'Alcohol eases my pain'
Question
I was a lucky man with a good wife and three children, but they were killed in a taxi crash and now I have nothing. This was four years ago and my life is still empty. I’m stressed all the time, mostly about financial problems, and now I’m addicted to alcohol – it’s the only thing that keeps me going. How can I fix my life?
Answer
It seems you’re still grieving for your lost loved ones. You might not have had a chance to totally deal with the loss you experienced. Alcohol might have seemed like a good escape at the time but now it’s just ruining your life. What you need is bereavement therapy to deal with the loss of your family.
Through therapy you will hopefully come to see that even though they’re gone, it doesn’t have to mean the end of the world for you, and that you can rebuild your life without your family. You owe it to yourself and them to keep on living a fulfilling life. You’re on the right track to healing as you’ve acknowledged that you’re addicted to alcohol and you realise you need to do something about it. The next step is to make an appointment with a counsellor.
According to AddictionCenter grief is an intense emotion that can often result in addiction if it is hidden and never dealt with. While substance abuse may feel like an alternative solution in an attempt to 'replace a person or relationship', it is not a good coping mechanism and support from family is encouraged during a time of loss or grief.
