“Grief and Loss in Addiction and Recovery” was presented on September 25, 2012; by Janice Firn, LMSW, Clinical Social Worker, University of Michigan Hospital; Matthew Statman, LLMSW, CADC, Dawn Farm therapist and Education Series Coordinator; and Barb Smith, author of “Brent’s World” (http://compassionhearts.com.) The culture of addiction is rife with experiences of grief and loss for the person with addiction and for family and friends. The nature of these experiences combined with the stigma, shame and general lack of understanding of addiction can make grief and loss associated with addiction exceptionally lonely and difficult to heal from. This program will describe Worden's and Kubler-Ross' theories of grief and grief recovery, losses that the chemically dependent individual and his/her family experience throughout the addiction and recovery processes, and how recovery program tools can help individuals cope with grief and loss. It will include a personal account of addiction-related grief, loss and recovery from a mother who lost her son to addiction-related causes. This program is part of the Dawn Farm Education Series, a FREE, annual workshop series developed to provide accurate, helpful, hopeful, practical, current information about chemical dependency, recovery, family and related issues. The Education Series is organized by Dawn Farm, a non-profit community of programs providing a continuum of chemical dependency services. For information, please see http://www.dawnfarm.org/programs/education-series.
The video for this presentation is available on our Youtube channel:
https://youtube.com/allceuseducation A continuing education course for this presentation can be found at https://www.allceus.com/member/cart/index/index?c=
Unlimited Counseling CEUs for $59 https://www.allceus.com/
Specialty Certificate tracks starting at $89 https://www.allceus.com/certificate-tracks/
Live Webinars $5/hour https://www.allceus.com/live-interactive-webinars/
Instagram: AllCEUs
Pinterest: drsnipes
Learn about co-dependency and interventions to help the person with co-dependency issues.
Resilience is the ability to bounce back which starts with having a healthy foundation and viewing adversity as an opportunity to grow and face a new challenge
Powerpoint accompanying workshop session from the Homeless and Housing Coalition of Kentucky's 2013 conference. Presented by Tim Welsh
Trauma is a common occurrence in the lives of homeless individuals and can have a significant impact on one’s
ability to function. This training will help participants identify signs of trauma and ways in which they can engage
in trauma-informed practice with clients
The video for this presentation is available on our Youtube channel:
https://youtube.com/allceuseducation A continuing education course for this presentation can be found at https://www.allceus.com/member/cart/index/index?c=
Unlimited Counseling CEUs for $59 https://www.allceus.com/
Specialty Certificate tracks starting at $89 https://www.allceus.com/certificate-tracks/
Live Webinars $5/hour https://www.allceus.com/live-interactive-webinars/
Instagram: AllCEUs
Pinterest: drsnipes
Learn about co-dependency and interventions to help the person with co-dependency issues.
Resilience is the ability to bounce back which starts with having a healthy foundation and viewing adversity as an opportunity to grow and face a new challenge
Powerpoint accompanying workshop session from the Homeless and Housing Coalition of Kentucky's 2013 conference. Presented by Tim Welsh
Trauma is a common occurrence in the lives of homeless individuals and can have a significant impact on one’s
ability to function. This training will help participants identify signs of trauma and ways in which they can engage
in trauma-informed practice with clients
The video for this presentation is available on our Youtube channel:
https://youtube.com/allceuseducation A continuing education course for this presentation can be found at https://www.allceus.com/member/cart/index/index?c=
Continuing education can be purchased for this at https://www.allceus.com/member/cart/index/search?q=anger
Instructor: Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes PhD, LPC-MHSP, LMHC, NCC, SPARC, CDRC
Objectives
Explore the function of anger
Identify the costs and benefits of anger
Identify anger triggers
Rejection/Isolation
Failure
Loss of control
The unknown
Explore multiple skills necessary for Anger Management:
Mindful self-awareness
Distress tolerance
Values clarification/Goal setting
Motivational enhancement skills
Cognitive behavioral skills
Cognitive processing skills
Communication skills
Compassion focused skills
Self-esteem building skills
Wellness skills (Vulnerability identification and prevention)
Cultivating Mindfulness to Support RecoveryDawn Farm
“Cultivating Mindfulness to Support Recovery” was presented on Tuesday December 17, 2013; by Libby Robinson Ph.D., MSW. Mindfulness practices can help support an individual’s recovery from substance use disorders. This presentation will describe mindfulness, provide opportunities to experience and cultivate mindfulness, and review the evidence of its positive effect on recovery. Dr. Robinson has taught Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction since 2003. She has practiced mindfulness meditation since 1979 and was trained to teach Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction by Jon Kabat-Zinn and colleagues at the University of Massachusetts Center for Mindfulness, where he developed this program for cultivating mindfulness. She recently retired from the University of Michigan, where she was a U of M Research Assistant Professor, carrying out NIH-funded research on the role of spiritual and religious change in recovery. She also did an NIAAA post-doctoral fellowship at the U of M Addiction Research Center and was on the social work faculty at Case Western Reserve University and the University at Buffalo. Dr. Robinson has an MSW and MPH from the University of Michigan, as well as her Ph.D. in Psychology and Social Work. This program is part of the Dawn Farm Education Series, a FREE, annual workshop series developed to provide accurate, helpful, hopeful, practical, current information about chemical dependency, recovery, family and related issues. The Education Series is organized by Dawn Farm, a non-profit community of programs providing a continuum of chemical dependency services. For information, please see http://www.dawnfarm.org/programs/education-series.
Josue Guadarrama, MA Presentation at 2016 Science of HOPE
Description
Developed within a coherent theoretical and philosophical framework, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a unique, empirically based psychological intervention that uses acceptance and mindfulness strategies, together with value driven commitment and behavior change strategies, to increase psychological flexibility. ACT uses three broad categories of techniques: mindfulness, including being present in the moment and defusion techniques; acceptance; and commitment to values-based living. Participants in this seminar will learn mindfulness as a way of observing ones experience, in the present moment, without judgment and “defuse,” or distancing oneself from unhelpful thoughts, reactions and sensations. Aside from a didactic approach, there will be video examples, and skill practice. Audience participation is highly encouraged.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Exercises & MetaphorsJ. Ryan Fuller
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) metaphors and experiential exercises are used to help clients get distance from their thoughts and make room for emotions. This presentation is part of a graduate course taught at NYU.
