Dependency has a unique grasp on each person, influencing their lives in diverse ways. Additionally, the root causes of addiction can exhibit considerable variance among individuals. Nonetheless, it is noteworthy that grief and trauma frequently stand as prevailing catalysts behind the development of addictive behaviours. Both grief and trauma wield substantial influence in fuelling these addictive proclivities, even after individuals seek assistance through treatment.
In the quest to enable individuals to transcend their lives of addiction, it becomes imperative for them to recognise and confront the sources of their addiction. Thus, it is of paramount importance that, during the recovery process, individuals grapple with unresolved grief and trauma.
The Interconnectedness of Grief and Trauma
Throughout the course of our lifetimes, the likelihood of encountering some form of trauma is relatively high. We endure periods of grieving, prompted by the loss of loved ones, the departure of friends, or the forfeiture of opportunities.
Furthermore, these emotions may surface at any stage of life, whether in youth or old age. In our early years, we might lose friends to suicide or health complications, and this pattern persists as we age. The capricious nature of change, while challenging and sometimes unforeseeable, carries the potential to leave lasting and crippling imprints on one’s mental well-being.
The Nature of Trauma
Before individuals can fathom and confront the roots of their grief, they must grasp the intricate dynamics of how grief materialises. In numerous instances, trauma sets the stage for the emergence of grief.
Nevertheless, grief may also emerge as a response to the transformative forces of change. Consider, for instance, an individual lamenting the passing of their youth upon retiring, as they usher in a new phase of life. However, for a significant number of individuals, the genesis of grief can be traced back to traumatic incidents, encompassing scenarios such as:
- The loss of a beloved individual
- Participation in military combat
- Bearing witness to a crime, an assault, or theft
- Surviving a natural catastrophe
- Becoming a victim of criminal activity
- Enduring sexual, verbal, emotional, or physical assault
- Suffering medical maltreatment or receiving a distressing diagnosis
Navigating the Grief Journey
In accordance with the Kübler-Ross model, devised by the esteemed psychologist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, there are five distinct stages of grief, which are:
- Denial
- Anger
- Bargaining
- Depression
- Acceptance
It is essential to acknowledge that these stages of grief manifest uniquely in each individual. While one person may traverse the path of grieving for a month following the loss of a loved one, another may require several years to navigate through all the stages of grief. Regrettably, not everyone experiences these stages smoothly or without the support of therapeutic interventions. It is plausible, for example, for an individual to linger in a single stage for an extended period, introduce or omit stages of grief, or regress to previous stages.
While the ultimate goal of grief is to eventually reach the stage of acceptance, many individuals discover that they do not follow the anticipated trajectory. When this occurs, grief can act as a catalyst for self-medicating one’s emotions through addictive behaviours and various detrimental inclinations.
Untreated Grief and Trauma: Consequences
In addition to the potential emergence of addictive behaviours as a means of self-medicating the manifestations of grief, individuals may exhibit a range of other symptoms when their grief and trauma remain unattended. These symptoms encompass:
- Withdrawal Behaviours: The inclination to withdraw from interactions with friends, family, and social gatherings.
- Fluctuating Moods: As emotional turmoil rages, individuals may alternately manifest anger or succumb to spontaneous bouts of tears.
- Disrupted Sleep Patterns: Individuals may find themselves either grappling with chronic insomnia or oversleeping during the day.
- Deteriorating Immune Function: Grief can precipitate the onset of depression, a condition proven to exert a deleterious impact on the immune system, rendering individuals more susceptible to illness.
- Neglected Self-Care: As depression takes root, individuals frequently display apathy regarding their personal care routines.
- Chronic Pain: Occasionally, emotional trauma may spawn the development of chronic pain.
Addressing Addiction, Grief, and Trauma Simultaneously
When addiction materialises as a consequence of grief and trauma, it becomes imperative to address each of these facets concurrently, given their intricate interplay. Throughout the treatment process, individuals grappling with unresolved trauma and grief can avail themselves of therapeutic outlets to guide them through the stages of grief, thereby facilitating the arrival at a state of acceptance.
Moreover, this approach aids in the identification of the manner in which grief provokes addictive tendencies, laying the groundwork for the cultivation of constructive coping mechanisms to contend with the repercussions of unresolved trauma once the treatment regimen reaches its conclusion.
How White River Manor Can Help
We offer our guests individualised treatment programs and luxury individual care at White River Manor. In collaboration with the client, our team of highly qualified therapists, medical professionals, and dependency specialists work to design a program to restore balance and well-being in our guests’ lives.
If you’d like to talk to us about treatment options and how we can help you recover, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our intake team.
