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Relationship between grief and substance abuse
Grief and substance abuse can be related in several ways. For some people, substance abuse may be a way of coping with the pain and emotional distress of grief. This is particularly true for people who have lost someone close to them or have experienced a major life event, such as a divorce or job loss. Substance abuse can provide temporary relief from the intense feelings of sadness, loneliness, and hopelessness that often accompany grief.
Poor anger management can lead to the use of drugs, alcohol and other addictive substances
What is anger
- Cultural groups fighting for human rights
- Nations getting together to change a system in power
- Individuals advocating for changing a law
- Communities pursuing changes for a better future
How does anger affect us
Anger can be an instantaneous reaction to an event, or a buildup of unexpressed negative emotions experienced over time and stored within us. As we experience anger, our body releases the stress hormones that during a prolonged period of time can damage our physical and mental well-being.
Anger damages our brain
Stress hormones released from anger hurt our cognitive processes such as short-term memory, decision making, and judgement. As a result, when anger is not well-managed, we act inappropriately toward others by offending, assaulting or abusing them. We might take rushed decisions and possibly use drugs or abuse alcohol to calm us down. Anger can decrease our ability to focus in situations that require clear and quick responses such as driving. Manifesting anger can become a way of living an unhealthy and destructive life.
Anger damages our heart
Anger can damage our heart in more than just a physical way by increasing our heart rate and blood pressure and causing other heart issues. It can also destroy relationships with our partners, family members, and friends and cause unnecessary issues and headaches in the work environment. Manifestation of anger in an unhealthy way can indeed have a negative impact on our children’s present and future as it creates an unsafe and threatening environment for their growth.
Talk to a healthcare professional
Often anger comes from underlying health issues. Depression, anxiety, alcohol abuse, drug use and other mental health conditions, as well as the inability to deal with everyday stresses, can make you feel irritable, overwhelmed, or even out of control. Don’t wait for things to get ugly. Take control of your anger and learn how to manage it. Get professional help and improve your life.
Learn ways to deal with stress
Learn breathing exercises: deep breathing relaxes our mind and lowers the heart rate.
Stress control: yoga, meditation, dance and other activities are a great way to release stress in a positive way.
Take it easy: accept the others for who they are, think like “the bigger person” when someone does things that are not done “your way” and distant yourself from the situations you can’t change or fix.
Find new hobbies: explore new thing to do and interests that make you happy, content and give you a sense of fulfillment.
Let’s look at the facts:
Depression is a mood disorder that affects us mentally and physically: our feelings, thoughts, physical energy, coping with everyday issues, work, our environment and other people around us.
Signs of depression
- sadness and crying without a reason
- fatigued even when you try to perform easy tasks like getting dressed
- loss of interest in what the person used to find pleasure and entertainment
- unexplained body pain
- significant weight loss or gain due to changes in appetite
- isolation from friends and social circle
- felling hopeless about finding a solution or about the future
- feeling forgetful as if a curtain of fog blocks your ability to think sharply
- inability to take decisions because you feel scared that you are going to make things worse feeling like death would solve all problems
- often, almost daily thinking of harming yourself
- planning a suicide
last more than two weeks you are experiencing depression.
It is time to contact a healthcare professional and get the right treatment.
Types of depression
Types of depression include :
- sadness and crying without a reason
Peri and Post-Partum Depression
- Feeling depressed before and after the birth of a child.
- Research has shown that women are not the only parent going through depression but men as well.
- Often, this kind of depression is left undiagnosed and untreated as one may not recognize the symptoms and seek professional help
- Seasonal Depression (Seasonal Affective Disorder)
- Depression that affects people mostly during the winter months.
Other Depressive Disorders include
- Atypical Depression
- Treatment Resistant Depression
- Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)
- Psychotic Depression
- Bipolar Disorders
- Persistent Depressive Disorder
For more information visit:
Treatments
Depression as a mental health disorder is treatable. The first step toward a treatment is to contact a healthcare professional who can discuss with you the different types of treatments and help you connect with other team members. Treatments may include medication, psychotherapy, counselling, recreational therapy and nutritional therapy.
Select your environment
When dealing with depression it is important to select the right crowd to hang out with. Emotions are contagious and the last thing a person in depression needs is negativity. As this mental illness takes a toll on your body and mind, it is important to surround yourself with family members and friends who understand your situation, are there to listen to your issues and provide help.
Risk factors
- Depression affects more women than men, research says.
- Black and Hispanic ethnicity are more likely to suffer from mental illness.
- Divorced or separated people are at a high risk to develop major depression
- Having a family member with depression history also increases chances of depression by 25%-50%.
Economic and educational status is another factor. Research shows that people with lower education and financial instability are more likely to be affected by depressive disorders.
Take care of yourself
Dedicating time to yourself is not selfish; it shows care and love towards the most important person you know. Here are some tips for self-care which will help you boost your mood and as a result help you manage some of the depression symptoms.
- Eat foods that boost your mood (dark chocolate, papaya, pineapple, fish, berries, etc.)
- Listen to music that has a happy rhythm and makes you want to dance.
- Involve yourself in yoga and meditation sessions; they help release stress for body and mind.
Links you can explore:
Facts about marijuana use
More than 6.2 million Canadians have used weed, and many have become dependent on it. But, should you quit smoking weed? Weed products are known for their addictive properties and it is the second most used mind-altering substance in North America. Many have the impression that we can’t become addicted to weed. However, the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) considers marijuana an addictive substance that contributes to mental health disorders. Psychological dependence is very much possible in which one’s body and brain adapt to marijuana, as it changes the natural ways the brain works, negatively altering its baseline state.
What is withdrawal from marijuana like?
Withdrawal typically starts 1-2 days after you quit, and symptoms may include nausea, headaches, depressed mood, trouble sleeping, nervousness, increased anxiety, decreased appetite, and troubling dreams. The way you experience symptoms depends on how often and how much you consumed before quitting. Chronic cannabis users may also experience long-term health problems.
Having an addiction or dependence on marijuana can lead to effects even when not in withdrawal. THC can cause cognitive impairment, diminished coordination, a slower reaction time, and paranoia. The THC in weed affects dopamine, which leads to euphoria, pain modulation and anxiety. The more weed you consume, the harder it becomes to quit. Abuse of weed can make new things feel boring to you, ruining the novelties of life. Newer studies show that too much marijuana use during adolescence can cause brain long-term damage.
Addiction affects all parts of life negatively. But, quitting smoking weed on your own can be difficult, and many don’t succeed. It’s easy to get discouraged. Thankfully, there are many ways to treat this addiction and help you quit. This is facilitated with behavioural treatments and medical supervision.
Are you or someone you know struggling with an addiction to marijuana? Please contact us, we can help.