Wednesday, September 17 kicked off our fall theme of Building Resilient Workspaces. Andrew Soren a graduate of, and Assistant Instructor at, the University of Pennsylvania's internationally renowned Master of Applied Positive Psychology and a Senior Advisor of Talent Management at BMO, provided a thought provoking introduction to the science of resilience.
http://todn.org
This presentation on positive psychology's view of healing trauma though post traumatic growth was given to an audience of 150 trauma survivors in San Francisco, CA.
This was released as Episode 389 of Counselor Toolbox Podcast. You can find specific episodes and CEU courses based on the podcasts at https://allceus.com/counselortoolbox You can also subscribe on your favorite podcast app like Apple Podcasts, Google Play or Castbox.
Examine ways to use problem solving skills to reduce distress. Identify the 4 problem solving options and techniques to implement them. Explore ways to teach theses skills in group settings to clients with mental health and addiction issues.
The video for this presentation is available on our Youtube channel:
https://youtube.com/allceuseducation A continuing education course for this presentation can be found at https://www.allceus.com/member/cart/index/index?c=
Continuing education can be purchased for this at https://www.allceus.com/member/cart/index/search?q=anger
Instructor: Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes PhD, LPC-MHSP, LMHC, NCC, SPARC, CDRC
Objectives
Explore the function of anger
Identify the costs and benefits of anger
Identify anger triggers
Rejection/Isolation
Failure
Loss of control
The unknown
Explore multiple skills necessary for Anger Management:
Mindful self-awareness
Distress tolerance
Values clarification/Goal setting
Motivational enhancement skills
Cognitive behavioral skills
Cognitive processing skills
Communication skills
Compassion focused skills
Self-esteem building skills
Wellness skills (Vulnerability identification and prevention)
Cultivating Mindfulness to Support RecoveryDawn Farm
“Cultivating Mindfulness to Support Recovery” was presented on Tuesday December 17, 2013; by Libby Robinson Ph.D., MSW. Mindfulness practices can help support an individual’s recovery from substance use disorders. This presentation will describe mindfulness, provide opportunities to experience and cultivate mindfulness, and review the evidence of its positive effect on recovery. Dr. Robinson has taught Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction since 2003. She has practiced mindfulness meditation since 1979 and was trained to teach Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction by Jon Kabat-Zinn and colleagues at the University of Massachusetts Center for Mindfulness, where he developed this program for cultivating mindfulness. She recently retired from the University of Michigan, where she was a U of M Research Assistant Professor, carrying out NIH-funded research on the role of spiritual and religious change in recovery. She also did an NIAAA post-doctoral fellowship at the U of M Addiction Research Center and was on the social work faculty at Case Western Reserve University and the University at Buffalo. Dr. Robinson has an MSW and MPH from the University of Michigan, as well as her Ph.D. in Psychology and Social Work. This program is part of the Dawn Farm Education Series, a FREE, annual workshop series developed to provide accurate, helpful, hopeful, practical, current information about chemical dependency, recovery, family and related issues. The Education Series is organized by Dawn Farm, a non-profit community of programs providing a continuum of chemical dependency services. For information, please see http://www.dawnfarm.org/programs/education-series.
Josue Guadarrama, MA Presentation at 2016 Science of HOPE
Description
Developed within a coherent theoretical and philosophical framework, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a unique, empirically based psychological intervention that uses acceptance and mindfulness strategies, together with value driven commitment and behavior change strategies, to increase psychological flexibility. ACT uses three broad categories of techniques: mindfulness, including being present in the moment and defusion techniques; acceptance; and commitment to values-based living. Participants in this seminar will learn mindfulness as a way of observing ones experience, in the present moment, without judgment and “defuse,” or distancing oneself from unhelpful thoughts, reactions and sensations. Aside from a didactic approach, there will be video examples, and skill practice. Audience participation is highly encouraged.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Exercises & MetaphorsJ. Ryan Fuller
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) metaphors and experiential exercises are used to help clients get distance from their thoughts and make room for emotions. This presentation is part of a graduate course taught at NYU.
Wednesday, September 17 kicked off our fall theme of Building Resilient Workspaces. Andrew Soren a graduate of, and Assistant Instructor at, the University of Pennsylvania's internationally renowned Master of Applied Positive Psychology and a Senior Advisor of Talent Management at BMO, provided a thought provoking introduction to the science of resilience.
http://todn.org
This presentation on positive psychology's view of healing trauma though post traumatic growth was given to an audience of 150 trauma survivors in San Francisco, CA.
This was released as Episode 389 of Counselor Toolbox Podcast. You can find specific episodes and CEU courses based on the podcasts at https://allceus.com/counselortoolbox You can also subscribe on your favorite podcast app like Apple Podcasts, Google Play or Castbox.
Examine ways to use problem solving skills to reduce distress. Identify the 4 problem solving options and techniques to implement them. Explore ways to teach theses skills in group settings to clients with mental health and addiction issues.
‘Loss and Grief’: Emotional Experiences by Terminally Ill PatientsZulfiquer Ahmed Amin
A concept developed by Kubler Ross to identify the emotional responses of the terminally ill patients or their near relatives. Idea, is to adopt appropriate behavior to handle these sensitive situations.
Relationships In and Out of Addiction and Recovery - May 2010Dawn Farm
"Relationships In and Out of Addiction and Recovery and Recovery" was presented by Ed Conlin, BSEd, CAC-R; addiction counselor, Detroit Capuchin Service System; and Janice Firn, LMSW; Clinical Social Worker, University of Michigan Hospital. This program describes the process of self-actualization; the formation of personal bonds; the dynamics of relationships in addiction; how patterns in thought, action and relationships are affected by addiction; and key attitudes and tools for healthy relationships. It is part of the Dawn Farm Education Series, a FREE, annual workshop series developed to provide accurate, helpful, hopeful, practical, current information about chemical dependency, recovery, family and related issues. The Education Series is organized by Dawn Farm, a non-profit community of programs providing a continuum of chemical dependency services. For information, please see http://www.dawnfarm.org/programs/education-series.
Facing Forward: When Cancer Changes the Road Aheadbkling
A breast or ovarian cancer diagnosis brings unimaginable changes to a woman's life. Join us for a webinar as Julie Larson, LCSW, helps you reflect upon the psychological impact of this diagnosis. Learn how to develop strategies to face the challenges and emotions of your new normal.
Being confronted by our own mortality can bring up a lot of feelings: fear, anger, sadness, helplessness, and few experiences bring us face to face with our own death like a cancer diagnosis. But facing mortality can also be an opportunity to find meaning, live in the moment, and contemplate the mark you want to leave on this world. Attend this program to explore how to acknowledge the inevitable while still allowing yourself to truly live a full life and experience hope.
