'When a family member dies from substance abuse, how can we deal with it?'

When a family member dies from substance abuse, how can we deal with it?

08/05/09 08:24

A case where one dies from substance abuse is not a case to be taken lightly. Where a member of someone's family in concerned, especially one who is either addicted to alcohol or some illegal or prescription drug, there is risk involving serious harm if not death, to the family member.

Families will often go through incredible suffering when there is a very close knit unit prior to the addiction. They will try to support the family member as much as they could working on ways to find a solution for them.

Link: How do you deal with a substance abuse related death?;

So sad when someone destroys themselves through addiction! How does one deal with it? First, it is a normal reaction to keep thinking about what more you could of or might have done. But the truth is that you did not cause it, you couldn't control it, and you certainly could not cure it. If you could have you would have. Right? There is a lot of forgiveness that has to occur. Not just for the one who destroyed themselves, but forgiveness of self. It might be helpful to begin to think of forgiveness as a gift of grace. Not so much if one deserves it or not. Forgiveness is a process like grief is. So perhaps think of the hurt, confusion, sadness and guilt as a big awful thorn in your heart. If we get a splinter in our hand we don't leave it there to fester, get worse and continue to hurt us. We pull it out and let it heal. By beginning to think about the importance of forgiveness, we see that it does not serve us to hold onto the thinking that keeps us stuck in pain. There is nothing left that you can do for your loved one, but to love and forgive them. What is done can't be undone. And only in letting go will you be able to heal yourself. Addiction is a horrible disease. It took one life don't let it overshadow yours. There are lessons in the pain we go through. When we figure out the significance it holds for us, we are better able to move on. Talking about it helps and allowing others to reach out to you. Blessings!

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