Grief and Addiction

Grief is something that all of us hope to never have to experience, however will likely go through at some point in our lives. The process of grief is complex and can bring about several emotions, making daily living a challenge. For some, the use of drugs and/or alcohol may feel like a simple way to ease some of the pain caused by the grief, but unfortunately, this action will likely only create further problems.

Throughout this page, we will shed light on what grief looks like and its process, as well as the importance of seeking professional treatment should you or a loved one be struggling with substance misuse or addiction while grieving.

What is Grief?

Grief includes the various emotional, cognitive, and behavioral responses a person can have as a result of suffering a major loss in their life. While everyone copes with grief in their own unique ways and on their own time, there are often five stages that people go through while grieving:¹

1. Denial
2. Anger
3. Bargaining
4. Depression
5. Acceptance

Each phase brings its own challenges, and it is not uncommon for a person to get hung up on a few of them. However, if someone is also dealing with an additional major life stressor, such as a substance use disorder, being able to go through and process grief as it is meant to be experienced can be compromised.

Causes of Grief

Most people think of the death of a loved one when they hear the word “grief”, and rightfully so. The death of a loved one is one of the most common causes of grief in people from all corners of the earth. However, grief can occur as a result of other happenings outside of death, including:^2,3,4

• Job loss.
• Divorce.
• Moving.
• Retirement or loss of career.
• Declining health or injury.
• Abortion.
• Loss of youth.

Those who experience grief process their losses differently than one another, but feeling an avalanche of emotional stress and struggling with the loss of motivation are some of the most common outcomes that serve as roadblocks to daily activities. As a result, some people may look to numb the distress they are going through by using drugs or alcohol.⁵

Expressions of Grief

Grief can take different forms, ranging from what’s known as “normal” grief to “complicated grief” and even major depression.⁴ Expressions of grief, meaning the way that a person shows their grief, can vary from person to person and be influenced by factors such as:⁴

• Genetics.
• Their age.
• How they relate to others (attachment style).
• Their general, overall health.
• The kinds and/or amount of losses experienced.
• What their spiritual practices are.
• What type of support network they have around them.
• The depth of the relationship or connection they had with who or what they lost.

Those who are experiencing “uncomplicated grief” (normal, typical feelings and responses), tend to express their grief in a number of ways. They often experience a mix of emotional pain, good memories, or even feelings of joy, which can cause them to feel even more emotionally perplexed.⁵ Some of the most common expressions of uncomplicated grief can include:⁴

• Sadness.
• Crying.
• Difficulty concentrating.
• Continuous thoughts about a person or a loss.
• Disinterest in spending time with people or engaging in regular activities.

Complicated grief, however, occurs when a person is struggling to transition out of the acute stages of grief.⁴ For example, they may spend more than the average 6 months grappling with how to accept their loss, causing them to remain stuck in a process that is supposed to evolve.⁴ They may also be at higher risk for developing co-occurring conditions and additional health problems, including cardiac disease or hypertension.^4,6

Some of the marked signs of complicated grief can include:³

• Anger.
• Anxiety.
• Sadness.
• Intrusive thoughts about the person or loss.
• Intense longing for a person.
• Preoccupied with thinking about a person.
• Ongoing distress over being separated from a person or what was lost.
• Feeling that their lives may be over, and the pain of loss may never go away.

The Link Between Grief and Addiction

Grief in itself is extremely difficult to cope with, even when that is the sole challenge a person is facing. The extreme responses that grief can cause can make using drugs or alcohol to make it through seem viable, however, that approach only increases the risk of that person experiencing a substance use disorder in the future.

As previously mentioned, grief and addiction are linked due to the fact that people may utilize drugs or alcohol to numb the emotions they are feeling and detach themselves from their current reality.⁶ As grief continues, the substance misuse may continue, as well.⁶ The effects of being under the influence can greatly complicate the process of grief, fully interrupting any progress that a person may be experiencing and causing setbacks.⁶

Further complications from using drugs and alcohol while grieving can also disrupt the grieving process, such as socially withdrawing from others, being overly self-critical, avoiding problems, and difficulty expressing emotions.⁶

Treatment for Grief and Addiction

If you or a loved one are experiencing more complicated symptoms of grief and/or feel you are misusing substances to cope, treatment can be a helpful option. When looking for grief and addiction treatment, it is important to keep in mind that everyone can benefit from treatment that addresses their own personal needs.⁷

Your individualized treatment plan may include a variety of therapy methods, detox, and other services. For instance, you may attend individual therapy sessions, group counseling, or different therapeutic activities. Depending on your unique needs and substance use, therapy sessions may use evidence-based approaches to help modify negative, unhelpful behaviors and thoughts .⁸ Common therapies grief and addiction counseling methods include:⁸

• Motivational enhancement.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy.
• Contingency management.
• Family therapy.

These therapeutic approaches will focus on teaching you how to live without drugs and alcohol, create healthy behavioral patterns, and develop coping strategies to deal with grief and addiction.⁸

Mutual support group meetings may also be a part of your treatment plan. In a group setting, you can hear about other people’s stories and may learn about the 12-step approach to recovery.

Treatment for grief and addiction may occur at varying levels of intensity and in settings like inpatient or outpatient facilities. Before entering treatment, you should be assessed by professionals to help choose the appropriate level of care to meet your needs.

Find Support for Grief and Addiction

The grieving process can be very difficult and having support may make a positive difference, particularly if you’re also struggling with addiction. American Addiction Centers (AAC) has drug and alcohol treatment centers across the U.S. to help people like you get the help they need for substance misuse and co-occurring mental health disorders. If you’re ready to learn about treatment, give us a call at to chat with a friendly admissions navigator about your options, insurance coverage, and where to find other grief and addiction resources.