This presentation is in collaboration with NYU Langone Health.
Suicide Prevention and Addiction - January 2014Dawn Farm
“Suicide Prevention and Addiction” was presented on Tuesday January 28, 2014; by Raymond Dalton, MA; Dawn Farm Outpatient Services Coordinator. There is an alarmingly high prevalence of suicide among people with addiction and people in early recovery. This program will raise awareness of the signs of suicidal thinking and describe ways to offer support and obtain help for people who may be contemplating suicide. Viewers will learn how to recognize suicidal thinking, reach out and offer support to others contemplating suicide, obtain help when suicidal thoughts are present, and access local and national suicide prevention and intervention resources. This program is part of the Dawn Farm Education Series, a FREE, annual workshop series developed to provide accurate, helpful, hopeful, practical, current information about chemical dependency, recovery, family and related issues. The Education Series is organized by Dawn Farm, a non-profit community of programs providing a continuum of chemical dependency services. For information, please see http://www.dawnfarm.org/programs/education-series.
Addiction and Suicide Prevention - December 2012 Dawn Farm
“Addiction and Suicide Prevention” was presented on Tuesday December 18, 2012; by Raymond Dalton, MA; Dawn Farm therapist. There is an alarmingly high prevalence of suicide among people with addiction and people in early recovery. This program will raise awareness of the signs of suicidal thinking and describe ways to offer support and obtain help for people who may be contemplating suicide. Viewers will learn how to recognize suicidal thinking, reach out and offer support to others contemplating suicide, obtain help when suicidal thoughts are present, and access local and national suicide prevention and intervention resources. This program is part of the Dawn Farm Education Series, a FREE, annual workshop series developed to provide accurate, helpful, hopeful, practical, current information about chemical dependency, recovery, family and related issues. The Education Series is organized by Dawn Farm, a non-profit community of programs providing a continuum of chemical dependency services. For information, please see http://www.dawnfarm.org/programs/education-series.
Collegiate Recovery Programs: Supporting Second Chances - October 2012Dawn Farm
The transition to a college environment can pose significant risk to a recovering student and to students at risk for alcohol/other drug problems. Many colleges and universities, including the University of Michigan, have developed programs to help recovering students maintain their recovery, excel academically and have a normative college experience apart from the culture of alcohol and other drug use. Research demonstrates exceptionally high rates of academic success and sustained recovery among students who participate in Collegiate Recovery Programs. This presentation will provide an overview of the national and local efforts to build recovery support programs on college campuses, and provide information about what parents and students should look for as they explore their options for pursuing a degree of higher education. The program is presented by Mary Jo Desprez, MA; Director of Health Promotion and Community Relations, for the University of Michigan. Mary Jo manages both the Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Program and the Collegiate Recovery Program at the University of Michigan. She serves as the Co-Chair for both the Ann Arbor Campus and Community Coalition (A2C3), and the Michigan Campus Coalition (MC3). She is a Center Associate for the Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention (U.S Department of Education). Mary Jo has also been an adjunct instructor at Eastern Michigan University since 1997. This program is part of the Dawn Farm Education Series, a FREE, annual workshop series developed to provide accurate, helpful, hopeful, practical, current information about chemical dependency, recovery, family and related issues. The Education Series is organized by Dawn Farm, a non-profit community of programs providing a continuum of chemical dependency services. For information, please see http://www.dawnfarm.org/programs/education-series.
"Eating Disorders" is presented by Dr. Carl Christensen, MD, Ph.D.; Addictionologist; and Lori Perpich, LLP, MS Clinical Behavioral Psychology; cognitive behavioral therapist and EDEN program facilitator. This program examines the evidence that eating disorders are true biopsychosocial diseases, similar to chemical dependency. It defines various eating disorders and their consequences, explores neurobiological theories of addiction, discusses screening tools used for eating disorders, and provides information on treatment options and resources for eating disorders. This program is part of the Dawn Farm Education Series, a FREE, annual workshop series developed to provide accurate, helpful, hopeful, practical, current information about chemical dependency, recovery, family and related issues. The Education Series is organized by Dawn Farm, a non-profit community of programs providing a continuum of chemical dependency services. For information, please see http://www.dawnfarm.org/programs/education-series.
How To Support Recovery and Not Support Addiction - May 2012Dawn Farm
"How to Support Recovery and Not Support Addiction" was presented on Tuesday May 15, 2012, by Dr. Charles F. Gehrke, MD, FACP, FASAM. When all else has failed - what does work when confronted with a loved one’s addiction? What does not work? What can others do to help? What does not help? What role does an individual play in supporting another person’s recovery process? These and other questions will be addressed in order to assist participants to find effective methods to successfully support another person’s recovery, avoid enabling another person’s addiction, and maintain their own health and well-being. This program is part of the FREE, annual Dawn Farm Education Series. The Education Series is organized by Dawn Farm, a non-profit community of programs providing a continuum of chemical dependency services. For information, please contact Matt Statman, LLMSW, CADC, Education Series Coordinator, at 734-485-8725 or info@dawnfarm.org, or see http://www.dawnfarm.org/programs/education-series.
The Intersection of Domestic Violence and Substance Abuse- April 2012Dawn Farm
"The Intersection of Domestic Violence and Substance Abuse" was presented on April 17, 2012, by Barbara Niess May, MPH, MSW; Executive Director, SafeHouse Center; and David J.H. Garvin, LMSW; Director, Alternatives to Domestic Aggression, Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County. Domestic violence offender and survivor alcohol and other drug use/abuse is central to this discussion. The audience is provided with a primmer regarding batterer tactics, strategies, and core beliefs which hold the batterer accountable for his abusive behaviors while maintaining and promoting survivor safety. The program will help participants to recognize the critical importance of understanding domestic violence and alcohol/other drug use/abuse in order to safely and effectively intervene and/or interrupt the batterer's abusive behaviors and support the survivor. This program is part of the Dawn Farm Education Series, a FREE, annual workshop series developed to provide accurate, helpful, hopeful, practical, current information about chemical dependency, recovery, family and related issues. The Education Series is organized by Dawn Farm, a non-profit community of programs providing a continuum of chemical dependency services. For information, please see http://www.dawnfarm.org/programs/education-series.
