Grief is often directly associated with a reaction to the death of a loved one. But the process goes far beyond that. Grief serves as a reaction to loss, and loss in some contexts suffers eclipse from gains made in tandem. Any kind of upheaval in our normal routines and expectations can result in the need for processing grief. That includes events many would not expect to be associated with loss: changing jobs, getting clean/sober, getting out of a bad relationship, becoming a parent, moving to a different area. These are all huge shifts in lifestyle that social conditioning often teaches us to celebrate, period. But it requires bravery and honesty to acknowledge that these types of events are not always going to be something to smile about. After all, no matter how good the new circumstances are as a result of change, change inherently requires loss.
Familiarity as a Source of Comfort
Humans are creatures of habit. Our brains are hard-wired to find the path of least resistance to establishing routines that get us through life. We discover these paths through a combination of our genetic makeup and social upbringing. The paths also shape through a confluence of factors like financial resources, generational traditions, and family environment.
Sometimes these paths to establishing routine are maladaptive. Consider self medication with alcohol use disorder, where drinking as a reaction to feeling negative emotions temporarily numbs those feelings. This approach to handling negative feelings, while effective in the short term, often makes the problem worse. As a result, change from this state of affairs is usually considered a good thing (i.e. an alcoholic getting sober).
But the person themselves may have a different story to tell. With newfound sobriety, the negative consequences of drinking mostly dissipate. But the comfort that drinking used to provide dissipates as well. Regardless of how unhealthy certain habits are, the human brain still associates some good feelings with them (i.e. safety, security, respite).
Life Events Trigger Grief
Beyond substance use disorder, some examples of loss associated with other changes of lifestyle:
- Changing Jobs/Promotions: This may involve losses in routines, coworker relationships, freedom from higher responsibility, and daily interactions associated with the old job which feel easy and familiar.
- Moving: Moving to a new area often makes people give up old friendships, favorite restaurants, and familiarity with common resources like grocery stores and knowing what street or freeway to take to a new place. The old home and its comforts also disappear.
- Leaving a Bad Relationship: Relationships with others always present complications. Even if it felt mostly bad, each person tried to make it work anyway for specific reasons. Those reasons also disappear when the relationship ends. Even with extreme examples like survivors leaving abusive relationships, the coping mechanisms that served them in hard times and sometimes even personal identity feel lost.
- Becoming a Parent: Freedom and independence mostly disappear as the parent becomes a caregiver to a dependent. While this is a beautiful celebration of a new life, parents give up a lot to take on those responsibilities.
Time for Processing Grief
Due to the gains associated with many changes we face, processing grief doesn’t always seem to make sense. Or it may seem like indulging in self pity. There’s also the popular adage, “Pick yourself up by the bootstraps!” as a response to feeling sad. Unfortunately this common approach glosses over a fundamental part of the human experience. While being grateful for the positive gains associated with change is important, it’s equally important to honor saying goodbye to old methods of living.
Acknowledging this loss takes a measure of bravery and honesty. The constant push to move away from the sadness associated with loss may seem like strength or perseverance; however, it can also function as acts of avoidance or denial. It’s okay to not be okay. For those going through a period of significant change, processing grief with a counselor or support group can be hugely beneficial.
If you or a loved one is seeking help for mental health, our behavioral health counselors are available 24/7 for free case assessments: 714-203-2708
