Part 12 Substance addiction and grieving

In the lecture on grief by family therapist Aino Koskiluoma, substance addiction is described as a chronic illness which causes grief in itself. She talks about how unprocessed grief can lead to substance addiction.

If the release of emotions is blocked, life can start to feel as if it were unlived, or not genuine living. It may lead to a feeling that no one understands. The individual does not know what is important in life, and may easily resort to narcotics or drugs.

Unreleased emotions may also lead to physical symptoms, such as heart symptoms, shortness of breath and abdominal discomfort. The person may feel panic or terror, they may feel restless and have a sense of being in a dead end, they may develop self-destructive thoughts and fear that they might be losing their sanity.

Addicts bear guilt for the things they’ve done, look for the blame in themselves, feel remorse, and they may sink into self-pity. They may also feel anger, in which case they look for scapegoats for the way they feel. If the expression of emotion is forbidden, the feelings may turn towards themselves, making the risk of suicide very real.

Once the person has processed their emotions, they may find a sense of hopefulness. They may start to have a new attitude towards life, which may even lead to a new lifestyle and way of life. The person feels like they are in some way free and no longer experiences the addiction, but they may still feel fatigue, grief and longing.

The awakening of hope broadens the range of emotional expression, and the person gets a feeling of being able to manage things. They may even laugh at themselves. They no longer focus just on themselves, but find it easier to listen to others and to feel connected to them. The person has accepted their substance addiction, and this acceptance may turn into strength.