The Physiology of Addiction - February 2012Dawn Farm
"The Physiology of Addiction" was presented on Tuesday February 21, 2012, by Dr. Carl Christensen, MD, PhD, FACOG, CRMO, ABAM. This program explores the differences in neurochemistry between the addicted brain and the normal brain, the progression of physiological changes that occur in people with alcohol/other drug addiction, the mechanisms of physiologic tolerance and withdrawal, and the effects of treatment on the addicted brain. This program is part of the Dawn Farm Education Series, a FREE, annual workshop series developed to provide accurate, helpful, hopeful, practical, current information about chemical dependency, recovery, family and related issues. The Education Series is organized by Dawn Farm, a non-profit community of programs providing a continuum of chemical dependency services. For information, please see http://www.dawnfarm.org/programs/education-series.
Transformation of the Culture of Recovery in America by William L. White - Oc...Dawn Farm
"Transformation of the Culture of Recovery in America" was presented on Tuesday October 18, 2011; by William L. White, MA; Senior Research Consultant, Chestnut Health System. For almost three centuries, people recovering from severe alcohol and other drug problems have found ways to help each other initiate and sustain their recovery journeys. Today, recovering people, their families, and visionary professionals have responded to the stigma, criminalization, and lack of appropriate medical care associated with severe alcohol and other drug problems by creating an unprecedented growth in new structures of recovery support. This presentation will explore recent recovery community building activities and the influence they will exert on the future of addiction treatment and recovery in America. William White is one of the world’s best-know and most influential advocates, authors and public speakers on the subject of recovery from addiction. He has authored or coauthored more than 350 articles and monographs and fifteen books, including "Let's Go Make Some History: Chronicles of the New Addiction Recovery Advocacy Movement," "Pathways From The Culture of Addiction to the Culture of Recovery," and "Slaying the Dragon: The History of Addiction Treatment and Recovery in America" which received the McGovern Family Foundation Award for the best book on addiction recovery. This program is part of the FREE, annual Dawn Farm Education Series. The Education Series is organized by Dawn Farm, a non-profit community of programs providing a continuum of chemical dependency services. For information, please contact Matt Statman, LLMSW, CADC, Education Series Coordinator, at 734-485-8725 or info@dawnfarm.org, or see http://www.dawnfarm.org/programs/education-series.
"Codependency" was presented on Tuesday March 22, 2011, by Ronald E. Harrison; Chemical Dependency Therapist. This program discusses the symptoms and progression of codependency and describes actions and resources that help codependent people to recover from codependency. This program is part of the FREE, annual Dawn Farm Education Series. The Education Series is organized by Dawn Farm, a non-profit community of programs providing a continuum of chemical dependency services. For information, please contact Matt Statman, LLMSW, CADC, Education Series Coordinator, at 734-485-8725 or info@dawnfarm.org, or see http://www.dawnfarm.org/programs/education-series.
In The Doctors Office: Recovery Friend or Foe? - March 2012Dawn Farm
“In the Doctor’s Office: Recovery Friend or Foe?" was presented on Tuesday March 20, 2012; by Dr. Mark A. Weiner, MD; Internal Medicine and Addiction Medicine; and Matthew Statman, LLMSW, CADC; Dawn Farm therapist and Education Series Coordinator. It’s been said that the doctor’s office is a dangerous place for people in recovery from addiction. It’s also been said that recovering people are terrible patients. This program discusses whether these statements are fair and why doctors and other healthcare providers are essential allies for long term recovery. The program describes in detail how people in recovery from alcohol/other drug addiction can take responsibility for their physical health and recruit health care providers as allies. This program is part of the Dawn Farm Education Series, a FREE, annual workshop series developed to provide accurate, helpful, hopeful, practical, current information about chemical dependency, recovery, family and related issues. The Education Series is organized by Dawn Farm, a non-profit community of programs providing a continuum of chemical dependency services. For information, please see http://www.dawnfarm.org/programs/education-series.
Tobacco Cessation and Addiction Recovery - June 2011Dawn Farm
"Tobacco Cessation and Addiction Recovery" is presented by Anna Byberg, Dawn Farm Project Manager. This program describes the prevalence of tobacco addiction among alcoholics and drug addicts, the relationship between tobacco use and recovery, and basic information about how to quit using tobacco. This program is part of the Dawn Farm Education Series, a FREE, annual workshop series developed to provide accurate, helpful, hopeful, practical, current information about chemical dependency, recovery, family and related issues. The Education Series is organized by Dawn Farm, a non-profit community of programs providing a continuum of chemical dependency services. For information, please see http://www.dawnfarm.org/programs/education-series.
A History Of Alcoholics Anonymous - April 2011Dawn Farm
"A History of Alcoholics Anonymous" presents a fascinating overview of the history and development of the Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) program, including its founding and growth. The discussion also includes a brief overview of the Twelve Steps of A.A. The program is presented by James Balmer, President of Dawn Farm. This program is part of the Dawn Farm Education Series, a FREE, annual workshop series developed to provide accurate, helpful, hopeful, practical, current information about chemical dependency, recovery, family and related issues. The Education Series is organized by Dawn Farm, a non-profit community of programs providing a continuum of chemical dependency services. For information, please see http://www.dawnfarm.org/programs/education-series.
The Doctors Opinion on Alcoholism – Revisited (November 2011)Dawn Farm
This program describes a physician's view of alcoholism, as presented in the literature of Alcoholics Anonymous and updated with the modern neurobiology of addictive illness. It includes a discussion of Dr. Silkworth’s explanation of alcoholism as a twofold disease, affecting mind and body, how Dr. Silkworth's opinion relates to the modern neurobiolgy of addictive illness, and identification of therapy for alcoholism as promoted by Alcoholics Anonymous and its relationship to Dr. Silkworth’s opinion. The program is presented by Dr. Herbert L. Malinoff, MD; addictionologist. This program is part of the Dawn Farm Education Series, a FREE, annual workshop series developed to provide accurate, helpful, hopeful, practical, current information about chemical dependency, recovery, family and related issues. The Education Series is organized by Dawn Farm, a non-profit community of programs providing a continuum of chemical dependency services. For information, please see http://www.dawnfarm.org/programs/education-series.
“Adult Children of Alcoholics" was presented on May 19, 2009 by MaryGrace Fisher, LLMSW, CAAC; Dawn Farm Huron Street therapist. This program provides an overview of beliefs and behaviors that are common to adult children of alcoholics. This program is part of the Dawn Farm Education Series, a FREE, annual workshop series developed to provide accurate, helpful, hopeful, practical, current information about chemical dependency, recovery, family and related issues. The Education Series is organized by Dawn Farm, a non-profit community of programs providing a continuum of chemical dependency services. For information, please see http://www.dawnfarm.org/programs/education-series.
