Understanding the Relationship Between Addiction, Grief, and Loss
Grief is one of those unavoidable aspects of life. It is a natural emotion that helps us to process those difficult times. This is especially true during times of grief and loss. However, while most people will navigate their grief in a healthy and well-balanced manner, there are others who will struggle. Many of these people turn to the use of alcohol and substances as coping mechanisms, which can ultimately lead to addiction.
The Prevalence of Addiction in the U.S.
Addiction remains a highly prevalent and serious issue in the U.S. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), “In 2022, 48.7 million people aged 12 or older (or 17.3%) had a substance use disorder (SUD) in the past year, including 29.5 million who had an alcohol use disorder (AUD), 27.2 million who had a drug use disorder (DUD), and 8.0 million people who had both an AUD and a DUD.”
As one can see, these are significant statistics that need significant attention. Within these statistics also exist those individuals who have gotten caught up in the trap of addiction due to unmanageable grief and loss. The good news is there are many effective means, methods, and modalities that can help people recover from addiction while also addressing their grief and loss issues. Essentially, they can heal their issues in tandem.
Better Understanding Grief and Loss
While grief and loss are natural life experiences, some individuals struggle to manage them. According to the European Journal of Psychotraumatology, “Bereavement is a common life event that can be followed by a period of suffering and distress… Immediately after the loss, bereaved individuals can experience a variety of negative emotions such as deep sadness, disbelief, yearning, anxiety, anger, or guilt… However, a group of bereaved experience intense grief that persists longer than would normally be expected and is characterized by an enduring and overwhelming sense of yearning or preoccupation with the deceased and significant emotional suffering, and that is associated with functional impairment in daily life.”
There are also many different theories when it comes to coping with grief and loss. According to the British Journal of General Practice, “Freud proposed the original ‘grief work’ theory, which involved the breaking of ties with the deceased, readjusting to new life circumstances, and building new relationships. Kübler-Ross proposed the ‘stage theory’ where grief proceeded along a series of predictable stages including shock and denial, anger, resentment and guilt, depression, and finally acceptance.” Also, “Stroebe and Schut proposed a ‘dual-process model’ with grief being a process of oscillation between two modes, a ‘loss orientation’ mode when the griever engages in emotion-focused coping and a ‘restoration orientation’ mode when the griever engages in problem-focused coping.”
However, regardless of the inevitability of grief and the different theories surrounding it, the reality is that some individuals are thrust into the throws of addiction from their grief and loss. When this happens, it becomes paramount that addiction treatment be implemented alongside grief counseling and coping skills learning.
Understanding the Relationship Between Addiction, Grief, and Loss
It is human nature to want to escape the feelings of grief. For some, this escape may manifest in the form of over or underworking, over or undereating, and over or underexercising. Also, for some, it may manifest in the form of more diagnosable mental illnesses like anxiety and depression. Still, for others, grief and loss may manifest in addiction.
There is also a link between the grief and coping skills of one struggling with addiction. According to the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Psychology, “Previous research has identified a link between the loss of a significant person, grief complications, and substance abuse. People with substance use disorder (SUD) are more vulnerable to complicated grieving symptoms following loss. From sociocognitive theories, the model of coping with stress assumes that substance use is one of the responses used to cope with traumatic life events.” To best address these issues of both addiction and grief, one must focus on healing at the cellular level.
Healing at the Cellular Level From Addiction, Grief, and Loss
Now, healing at the cellular level is all about healing both internally and externally. To do this, one must focus on healing holistically, which simply means to heal one’s entire being: physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
Healing at the cellular level is also about healing on an individualized basis with comprehensive recovery methods. So, what exactly does this mean? It means that one must have a focused assessment if one is going to best address their exact needs. This includes assessing one’s home, work, family, school, and social life. It also means focusing on treatment means, methods, and modalities that come from all areas of the recovery sphere. This is also known as the multi-angled approach to recovery.
