The Addicted Mind Podcast TAM+ EP 56: Episode Why Letting Go of Addiction Feels Like Losing a Best Friend
Have you ever felt guilty for missing your addiction, even though you know it was destroying your life? You're not alone. In this powerful episode of The Addicted Mind Plus, hosts Duane and Eric explore the often-overlooked emotional journey of grieving your addiction during recovery. They dive deep into why letting go of addiction can feel like losing a best friend – even when that friend was toxic. Using Elizabeth Kubler-Ross's famous five stages of grief as a framework, they explain why these feelings are completely normal and how to process them without shame. Whether you're in recovery yourself or supporting someone who is, this episode offers vital insights into the complex emotional landscape of addiction recovery and provides practical tools for moving forward. Learn why missing your addiction doesn't make you weak – it makes you human.
• The five stages of grief in addiction recovery: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance
• Why missing your addiction is a normal part of recovery
• Understanding what you're really grieving (substance, rituals, identity)
• How to process grief and loss in recovery without shame
• The importance of community support during the grieving process
• Practical strategies for moving through grief in recovery
• Tools and resources for processing addiction-related grief
[00:01:06] Introduction to loss and grief in recovery
[00:04:00] Elizabeth Kubler-Ross's five stages of grief explained
[00:09:54] The dangerous bargaining stage in recovery
[00:12:00] Understanding the depression stage
[00:15:12] What we're really grieving in recovery
[00:18:35] Healthy ways to process addiction-related grief
[00:20:33] Resources and support options available
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Supporting Resources:
If you live in California and are looking for counseling or therapy please check out Novus Mindful Life Counseling and Recovery Center
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