"Relapse Prevention" was presented by Robin Edison, M.Ed., LPC, NCC, CAAC; Dawn Farm Downtown Program coordinator. This program discusses the dynamics of relapse, the warning signs that lead the chemically dependent person into a relapse, and strategies to prevent relapse and help handle high-risk situations. This program is part of the Dawn Farm Education Series, a FREE, annual workshop series developed to provide accurate, helpful, hopeful, practical, current information about chemical dependency, recovery, family and related issues. The Education Series is organized by Dawn Farm, a non-profit community of programs providing a continuum of chemical dependency services. For information, please see http://www.dawnfarm.org/programs/education-series.
The Culture of Addiction and the Culture of RecoveryDawn Farm
"The Cultures of Addiction and Recovery" was presented by Robin Edison, M.Ed., LPC, NCC, CAAC, Coordinator of the Dawn Farm Huron Street program; and Quintin Williams, BS, CAC-M; Dawn Farm Huron Street therapist. This program discusses the cultural elements of addiction and recovery, explores the role of “cultures” in addiction and recovery, and describes how the symptoms and behaviors of culturally enmeshed alcoholics and addicts change as the individual moves from the culture of addiction to the culture of recovery. This program is part of the Dawn Farm Education Series, a FREE, annual workshop series developed to provide accurate, helpful, hopeful, practical, current information about chemical dependency, recovery, family and related issues. The Education Series is organized by Dawn Farm, a non-profit community of programs providing a continuum of chemical dependency services. For information, please see http://www.dawnfarm.org/programs/education-series.
Psychiatric Disorders in Chemically Dependent Individuals - October 2012Dawn Farm
This program provides an overview of co-occurring addiction and psychiatric illness, including standard diagnostic criteria, individual considerations for determining the appropriate course of treatment, available treatment interventions, and the perspectives of both the addict and the treatment provider on addiction and psychiatric illness. It is presented by Dr. Patrick Gibbons, LMSW, DO; Adjunct Clinical Instructor in Psychiatry at the University of Michigan; Medical Director of the WCHO Community Crisis Response Team; consultant with Pain Management Solutions in Ann Arbor; Medical Director of the Michigan Health Professionals Recovery Program, and Medical Director of Dawn Farm. This program is part of the Dawn Farm Education Series, a FREE, annual workshop series developed to provide accurate, helpful, hopeful, practical, current information about chemical dependency, recovery, family and related issues. The Education Series is organized by Dawn Farm, a non-profit community of programs providing a continuum of chemical dependency services. For information, please see http://www.dawnfarm.org/programs/education-series.
Christian Spirituality and Recovery from Addiction - January 2014Dawn Farm
“Recovery From Addiction and Christian Spirituality” was presented on Tuesday January 21, 2014; by Brother Edward Conlin, BSEd, CADC; Addiction Counselor, Detroit Capuchin Service System. Spirituality often plays an important role in recovery initiation, recovery maintenance, and quality of life in recovery from chemical dependency. This program will describe a Christian perspective of how spirituality relates to recovery from chemical dependency, explore personal spiritual needs and life choices, and discuss the Twelve Steps as a spiritual program. This program is part of the Dawn Farm Education Series, a FREE, annual workshop series developed to provide accurate, helpful, hopeful, practical, current information about chemical dependency, recovery, family and related issues. The Education Series is organized by Dawn Farm, a non-profit community of programs providing a continuum of chemical dependency services. For information, please see http://www.dawnfarm.org/programs/education-series.
Chemical Dependency and the Family - October 2012Dawn Farm
"Chemical Dependency and the Family" was presented on October 30, 2012; by Dr. Lynn Kleiman Malinoff, Ed.D. Chemical dependency affects all members of the family, not just the person with the alcohol or other drug addiction. This program provides participants with a basic understanding of how addiction impacts each member of a family. The presenter describes the roles and behaviors that family members often acquire when living with addiction, ways in which each family member is affected by addiction in the family, and options for family members to obtain help to cope with addiction in the family. This program is part of the Dawn Farm Education Series, a FREE, annual workshop series developed to provide accurate, helpful, hopeful, practical, current information about chemical dependency, recovery, family and related issues. The Education Series is organized by Dawn Farm, a non-profit community of programs providing a continuum of chemical dependency services. For information, please see http://www.dawnfarm.org.
5. Grief is an…
Emotional
Mental
Social
Spiritual
Physical
…response to loss
09/28/12 Janice Firn, L.M.S.W., Clinical 5
Social Worker, UofM Hospital
6. Why talk about Grief?
Change happens!
To live is to experience loss
“Little deaths”
“Change is Inevitable—Growth is Optional.”
- Walt Disney
09/28/12 Janice Firn, L.M.S.W., Clinical 6
Social Worker, UofM Hospital
7. Why do we feel Grief?
Attachment Theory
Types of Attachments
Secure
Avoidant
Anxious
Ambivalent
09/28/12 Janice Firn, L.M.S.W., Clinical 7
Social Worker, UofM Hospital
8. Why talk about Grief?
“Working through our endings
allows us to redefine our
relationships,
to surrender what is dead and to
accept what is alive,
and to be in the world more fully to
face the new situation.
- Stanley Keleman
(from Living Your Dying)
09/28/12 Janice Firn, L.M.S.W., Clinical 8
Social Worker, UofM Hospital
9. Personal Awareness of Grief & Loss
Perception is Key
Individual Response
Frequency of
Exposure
09/28/12 Janice Firn, L.M.S.W., Clinical 9
Social Worker, UofM Hospital
10. Myths About Grief
Myth: The pain of the loss will go away faster
if you ignore it.
Myth: It’s important to be “be strong” in the
face of loss.
Myth: If you don’t cry, it means you aren’t
sorry about the loss.
Myth: Grief should last about a year.
09/28/12 Janice Firn, L.M.S.W., Clinical 10
Social Worker, UofM Hospital
11. Facts About Grief
Fact: Trying to ignore your pain or keep it from
surfacing will only make it worse in the long run.
Fact: Feeling sad, frightened, or lonely is a normal
reaction to loss. Showing your true feelings can help
you and others deal with the grief.
Fact: Crying is a normal response to sadness, but
it’s not the only one.
Fact: There is no right or wrong time frame for
grieving.