The Multi-Angled Approach to Recovery
A multi-angled approach to recovery ensures that no stone is left unturned when it comes to healthy long-term recovery. Now, this can only happen when there are multiple methods being utilized. This includes psychotherapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). It also means utilizing experiential therapies like surf therapy and horticulture therapy. Lastly, it focuses on holistic healing methods like yoga therapy and meditation.
Meditation can be highly beneficial for helping someone recover from grief. According to the International Quarterly Journal of Research in Ayurveda (AYU), “Meditation, as described in the ancient Vedic texts, is an exercise of consciousness that results in the expansion of consciousness beyond the day-to-day experience of duality. It is an experience of unity, which reduces stress and brings increased creativity and efficiency to the functioning of the inner faculty… The process of meditation goes beyond the mind to the deepest level of the inner Self.” Meditation can also help to address underlying issues and get to the root/core causes of one’s issues.
A Focus on Getting to the Underlying Issues of Addiction, Grief, and Loss
It is important to remember that addiction is not just about the drink or the drug. This is why recovery is not just about putting down said drink or drug. No, as they say in 12-Step alcohol addiction recovery, “It’s not about the drinking; it’s about the thinking.” This is why getting to the underlying issues of one’s addiction is so crucial. Often, this relates to trauma (including trauma related to grief and loss).
It is also important to note that grief and loss are also closely related to trauma, which is also highly prevalent in both the U.S. and abroad. Of course, this trauma must be treated, and more and more is being gleaned in how to do so every day.
According to the peer-reviewed journal Psychological Medicine, “That TE [traumatic event] exposure is very common provides further evidence that experiencing a TE is not outside the normal range of human experience. This leads to several important questions for further research such as which TEs or combination of TEs are most likely to have deleterious consequences on mental and physical health. Most importantly, further research is needed to understand the mechanisms that account for the associations of prior TEs with subsequent TEs in order to determine what, if any, interventions might help prevent revictimization.” One of the therapies that can help to avoid this ”revictimization” is psychedelic therapy.
Healing in Hawaii With Psychedelic Therapy
There remains a lot of stigma surrounding psychedelic therapy. However, that stigma is being lifted slowly but surely as more and more positive evidence keeps coming out. So, what exactly is psychedelic therapy?
Psychedelic therapy has been shown more and more to be effective in treating addiction. According to the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ), “Researchers in the 1950s and 1960s studied the use of psychedelic-assisted therapy for the treatment of addictions such as alcohol dependence, some key findings of which were recently reviewed in a meta-analysis that suggested a significant beneficial effect… Among the participants who completed the study, the self-reported mean percent drinking days and percent heavy drinking days were reduced by more than half of what had been reported at baseline.”
Another highly effective type of psychedelic therapy that may be helpful in treating addiction, grief, and loss is ketamine-assisted therapy. According to the peer-reviewed journal, Cureus, “[K]etamine has long established its role in the operating room, and researchers have continued to investigate its potential benefits in patients with depression, pain syndromes, status epilepticus, and substance use disorders. In 2019, the FDA approved the S-enantiomer of ketamine (esketamine) for patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Following the success of these studies on TRD with low-dose ketamine infusions, investigators were intrigued by the results and began to evaluate their impact on patients with alcohol use disorder.”
Healing in Hawaii With Nature Immersion Therapy
Another therapy that can be highly beneficial for those struggling with grief and loss is nature immersion therapy. One of the reasons is quite simple: it gets people outside and into the sunshine, where they can absorb some essential Vitamin D.
According to the peer-reviewed journal, Current Nutrition Reports, “There are many studies in the literature reporting that vitamin D deficiency was associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety. Although the cause-and-effect relationship of vitamin D and related diseases has not been clarified, it has been reported that vitamin D deficiency exacerbates the symptoms specific to these diseases. Therefore, it is important to detect vitamin D deficiency and to plan appropriate treatments.” It also increases positive mood.
