Grief In Addiction

The subject of grief is included in this series of courses on addictions counselling for two reasons. The first is because addicts who let go of their using lifestyles will be grieving a number of different elements: the loss of a familiar lifestyle, the loss of friends, the loss of old patterns, the loss of “special using moments” (like a beer after work, or the first cigarette with the first coffee in the morning), etc. As they let go of these things, they may get immersed in grief and need support. People who’ve developed an addiction have a limited ability to feel their emotions and have a deeply ingrained discomfort with painful feelings. Their “go-to strategy” to deal with uncomfortable feelings is to use, so counsellors need to be well-prepared to counsel them on grief issues when the need arises to prevent any relapses.

The other reason is that many people became addicted because they sought to escape emotional pain. Since grief is one of the most painful emotions to endure, counsellors need to be able to work with grieving clients and understand how their grief has played a role in the development of their addiction.

Normally when discussing grief, we are referring to the loss, either through death or end of a relationship, of someone close to us. Most addicts in recovery have some grieving issues to work through. When addicts are faced with the loss of someone they care about, they inevitably turn to using as a way to cope with their pain. Emotions suppressed in addiction do not simply dissipate. Rather, they are suppressed, so when clients stop medicating them away, they can resurface.

A key principle for you to understand as a counsellor is that emotions are meant to be felt. Clients who were numbed by addiction need to regain the ability to feel and learn to live with feelings in a healthy way. Death and loss are ....