09/28/12 Janice Firn, L.M.S.W., Clinical 11
Social Worker, UofM Hospital
12. Kubler-Ross
The five stages of grief:
1. Denial/Shock: “This can’t be happening to me.”
2. Anger: “Why is this happening? Who is to blame?
What should have been done differently…”
3. Bargaining: “Make this not happen, and in return I
will ____.”
4. Depression: “I’m too sad to do anything.”
5. Acceptance: “I’m able to exist with what
happened.”
09/28/12 Janice Firn, L.M.S.W., Clinical 12
Social Worker, UofM Hospital
13. Stroebe & Schut
Dual Process Model
Oscillating between a ‘Loss-
oriented’ state and a
‘Restoration-oriented’ state
Loss-oriented: more
emotional work of grief
Restoration-oriented: more
task-focused grief work
Adaptive denial and distraction
from the emotional work of
grief
09/28/12 Janice Firn, L.M.S.W., Clinical 13
Social Worker, UofM Hospital
14. Martin & Doka
Grieving Styles: contrasting patterns of grieving and
mourning
Patterns which are not related solely to gender, but to ‘style’
of mourning
Intuitive – emphasizing the experiencing and expression
of emotion
Instrumental – focuses on practical matters and problem
solving
These contrasting styles are poles on a spectrum or continuum
Related more to socialization and personality types than to
gender
09/28/12 Janice Firn, L.M.S.W., Clinical 14
Social Worker, UofM Hospital
15. J. William Worden
Physiological healing is needed to bring the
body back into physical health – this type of
healing takes time.
Similarly, after a loss it takes time to return to
an emotional state of well-being.
The 4 tasks of mourning are an essential part
of the healing process.
No specific order, but still must be worked
through during the time of grieving.
09/28/12 Janice Firn, L.M.S.W., Clinical 15
Social Worker, UofM Hospital
16. The 4 Tasks of Mourning
1. Accept the reality of the
loss
2. Experience and work
through the pain of grief
3. Adjust to the new
“normal”; life without what
was lost
4. Emotionally relocate the
loss and move forward in
life
09/28/12 Janice Firn, L.M.S.W., Clinical 16
Social Worker, UofM Hospital
17. Accept the Reality
To come full face with the fact that your loss is real
and will not return, i.e. that immediate reunion or
regaining it is impossible.
Obstacles:
Denying the facts of loss.
Denying the meaning of the loss, e.g. “It wasn’t a
good job anyway”, or “I don’t miss him,” or “I’m just
as healthy as I ever was.”
Minimizing the loss. “It’s not that big of a deal.”
09/28/12 Janice Firn, L.M.S.W., Clinical 17
Social Worker, UofM Hospital
18. Experience & Work
Through the Pain
It is impossible to lose something or someone you
have been deeply attached to without experiencing
some level of pain.
Obstacles:
Not allowing yourself to feel.
Cutting off your feelings and denying that pain is
present.
Avoiding reminders of the loss – e.g., trying to
find a ‘geographic cure’ by moving to another
location, or travelling
09/28/12 Janice Firn, L.M.S.W., Clinical 18
Social Worker, UofM Hospital
19. The New “Normal”
Coming to terms with being without (maybe raising children
alone, facing future unemployment or handicap, redefinition of
self, etc.).
A. External Adjustments : how the loss affects your everyday
functioning in the world
B. Internal Adjustments: how the loss affects your sense of self
C. Spiritual Adjustments: how the loss affects your beliefs,
values and assumptions about the world
Obstacles:
Promoting your own helplessness.
Not developing the skills you need to cope or to function in
new roles.
Withdrawing from the world. Refusing to see yourself or the
world differently.
09/28/12 Janice Firn, L.M.S.W., Clinical 19
Social Worker, UofM Hospital
20. Moving Forward
To find a place for what was lost that will enable us to remain
connected with them/it but in a way that will not keep us from
going on with life.
Obstacles:
Withdrawal from others and life. Unwillingness to love.
Unwillingness to risk; making a vow to never invest
yourself again.
Holding on so tight to the past that you’re unable to form
new relationships or develop new skills.
09/28/12 Janice Firn, L.M.S.W., Clinical 20
Social Worker, UofM Hospital
21. When is Grieving Over?
When a person can think of what was lost without
acute pain.
When the tasks of mourning have been accomplished.
When one can think of the what was lost without
physical manifestations such as crying or feeling
tightness in the chest.
When one can reinvest his/her emotions into life and
the living.
When one can regain an interest in life, feel more
hopeful, experience gratification again, and adapt to
new roles.
Is there a time limit? 1 year? 4 seasons? 2 years? It
depends.
09/28/12 Janice Firn, L.M.S.W., Clinical 21
Social Worker, UofM Hospital
22. Grieving is Necessary!
“Man, when he does
not grieve,
hardly exists.”
- Antonio Porchia
09/28/12 Janice Firn, L.M.S.W., Clinical 22
Social Worker, UofM Hospital
24. Grief vs. Depression
Grief is a roller coaster.
Depression is dead end.
09/28/12 Janice Firn, L.M.S.W., Clinical 24
Social Worker, UofM Hospital
25. Tensions for Families
Hope Despair
Denial Acceptance
Meaninglessness Meaningfulness
Independence Accepting Interdependence
Ambiguity Certainty of Outcome
Making Plans Experiencing Emotions
Holding On Letting Go
Speaking Openly Not Talking
Family as it Was Family as it is Becoming
09/28/12 Janice Firn, L.M.S.W., Clinical 25
Social Worker, UofM Hospital
26. When Grief Isn’t Healing
Relational Factors
Circumstantial Factors
Historical Factors
Personality Factors
Social Factors
09/28/12 Janice Firn, L.M.S.W., Clinical 26
Social Worker, UofM Hospital
28. Grief WORK
Grief therapy: goal is not about forgetting but
remembering with less pain.
Developing adaptive coping mechanisms.
Finding meaning.
AA and Al-Anon, NA and Nar-Anon = grief work
09/28/12 Janice Firn, L.M.S.W., Clinical 28
Social Worker, UofM Hospital
29. Getting Support When
You Are Grieving
Do not grieve alone
Turn to friends and family members
Join a support group
Talk to a therapist or grief counselor
Face your feelings
Express your feelings in a tangible
or creative way.
Look after your physical health.
Plan ahead for grief “triggers”.
