Mixing Grief, Medication, and Alcohol: A Dangerous Combination

Heavy use of drugs or alcohol can intensify the experience of grief and depression and impair the bereavement process. ~ J. William Worden

A reader writes: I wonder if I might turn out to become one of those complicated grief people. I have all the risk factors. I'm not usually a drinker or a drug taker -- I've been regularly using alcohol and Serax (oxazepam) since my husband died. The same thing happened after we got his diagnosis a year ago, but when we received some positive news that they might be able to beat the cancer or at least control it - I was able to cut out the oxazepam and reduce drinking to a glass of wine a day. Then he suddenly died - and we were completely unprepared. Even the doctors were surprised.

Understanding and Managing Grief, March 31 - April 6, 2024

Best selections from Grief Healing's X feed this week:

A new sense of urgency has emerged for healthcare organizations to develop "sustainable and accessible bereavement care" and to cultivate a "bereavement-conscious" workforce to position bereavement as an "inherent element of the duty of care," authors of a recent opinion piece asserted. Incorporating Bereavement Into the Continuum of Care « MedPage Today

Understanding and Managing Grief, February 25 - March 2, 2024

Best selections from Grief Healing's X feed this week:

Losing a parent is devastating. Losing both in a short time creates a unique set of emotional and practical challenges. Navigating grief can be overwhelming, especially when dealing with the Social Security system. Financial planner J.C. Corrigan, CFP® shares his experience so that others might avoid similar issues. Navigating Grief and Benefits When Both Parents Die « Advisor Perspectives

Understanding and Managing Grief, November 12 - November 18, 2023

Best selections from Grief Healing's X feed this week:

Here's why events like a "Ride for Your Life" are so important — and how to keep the spirit going long after World Day of Remembrance is over. ‘World Day of Remembrance’: Connecting Grief to Activism « StreetsBlogUSA

Understanding and Managing Grief, August 27 - September 2, 2023

Best selections from Grief Healing's X stream this week:

The early, dark days of grief can feel hopeless. Others will hold out the hope of waning pain for you, since that can be hard to imagine. Because we can't change what has happened, hope must focus on the future. Finding Hope in Grief « « Psychology Today

Understanding and Managing Grief & Pet Loss, March 19 - March 25, 2023

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

Grief is a normal emotion, but it can be overwhelming. Coping with death, whether it's the loss of a relative or friend, is vital to mental health. Here are tips for grieving in an effective way.  How to deal with grieving the loss of a loved one « azcentral

Understanding and Managing Grief, July 24 - July 30, 2022

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

The language of closure can often create confusion and false hope for those experiencing loss. Individuals who are grieving feel more supported when they are allowed time to learn to live with their loss and not pushed to find closure. Pushing 'closure' after trauma can be harmful to people grieving – here's what you can do instead « The Conversation

Understanding and Managing Grief, August 8 - August 14, 2021

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

At least 30% of California students surveyed by the ACLU said they’d lost a loved one during the pandemic. “Grief comes in all shapes and sizes, but for everyone, it means that life will forever be changed,” one educator said. “For students experiencing this, just noticing and caring can mean the world.”  How schools help students who’ve lost loved ones to COVID « Lookout Santa Cruz

Caregiving, Grief & Pet Loss, January 31 - February 6, 2021

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

Whether you’re managing someone who has experienced a loss, or grieving yourself, communication and empathy are key. 7 tips for dealing with grief in the workplace « Fast Company

In Grief: Mixing Drugs with Alcohol

[Reviewed and updated April 29, 2024]

Heavy use of drugs or alcohol can intensify the experience of grief and depression and impair the bereavement process.  ~ J. William Worden

A reader writes: I wonder if I might turn out to become one of those complicated grief people. I have all the risk factors. I'm not usually a drinker or a drug taker -- I've been regularly using alcohol and Serax (oxazepam) since my husband died. The same thing happened after we got his diagnosis a year ago, but when we received some positive news that they might be able to beat the cancer or at least control it - I was able to cut out the oxazepam and reduce drinking to a glass of wine a day. Then he suddenly died - and we were completely unprepared. Even the doctors were surprised.

Understanding and Managing Grief, November 1 - November 7, 2020

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

Grieving the death of someone loved is often naturally difficult, but during the holiday season it can seem overwhelming. This is particularly true this year with the challenges with COVID-19. In this compassionate video, Dr. Alan Wolfelt provides practical suggestions that will help you survive and still embrace hope during this unique and challenging time. Understanding Your Grief: Hope for the Holidays « YouTube

Physical Effects of Grief

There are wounds that never show on the body that are deeper and more hurtful than anything that bleeds.  ~ Laurel K. Hamilton

A reader writes: I am a member of your discussion group...it is a supportive place..thank you.

I lost my best friend 11 months ago and am experiencing the "out of sync" feelings in my body. I've had all kinds of bloodwork, because I was worried...I'm healthier than I've ever been..somehow.

