Experiencing Loss as a Part of Addiction Treatment and Recovery
It is something that is not always talked about but is experienced by a large majority of people going through addiction treatment: grief. Not the grief associated with the loss of a loved one, but the grief and sense of loss associated with addiction. Many people going through addiction treatment experience a deep sense of loss. As Author Dan Mager points out in his article for Psychology Today, “Loss is a natural part of the process of recovery.”
Recovery from addiction requires a change of lifestyle. It may mean letting go of people, places and things that provided comfort throughout years of addiction. In order to successfully complete addiction treatment a person must recognize their potential triggers and focus on relapse prevention. In some cases this means ending relationships with friends or family that are complicit in their addiction. Giving up these relationships is not an easy task and naturally conjure feelings of loss. The same is true for beloved places or things that contributed to an unhealthy dependence on alcohol.
Furthermore, and perhaps the most difficult for people that have never gone through addiction treatment to understand, is the grief associated with the loss of the actual substance of their addiction. When a person develops an unhealthy relationship with alcohol there are usually underlying reasons. Alcohol may be used as a coping mechanism for a mental health issue such as depression or anxiety. A reliance on alcohol may also be used to alleviate stress or to mask insecurities. No matter the reason for the addiction, giving up the substance that provided the relief is extremely difficult. Grieving the loss of that comfort is a natural part of recovery.
Read the full Psychology Today article: “Addiction, Recovery and Loss”.