09/28/12 Janice Firn, L.M.S.W., Clinical 29
Social Worker, UofM Hospital
30. Helping Someone who is Grieving
Listen
Acknowledge the
uniqueness of grief
Offer practical help
Make contact, write a
personal note
Be aware of holidays
and anniversaries
09/28/12 Janice Firn, L.M.S.W., Clinical 30
Social Worker, UofM Hospital
31. “Grief heals when it is received by
09/28/12 Janice Firn, L.M.S.W., Clinical 31
Social Worker, UofM Hospital
32. Resources
J. William Worden, Grief Counseling & Grief Therapy, 2008.
Judith Viorst, Necessary Losses, 2002.
Holmes-Rahe Social Readjustment Rating Scale. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, (1967).
Vol. 11, pp. 213-218.
Lynn, J. and Harrold, J. (1999). Handbook for Mortals: Guidance for People Facing Serious
Illness, p.41.
Al-Anon Dist. 5, http://www.hvcn.org/info/afg5/griefloss.htm
HelpGuide.org, http://71.6.131.182/mental/grief_loss.htm
Dennis C. Daley & G. Alan Marlatt, Overcoming your Alcohol or Drug Problem, 2006.
Wolfet, A. (2009). The Handbook for Companioning the Mourner. Companion Press:
Colorado.
Abbot, A., Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs. NASW, 2010.
http://www.hospicenet.org
Maciejewski, Zhang, Block, Prigerson, (2010) “An Empirical Examination of the Stage
Theory of Grief”, JAMA
Stroebe, M., & Schut, H., (1999). The dual process model of coping with bereavement:
rationale and description. Death Studies,197-224.
Doka, K., & Martin, T. (1999). Men Don't Cry, Women Do: Transcending Gender Stereotypes
of Grief.
09/28/12 Janice Firn, L.M.S.W., Clinical 32
Social Worker, UofM Hospital
33. Grief and Loss in
Addiction and Recovery
Matt Statman, LLMSW, CADC
Dawn Farm
Education September
Series 2012
34. "To spare oneself from grief at all
cost can be achieved only at the
price of total detachment, which
excludes the ability to experience
happiness."
Dr. Erich Fromm
35. o Unresolved grief, loss & trauma often
predate use
o Compounded in addiction
o Complicated by use
37. Grief in addiction
o Use AOD to cope
o Lack healthy support
o Medicate / Avoid / Minimize feelings
o Grief not processed
o Losses not fully grieved
38. Examples of Losses in
Addiction
o Experiences and events
o Relationships with family/friends
o Parenting time
o Family milestones
o Deaths
o Time
o Opportunities
o Perinatal
o Spiritual
39. Losses in moving from addiction to
recovery…
“What are you leaving behind?”
43. o Early onset - identity formed around AOD –
You have to give up who you are to become
who you can be
o Addiction forces people to live outside their
values - guilt and shame
o Loss of hopes, plans, aspirations and dreams
o Loss of innocence, dignity, self-esteem,
choice, control of one’s body
45. o Loss over rituals “ The lifestyle”
o Loss of coping mechanisms and
survival techniques
o Loss of culture of addiction
o Loss of using friends / relatives
o Etc…
46. In early recovery people
begin to realize that they
have lost a lot…
47. Barriers to Grieving
o Lack of safety/ trust
o Unable to feel / identify feelings
o Feelings unfreeze - feel
overwhelming
o Seemingly unrelated feelings may
arise (anger, depression, anxiety)
o Complicated by guilt/shame/
stigma/ trauma
48. Feelings - Early Recovery
o Unable to verbalize
o Lack healthy coping skills
o May seek relief through compulsive
behaviors/ other addictions /
relapse
50. “… If you're an addict on the road to
recovery, be prepared to experience
emotions in a new way – the good and
bad; and be sure to have a plan in place
to fight off the cravings while you're in
that vulnerable state.”
–Michael Bloch
51. “The best therapy for grief is
time and community.”
-Michael S. Logan
52. Recovery is a Process
Grief recovery, like addiction
recovery, is not a linear process
53. In recovery people
acknowledge, understand,
and accept losses and move
through grief
54. o Safe and supportive
environment
o Community
o Additional support
55. Some Tasks
o Develop skills to cope with
feelings
o Open up, identify and talk about
losses
o Learn to identify feelings
o Learn to verbalize feelings
o Learn to tolerate “negative”
feelings
56. Grief recovery …
o Healthy grieving enables the
recovering person to confront and
accept the reality of the loss, and
find purpose and meaning for life
o Losses are eventually remembered
with less pain.
Things will get better
57. “Have You A Sufficient
Substitute?”
AA Page 152
63. “The reaction to loss that is widely experienced
by friends and family members of persons who
are addicted to mind altering substances is
profound grief. It has characteristics of flawed
interactional patterns because the loss is
ambiguous. If a person dies, the grief is
unambiguous: the social role the deceased
played is no longer occupied and the
deceased cannot fulfill obligations or promises.
The spouse who becomes addicted to mind
altering substances often ceases to fulfill
obligations or promises, but physically the
social role is still occupied.”
-Vicki Loyer-Carlson, Ph.D., LMFT
64. Losses may include
o Relationships
o Financial security
o Hopes and dreams
o Self-esteem
o Emotional support, “presence”
o Other important tangible and
intangible things
66. Grief feels lonely for family and friends
and circumstances may be especially
challenging - but help, support and
understanding is available, and
healing is possible
67. Grief recovery is hard work
for family and friends too –
but it is worth the effort!
69. Being triggered is normal
and OK
Grief recovery, like
addiction recovery, is
ongoing
70. Triggering Events
o Anniversaries
o National tragedies
o Others having a similar experience
o Holidays
o ___________
o ___________
o ___________
71. Take Action
o Identify sources of support
o Talk about it
o Plan ahead (more meetings, more social
contact, more service work, more
spiritual practice etc…)
73. o A safe placed to be open about feelings
and experiences, without shame
o Step work helps people express grief,
gain perspective and acceptance,
forgive and move on with their lives
o Provides opportunities to give back to
others and make meaning
o Peer grief support groups can be
helpful
75. Helpers
o It’s ok / important to just be there
/ sit / listen
o Avoid trying to fix - It’s ok to say
“This sucks!” or “I am so sorry!”
