Coping With Losing A Loved One To Addiction

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Everyone Grieves Differently

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​“You will lose someone you can’t live without,and your heart will be badly broken, and the bad news is that you never completely get over the loss of your beloved. But this is also the good news. They live forever in your broken heart that doesn’t seal back up. And you come through. It’s like having a broken leg that never heals perfectly—that still hurts when the weather gets cold, but you learn to dance with the limp.” 
― Anne Lamott
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Grief is Proof that
you had something Truly Special.
​Something Worth Remembering,
​Something Worth Missing. 

Losing a loved one to addiction can bring an array of emotion. Many people find themselves angry at the person or at the circumstances or at all of it. Many others hurt at the injustice, a life taken too soon, a completely preventable outcome. Some may feel angry and hurt, but at the same time relieved. Relieved that their loved one is no longer struggling, suffering, or causing worry and distress in the family. Whatever you feel - it's okay to feel it. 
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Let yourself feel,
​but don't live in your feelings

Mourning is a marathon, not a sprint. Some days you may be fine. Other days you may fall apart. But just like anything else in life try to determine what is helpful and what is unhelpful. Then choose to do what is helpful. 
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I can't tell you how many times I've counseled someone that has watched a loved one overdose and then turned to drugs to cope. Or watched a loved one drink themselves to death then headed to the bar. When you're looking from the outside in it's easy to say "How on Earth could you do that after what just happened?!" But hearing story after similar story - one thing is for sure - if that's how you've coped you're not alone. You're also not doing yourself any favors. So let's talk healthy coping skills instead!

Healthy Ways To Cope With Loss

1. Prayer
God is near the broken-hearted. You may be asking God why this happened. You may be mad at Him. You may be hurt. But one thing is for certain, He is the only one that can provide peace that surpasses all understanding. In your questioning, in your anger, in your sadness ask God for help. 
He will provide!
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2. Look for the Good
One of the best things you can do to help the healing is to remember the good things about your loved one and then do something to honor them!
Think of what they loved or causes they believed in and make a donation. 
Purchase someone's meal at their favorite restaurant. 
Volunteer your time in their memory. 
Our loved ones are so much more than their addiction and we need to remember the good! 
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3. Talk it out
Whatever you do, don't sit with the difficult emotions alone. Phone a friend. Join a support group. Get in to see a counselor. Tell stories with others that knew and loved them. Oftentimes addiction overshadows everything else. Don't let that define who they were. Share the things you loved about them, who they were before addiction changed them or who they were in spite of their struggles!
If you're having a hard time coping with the loss -know that you are not alone and this is not a burden you have to carry all on your own. 
Reach out to Your Praying Friend. 
We will pray with you!
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We hope you enjoyed today's message. Please tell someone about Your Praying Friend, but most importantly tell everyone about Jesus!