Addiction & Loss Basics
Addiction often causes the loss of this kind of relationship.
What are friendships?
Addiction can cause involvement with this system due to illegal behavior.
What is the criminal justice system?
The natural emotional response to loss.
What is grief?
Writing about feelings in this way can help process grief.
What is journaling?
The more of me you take, the more you leave behind. What am I?
What are footsteps?
One major material possession often lost due to addiction.
What is a job/car/home?
The emotional state often experienced when someone realizes how much addiction has taken.
What is grief/sadness?
The kind of grief that society doesn’t recognize or support.
What is disenfranchised grief?
A healthy coping strategy that involves reaching out to others for support.
What is talking/support groups?
I’m always running, but never move. What am I?
What is time?
Addiction doesn’t only take away tangible things; it also takes away these, like self-trust or decision-making.
What are intangible things?
Substance use may destroy these important personal boundaries.
What are family boundaries?
This model outlines stages like denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.
What is the Kübler-Ross model?
Using creativity, like painting or music, is known as this type of therapy.
What is expressive therapy?
I’m light as a feather, yet the strongest person can’t hold me for long. What am I?
The loss that occurs when someone feels separated from themselves because of their addiction.
What is loss of identity?
A common “secondary loss” of addiction besides material things (example: custody of children).
What is family/parenting role?
Grief isn’t just emotional; it can also affect this aspect of the body.
What is physical health?
A self-care practice that can reduce stress while grieving.
What is exercise, mindfulness, or relaxation?
The more you share me, the less I become. What am I?
What is a secret?
The term for when addiction causes people to miss out on life milestones and opportunities.
What is disenfranchised loss or opportunity loss?
Addiction is sometimes called this kind of “grief process” because it involves repeated losses without death.
What is living loss?
A type of grief where losses are constant and ongoing, such as with addiction.
What is chronic grief?
Turning pain into purpose through helping others or advocacy is called this.
What is meaning-making?
The more you take from me, the bigger I get. What am I?
What is a hole?