“We can all help prevent suicide. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals. Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255).”
Losing a loved one is never easy. Many people experience normal grief with a period of sadness, numbness, guilt, and anger. These feelings gradually subside and it is possible to accept the loss and move forward. Some people affected by the loss of a loved one encounter feelings of grief that are debilitating and does not improve with time. This is known as complicated grief and is sometimes referred to as persistent complex bereavement disorder.
According to the New Hampshire Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counselors Association, complicated grief is acute, prolonged, and coupled with thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that affect one’s quality of life. “Complicated grief is not predictable but is often associated with death where violence, stigma, ambiguity or incongruence in family grieving is present.” Complicated grief keeps you in a constant, heightened state of mourning and makes healing difficult.
Even though complicated grief is not recognized as a mental health disorder, some people meet the criteria for major depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and general anxiety disorder. If left untreated, some individuals turn to drugs or alcohol to cope. Mental health disorders often co-occur with substance abuse and addiction.
According to an article by Deborah Khoshaba Psy.D., (2013) for Psychology Today, “Pre-existing mental health conditions, multiple stressors, emotional dependency, or substance abuse issues complicate the grieving process and increase the likelihood of a complicated bereavement disorder that may necessitate professional treatment.” People who suffer from mental health disorders may turn to substances as a way to self-medicate. Using drugs or alcohol to cope can develop into substance abuse disorder or addiction.
Depression, PTSD, and anxiety can manifest into addiction. If you or a loved one is struggling with a mental health condition and addiction, get help now. At Cypress Lakes Lodge, we treat addiction with co-occurring mental health disorders as a dual diagnosis. Make the life-saving decision to get help today.
Cypress Lakes Lodge specializes in addiction treatment and is located in a serene, remote, lush-green, oxygen enriched environment. The program encompasses holistic addiction therapy and offers yoga and meditation for the mind, body, and soul. The focus is on physical, mental, and emotional well-being by generating the balance of life-enriching treatment, wellness, and healthy, sober, sustainable relationships. Call us to get started: 409-331-2204