief show six more signs: 

1. Anger
2. Guilt
3. Delayed depression
4. Hypervigilance, generalized anxiety
5. Control, detachment, independence
6. Being clingy, walking on eggshells, and becoming passive

The severity of these symptoms can push people to seek professional help. However, some try to resolve them on their own, resulting in dysfunctional coping mechanisms like substance abuse. This link between grief and addiction was identified by both researchers and practitioners.

The Link Between Grief and Substance Abuse

It´s not unusual for people to self-medicate when experiencing negative emotions and pain. Everyone looks for a way out of those feelings. Still, while some manage to develop healthy coping mechanisms, adopt new habits or mindsets, and find a way to overcome their current situation, others end up developing additional issues, like addiction to substances. 

Understanding the connection between grief and substance abuse is easier when you have in mind what grieving a loss entails. The key element of grief is emotional pain. People can feel overwhelmed with negative emotions, and all they wish is to quiet them down. Some might feel numb and incapable of feeling anything. Turning to different substances can seem like a good temporary solution in both cases. For some, substances like alcohol can put them in a better mood, ease up socializing, and allow them to experience positive emotions. For others, drugs may seem like a good solution to dissociate, isolate, and make negative feelings temporarily disappear. 

What seemed like a temporary solution can turn into an actual problem of dealing with grief and addiction at the same time. As both of them have a negative impact on the body, a person faces not only psychological but also physiological problems. Substances affect brain chemistry and can result in an altered brain reward system, further complicating this unhealthy coping mechanism.

What seemed like a temporary solution paradoxically became a lasting problem. Unless, of course, you decide to address both substance abuse and grief and reclaim your life.

Treatment and Recovery

Unresolved grief and substance abuse co-occurring implies the need for dual-diagnosis treatment. Due to the connection between grief and addiction, a person should look for inpatient drug rehab in California that is able to address these conditions simultaneously. They are probably sharing some underlying issues, and treating one without treating the other may leave them unresolved. 

Inpatient rehab provides a structured environment where patients can focus entirely on recovery, receive 24/7 medical support, and participate in various therapies designed to address both substance abuse and the emotional pain of grief.

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To address both substance abuse and grief, We Level Up California relies on crafted treatments, typically including evidence-based therapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or dialectic-behavioral therapy (DBT), that uncover dysfunctional thinking patterns and lead to a change in behavior. We also employ group therapy programs, including family therapy. They serve to connect with those struggling in a similar way and empower them to fight any challenge coming their way. 

We Level Up CA prescription drug rehab California addresses the rising issue of prescribed medication misuse. People often turn to prescription medications like benzodiazepines or painkillers to cope with emotional pain during grieving. This can quickly lead to dependency and misuse. Our program focuses on understanding the emotional triggers and providing strategies to manage grief without relying on medications.

We Level Up California is an accredited dual-diagnosis center offering various treatments for substance abuse and mental health issues, including grief, that occur simultaneously. For instance, our benzo addiction treatment in California helps identify potential causes of benzodiazepine misuse, often linked to self-medicating during grief. Benzodiazepines, commonly prescribed for anxiety or insomnia, can become a crutch for those dealing with loss, leading to dependency. Our comprehensive approach includes therapy and support to address both grief and addiction.

We also provide opiate rehab California for those seeking solutions for their overwhelming feelings in opiates. Opiates, often prescribed for pain management, can be particularly addictive and are sometimes used by individuals to numb the pain of loss. Our treatment includes medical detox, therapy, and holistic approaches to help individuals break free from opiate addiction and address the underlying grief.

Strategies and Support Systems

Seeking a solution for unresolved grief in substance use only creates more problems, as you are setting yourself up for the potential situation of having co-occurring conditions. Instead of reaching for alcohol or drugs, try working on developing healthy coping mechanisms. It is not an easy task, but there are many proven-to-work strategies. 

Firstly, surround yourself with people who support you, whether it is your family, friends, or even outside support groups. Grief often leaves us with a sense of loneliness and isolation, as well as a fear of others abandoning us. Reminding yourself that you are still surrounded by people who love and appreciate you is a good start. People who went through or are going through similar experiences can offer you input, ideas, and coping strategies that can also benefit you.

Implementing some daily routines and small lifestyle changes can help you focus on what´s positive in your life and steer you away from sadness related to grief. You can seek hobbies, like gardening, or start doing sports, as both are shown to have a positive impact on mental health and well-being. Incorporating daily recovery readings and meditations into your routine can bring you peace, occasional dissociation from pain, and, with time, the ability to experience thoughts and feelings in a nonjudgmental way. 

Finally, if your grief is overwhelming or you are already in that place where unresolved grief and substance abuse are co-occurring problems, seek professional help. Sometimes, we need a bit of professional support to develop healthy mechanisms, identify underlying issues, and develop healthy ways to cope with the challenges of life—loss and grief being only some of them.

Deal with Unresolved Grief and Addiction with Us

It´s completely normal to experience many negative emotions when grieving a loss. It´s a unique experience, and there´s no timeline for grief. It takes as long as you need to adjust to a new world. Grieving will undoubtedly affect your life, but it´s important not to get stuck or allow it to take over. For that, all those facing grief implement various strategies. Unfortunately, not all of them are healthy.

If you find yourself in a situation where you are developing unhealthy coping mechanisms and are stuck in a loop of unresolved grief and substance abuse, seek support. Turning to your loved ones for help is a good place to start, but seeking professional support can make all the difference. Professionals can help you overcome current issues and empower you for whatever life brings your way.

Call We Level Up California and let our staff help you overcome this challenge.

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Voluntarily testimonials from the We Level Up Treatment Center network vary. Not intended as a guaranteed treatment or outcome as each person's journey is unique.