How We Can Better Cope with Grief and Live On With Loss
Chelsea Conner • May 13, 2024
Finding Strength After Grief and Loss
Grief is a natural human response we can have. It can present itself as anticipatory or after a loss of some kind. It is important to note that grief does not have a specific end date and can impact individuals differently. There are 5 stages of grief that do not present themselves in a linear pattern. These include denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.
Looking at the 8 pillars of strength
can help us navigate grief and move forward with the loss.
- First pillar looks at our relationship with the person who has passed. Working with the loss is finding new ways to feel close to the loved one and learning that the love for that person has not ended.
- The second pillar is the relationship with yourself, which includes understanding your coping mechanisms - adaptive and maladaptive.
- Third pillar is understanding how we express grief. It is important to note there is no “right way” to express grief. Some examples of how someone may express grief is by talking about the loved one with others, attending memorials, having quiet reflection, and donating to charities, etc.
- Fourth is the time expectation we put onto grief. It is important to not put pressure to feel a certain way by a certain point of time while processing grief.
- Fifth is recognizing the connection between mind and body. It is important to acknowledge the physiological component that occurs with our emotions, specifically grief.
- Sixth is recognizing our limitations when going through a grief process. Some examples of this may be knowing when you can return to work after loss or what boundaries you may need with others around you.
- Seventh is finding structure and flexibility in the chaos and mix of the grieving process. It is important to keep habits and routine to some degree during grief. When we let go of our habits and routine, this can lead to worsening our emotional and physical state. For example, maintaining your physical exercise routine or engaging socially.
- Eight is focusing on your somatic sensations if we don’t have words to describe how we are feeling and our thoughts behind our grief process to continue to allow space for processing.
At Lexington Counseling and Psychiatry - Office of Paul Dalton - we have providers who can help assist you through the grief process. Call us at 859.338.0466 to schedule an appointment. Our current offices are located in Lexington, Frankfort, and Richmond, KY - we have been trusted mental health professionals in Central Kentucky for over 22 years!
Supporting Articles:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/5-stages-of-grief-coping-with-the-loss-of-a-loved-one
https://juliasamuel.co.uk/pillars-of-strength
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/caregiving/grief-and-loss
Understanding Attachment Styles
Substance use is a growing health concern. 47.7 million Americans reported the use of illegal substances according to a study conducted in 2023 by The National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics. A Substance Use Disorder (SUD), defined by The American Psychiatric Association, is ‘a complex condition in which there is uncontrolled use of a substance despite harmful consequences.’ The American Psychiatric Association recognizes that someone who has a SUD has an intense urge to engage in any of the listed substances - alcohol, tobacco, or psychoactive substances that impact daily functioning, interpersonal relationships, and overall health. Another term well known for SUD is addiction. There is no single cause for a SUD but rather, a combination of factors can contribute to its development. Self-medication, genetics, peer pressure, curiosity, performance enhancement, and medical use turned misuse can all lead to someone engaging in problem use with substances and even addiction. Another study conducted in 2023 by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, showed that 70% of people who sought out treatment for substance abuse/misuse reported improvements to their overall health and functioning within the first year of treatment. There are several available options for treatment, including outpatient care, intensive outpatient care, and in-patient care treatment. It is also important to have a collaborative approach when it comes to treatment for a SUD to have the best outcome, which can include medication management, individual therapy, group therapy, peer support, AA/NA meetings, sponsor, and a healthy support system within interpersonal relationships. It's important to remember that addiction is not a moral failing, it's a complex medical condition that can affect anyone. Compassion, understanding, and proper treatment are essential to recovery and can lead to successful outcomes. Some treatment modalities that have shown success in therapy when treating SUD include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Contingency Management (CM), Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) and Motivational Interviewing (MI), as well as a facilitated 12 step program and a trauma focused lens. Whether you're concerned about your own substance use or worried about a loved one, help is available and healing is possible! Call our office at 859.338.0466 to schedule an appointment to work with one of our providers to start your healing journey to recovery. Our current offices are located in Lexington, Frankfort, and Richmond, KY. We have been trusted mental health professionals in Central Kentucky for over 22 years! Articles and Resources: https://drugabusestatistics.org/ https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/addiction-substance-use-disorders/what-is-a-substance-use-disorder https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6175215/ https://www.pyramid-healthcare.com/blog/2019/02/12/self-medication-and-addiction/ https://americanaddictioncenters.org/therapy-treatment
Successfully Implementing and Making Lasting Habit Changes
Creating awareness to break the stigma on men's mental health concerns:
Optimizing your mental health through positive sleep hygiene
Understanding Our Nervous System and Our Thoughts
Understanding Cognitive Distortions and Strategies to Utilize to Untwist Your Thoughts