o If it is out of your league refer to
professionals
76. Grievers
o Let family/friends/coworkers/others
know what you need
o Support dissipates over time - continue
to ask for support
o If family/friends are unavailable or
unsupportive (including well-intentioned
but misguided efforts to be supportive)
–seek support elsewhere
78. o Participation in faith community
activities/rituals
o Faith-based support groups or prayer
groups
o Prayer, mindfulness, meditation
o One’s chosen spiritual practices and
rituals
79. Rituals …
Grief rituals and ceremonies acknowledge the pain
of loss while offering social support and a
reaffirmation of life …
80. Tributes …
o Creating a tribute, legacy
or memorial to honor and
remember a loved one
can provide comfort
o People often find comfort
in donating to a related
cause and/or becoming
involved in volunteer or
service work, or other
ways of helping others
81. Experiential techniques …
- experiential therapies (art, writing,
music) engage areas of the brain
music) engage areas of the brain
involved in grief, memory, healing,
recovery
83. o Participation in mutual aid groups / social
support
o Nutrition
o Exercise
o Adequate rest and sleep
o Activities to engage in that help with healing
and regaining a feeling of purpose
o Internet resources
o Literature
It is how we integrate the losses we experience into our lives, how we adapt to the changes that move us forward into new definitions of ourselves, growth happens from living through the loss and redefining ourselves. Any time there is a change a loss is experienced whether one realizes it or not.
Attachment theory describes the dynamics of long-term relationships between humans. Attachments to people, animals, things, rituals, etc. The more avoidant, anxious, or ambivalent the relationship the more complex and conflicted the grief reaction
The goal of grief work is to more fully engage in life and to be open to the future.
No relationship is like another. How a loss impacts us will depend on the unique relationship we had with what is lost. If one perceives the loss as important or life altering than that is what it is. Additionally, the impact of the loss can be magnified by the number of losses experienced over time, our reserve for coping with the loss can be depleted if there are too many within a short time period. Life Events Scale Handout
Dual processing model addresses the balance between focusing on feelings and focusing on the practical tasks that move you through loss
The type of loss, the situation surrounding the loss, your personality, and the characteristics of the unique relationship with what was lost/how significant the loss is to you, etc. will all impact how grief looks and how long it lasts. For very significant losses the grief may never go away altogether, it may ease for a while only to resurface at key anniversaries or holidays.
Kubler-Ross has said that these are not linear and do not have to be completed in order, one can vacillate between them over time. Often immediately after a loss feelings of denial/shock and depression can surface, over time as denial and shock wear off, acceptance grows. Maciejewski, Zhang, Block, Prigerson, “An Empirical Examination of the Stage Theory of Grief”, JAMA, January 11, 2010
his model identifies two types of stressors, loss- and restoration-oriented, and a dynamic, regulatory coping process of oscillation, whereby the grieving individual at times confronts, at other times avoids, the different tasks of grieving. This model proposes that adaptive coping is composed of confrontation--avoidance of loss and restoration stressors. It also argues the need for dosage of grieving, that is, the need to take respite from dealing with either of these stressors, as an integral part of adaptive coping.
Men Don’t Cry . . . Women Do: Transcending Gender Stereotypes of Grief , by Martin and Doka
Just like after an injury heals we sometimes are reminded of the old injury so too with grief. The would gets better, the grief heals but sometimes there is a twinge. Tasks implies WORK
“ let it be Tuesday” syndrome Substance use can prevent someone from working through this task, prevents one from having to face reality.
Substance abuse numbs the pain and prevents someone from working through this task. Recovery can be a time of facing a number of losses, providing a safe, supportive place to allow you to feel your feelings and work through the pain of the loss – it seems an impossible task but it can be done.
Recovery helps to build new coping skills and to redefine who you are so that you can engage the world differently. Recovery helps you see yourself and the world differently.
Working through recovery allows us to be at peace with the past, to be vulnerable to life in a health way, to form new attachments, to forgive and to ask forgiveness.
Is it ever really over? No. It does get easier though.
The type of life we live depends on how we work through our grieving. Good grieving engages us more fully into life.
Grieving is an Emotional, Mental, Social, Spiritual, and Physical response to a loss. Behavioral – crying, listlessness, sleeplessness, sleepiness Spiritual – wondering about meaning and purpose Emotional – shock, sadness, anger, relief, release, guilt Physical – numbness, empty feeling, tight chest, shortness of breath Cognitive – reviewing what occurred, thinking about what was lost
Grief: the way I am feeling makes sense in light of what happened, these losses are the source for what I am going through, others have validated my losses. I am distracted easily, I wish I looked better – sometimes I feel better than I look, sometimes I look better than I feel. Some people have avoided me or been insensitive since the loss. At times I prefer to be alone and it’s an effort to do things. I am more aware of the fragility of life as a result of what has happened. It’s hard to concentrate but I can if I have to, I’m often preoccupied by thoughts of what I have lost. My heart feels broken. I am very angry, then I am very sad. I yearn to love again. At times I forget and am happy, then I remember again. I pray for strength to get through this. Sometimes I lose sight of my faith but I am sustained by other’s belief in me. I feel comforted when I am with sympathetic people. Depression: I don’t understand why I feel like this. Nothing makes sense. I am preoccupied and lose days or weeks. I don’t care how I look. I am worthless and to blame for this situation. I don’t cry, don’t feel sad. I feel nothing. I have no energy. I am always in a fog. I don’t care about my health. My life is hopeless. I am a broken person. I can find no comfort. I don’t care what happens. I can’t snap out of it. Other’s don’t care. I have nothing to live for.
As we navigate the changes we experience and the sense of loss we have about those changes we move along a continuum, from chaos after the change/loss occurs to a new “normal” or homeostasis. Letting go of what was and accepting what coming into being.
Relationship – if the attachment was complicated or ambivalent then the loss will be more difficult to work through Circumstantial – if the circumstances are not know, suicide, death related to substance use Historical – if you have experienced a number of losses over time or the current loss reminds you of a previous loss Personality – some of us have a greater capacity than others for intense emotions Social – some of us have more extensive support systems, less support is more difficult
Chronic – sometimes when one loss happens after another we do not have time to recover or heal before the next occurs, makes healing harder (ex bone keeps being broken before it has time to heal) Delayed – because of circumstances or personal factors we are not able to experience or work through the loss at the time it occurred, bottling it up and putting it aside for later can complicate our ability to work through it (ex wound has scab over it, hides the infection but it’s still infected) Avoiding – pretending that the loss did not occur, distracting ourselves from grieving, filling the hole left by what was lost in order to avoid the pain (ex pretending the wound doesn’t exist, child’s peek-a-boo game: if I cover my eyes you’re not there).