Understanding Grief and Loss in Addiction

This worksheet, part of Hal Baumchen’s Understanding Grief and Loss in Addiction series, combines personal reflection with practical education to help individuals in recovery examine how loss and grief have shaped their lives. It opens with a writing prompt asking readers to look back on major losses – deaths, broken relationships, moves, and more – and honestly explore how they have responded, including the role substance use may have played in their grieving. The worksheet then reviews the five stages of grief and explains how the process can veer into complicated grief when symptoms persist beyond six months rather than gradually fading. A detailed checklist of emotions and behaviors helps readers recognize where they may currently be struggling. A reaching out section encourages readers to identify specific people or resources they could turn to for support. The worksheet closes with eleven concrete strategies for managing grief – from allowing oneself to feel the pain and avoiding self-medication, to staying socially connected and joining a grief support group – all framed with the reassurance that healing is possible and that everyone moves through grief at their own pace.