How Will You Handle Loss? Here ’s How Substance Abuse Makes Grieving Harder

How Will You Handle Loss? Here’s How Substance Abuse Makes Grieving Harder Tragedies are frequently unexpected. When we think about worst case scenarios, we assume our planning is all hypothetical, but tragedy in one form or another hits all of us sooner or later. How can you make sure you’re ready for the emergency or crisis headed your way? Your most important tool may seem obvious: preparing to grieve. Luckily for us all there are several practical ways you can strengthen your ability handle stressful experiences and their aftermath before finding yourself in the lions’ den. Of course, making plans for supporting and being supported by close friends or family in the event of an emergency is always a good idea. But you should also take a moment to assess your own coping mechanisms, or the techniques you use to process, metabolize and move on from tragic experiences. Grieving the loss of an intimate friend or family member will likely be difficult, draining and painful, yet as a practice mourning the death of a loved one is a healthy way to respond to this loss. If you don’t take the time to consciously consider how you will cope with tragedy, you may be more easily drawn toward coping mechanisms that are unhealthy. Unexpected loss can create feelings of grief so powerful that they drown out other aspects of your personality and motivation. The promise of a few hours without the kind of pain that often accompanies grief can easily overpower your hesitation to abuse s...
Source: Cliffside Malibu - Category: Addiction Authors: Tags: Richard Taite Source Type: blogs