According to the National Park Service, “5 minutes walking in nature improves mood, self-esteem, and relaxation. Frequent exposure to nature reduces anxiety and depression while promoting a sense of well-being and fulfillment.” Also, “Physical activity in a green space can reduce stress and lower cortisol levels by 15%.” Another way to improve mood in nature is via ocean activities like surfing.
Healing in Hawaii With Surf Therapy
The Hamakua Coast on Hawaii’s Big Island has some of the best surf breaks in the world. Some of them are only a 15-minute journey from our exclusive 30-acre luxury property. Many of our clients have said that surfing for their recovery has been like a spiritual experience. There are also many more quantitative pieces of evidence.
According to the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Psychology, “A growing body of evidence worldwide has validated the use of surfing as a therapeutic mediator to achieve positive change such as increased well-being. Surf therapy is defined by the International Surf Therapy Organisation as an intervention that combines surf instruction, surfing, and structured individual and/or group activities to promote physical, psychosocial, and psychological well-being. In addition to physical exercise, surf therapy interventions typically include individual mentoring, social skills development, psychoeducation, and group discussions focused on increasing resilience and personal growth.”
There are also other experiential types of therapy that utilize the benefits of the outdoors. One highly effective one is horticulture therapy.
Healing in Hawaii With Horticulture Therapy
Just as there are some of the most amazing surf breaks right outside our doors at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab, there are also some of the most amazing opportunities to get one’s hand dirty with horticulture therapy.
We have some of the most amazing citrus trees, guava bushes, and vegetable boxes on the Big Island of Hawaii, and those are but a few examples. As with surfing, we also have many clients who feel that their recovery would not be as strong without horticulture therapy.
Horticulture therapy offers a myriad of benefits. According to the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, “People’s interactions with plants, through goal-orientated horticultural activities in the form of active gardening, as well as the passive appreciation of nature, could be therapeutic to people with mental disorders in many ways. First, horticulture could have emotional benefits, such as reducing stress, reducing psychiatric symptoms, stabilizing mood, and increasing the sense of tranquility, spirituality, and enjoyment. Second, it could help people to reduce fatigue and restore attention and cognitive ability.”
Healing in Hawaii With Yoga Therapy
It is hard to understate the benefits of yoga for health and well-being. This is just one of the reasons why it has been utilized for thousands of years for wellness. In recent years, that knowledge of wellness has brought yoga into the realm of recovery.
The benefits of yoga therapy are vast and varied. According to the International Journal of Yoga (IJOY), “Therapeutic yoga is defined as the application of yoga postures and practice to the treatment of health conditions. Yoga therapy involves instruction in yogic practices and teachings to prevent reduce or alleviate structural, physiological, emotional, and spiritual pain, suffering, or limitations. Yogic practices enhance muscular strength and body flexibility, promote and improve respiratory and cardiovascular function, promote recovery from and treatment of addiction, reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and chronic pain, improve sleep patterns, and enhance overall well-being and quality of life.”
When it comes to grief, loss, and addiction, the key is to find the type of recovery that works best for the individual. For many, it is a combination of the means, methods, and modalities that have just been discussed.
Healing Holistically With Exclusive Hawaii Rehab
Yes, we all may experience some type of grief and loss at some point in our lives. For some, this will lead to addiction. However, addiction does not have to dictate the rest of one’s life. There is a solution, and it can be found on the Hamakua Coast at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab.
Recovery is waiting on Hawaii’s Big Island. It’s just over the horizon line of the beautiful Pacific Ocean. The key is to come to the Island and get what is both desired and deserved: one’s life back.
Many people cope with grief and loss through alcohol and substance use. This can lead to addiction and many co-occurring disorders. However, it is important to understand that one can still manage the stages of grief and loss while also recovering from issues of addiction. The key is to treat all issues at the same time. If you feel like you or a loved one are struggling with issues of addiction, grief, loss, or any other issues of mental illness, we can help get you on the right road to recovery right away. You are not alone. For more information about how to recover from issues of addiction, grief, and loss, please call Exclusive Hawaii Rehab today at (808) 775-0200.