So...I'm guessing this is my body's way of grieving...I go to move my arm, leg or any body part and I feel like I'm moving in slow motion or my limbs don't feel like I have precise control over them.

Hospice & Understanding and Managing Grief, December 15 - December 21, 2019

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week: 

As the days get shorter and the holidays loom, everyone who is coping with loss looks forward to these days with dread and wonders how we'll ever find the strength to get through them. It may help to know that many helpful and informative articles have been written on this very topic, and as you will see at the base of this post, I've assembled a list of links to many of them. Coping with The Holidays: Suggested Resources 2019, https://bit.ly/2QIL4Zl « Grief Healing

The new free all-in-one “Coping with Grief” mobile app was designed and developed by a team of volunteers from the non-profit My Grief Angels. New Free "Coping with Grief" App With Latest Tech For Dealing with Death & Loss During The Holidays, https://j.mp/2EEhbSI « PRUnderground

By law, every hospice program out there must offer the same basic services, but what about areas in which hospice services differ? How can you be sure you’re choosing the best program? To help you figure that out, use the following questions and concepts as you explore different hospice resources. How to Choose a Hospice Provider, https://j.mp/2sPdlTO « Solistic Hospice

Understanding and Managing Grief, July 14- July 20, 2019

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

Grief-Sensitive School Initiative, http://j.mp/2O4OIN7 « New York Life Insurance Company

6 Ways to Support a Grieving Teen, http://j.mp/32yWsKu « Modern Loss

Traveling with Grief, http://j.mp/2O2iNwO « The Artful Caregiver

Voices of Experience: Caregiver Recovery versus Bereavement

Nancy with her husband Larry 

It is not the load that breaks you down. It’s the way you carry it.  ~ Lena Horne, singer

By Nancy Hardaway

In the introduction to her website The Artful Caregiver, blogger Nancy Hardaway acknowledges that ~ after years of caring for her widowed mother, then her widowed sister and finally her husband ~ it was only in retrospect that she identified herself as a caregiver. Through her blog, she decided to share her caregiving journey "in the hopes that someone can be helped by what they read - that some benefit can come from all that we experience." Two months ago, Nancy's beloved husband Larry succumbed to the rare neurodegenerative disease that finally claimed his life. Now in the aftermath of devastating loss, Nancy continues sharing her hard-won "wisdom, woes, triumphs and tips," offering her insights as she transitions from life as a caregiver into that of a bereaved spouse.

Understanding and Managing Grief, June 17 - June 23, 2018

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

A Familiar Stranger, http://j.mp/2yzAb4n « Bryan C. Taylor

Opinion | The Example of Charles Krauthammer, http://bit.ly/2yvJ4Mp « The New York Times

My Father Always Wanted to Die with Dignity. But When His Time Came, I Couldn’t Let Him Go. http://j.mp/2ttUIl1 « Narratively

Understanding and Managing Grief, April 29 - May 5, 2018

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

In grief, keep living, http://bit.ly/2jwTjpt « Bryan C. Taylor

The Good and the Bad of Life After Loss, http://j.mp/2KEerWV « Second Firsts

Shared by Megan Devine: Here's a handy Do This/Not That cheat sheet on how to help a friend in grief, http://j.mp/2KBwInQ « Pinterest

Understanding and Managing Grief, February 18 - February 24, 2018

Best selection from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

Breathe. Eat. Sleep. http://j.mp/2HFwkDd « Widower's Grief

Explaining Pet Loss to Children: Some Do's and Don'ts, http://j.mp/2Cw2rll « Grief Healing

Your feedback is welcome! Please feel free to leave a comment or a question, or share a tip, a related article or a resource of your own in the Comments section below. If you’d like Grief Healing Blog updates delivered right to your inbox, you’re cordially invited to subscribe to our weekly Grief Healing Newsletter. Sign up here.

Understanding and Managing Grief, May 29 - June 4, 2016

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

In the Grief Browser, All the Tabs Are Open, http://j.mp/1srLyDr « HuffPost Healthy Living

How to Handle the EXHAUSTION of Grief, http://j.mp/1TRN6CN « The Grief Toolbox

Feeling Relief After A Death, http://j.mp/1Y0UxHH « What's Your Grief?

Resources for Service Members and Their Families, http://j.mp/1X8an4F « Grief Healing

Your feedback is welcome! Please feel free to leave a comment or a question, or share a tip, a related article or a resource of your own in the Comments section below.

If you’d like Grief Healing Blog updates delivered right to your inbox, you’re cordially invited to subscribe to our weekly Grief Healing Newsletter. Sign up here.

Understanding and Managing Grief, January 31 - February 6, 2016

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

Grief is physical. http://j.mp/1PZRyYc « lifewithoutjudgment

Modern Loss' Grief Reads, http://j.mp/23PGY0h « Modern Loss

Adam Ruins Everything: How Funerals Completely Rip Us Off, http://j.mp/1St1hNA « SevenPonds Blog