{"id":134272,"date":"2023-07-14T10:32:56","date_gmt":"2023-07-14T14:32:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/screening.mhanational.org\/?post_type=article&p=134272"},"modified":"2025-11-18T15:42:47","modified_gmt":"2025-11-18T20:42:47","slug":"someone-i-love-overdosed","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/screening.mhanational.org\/es\/content\/someone-i-love-overdosed\/","title":{"rendered":"Alguien a quien quiero ha sufrido una sobredosis."},"content":{"rendered":"

The unthinkable has happened. You may have known that your loved one was using drugs but couldn’t have imagined that they might overdose. Now you\u2019re feeling flooded with some heavy emotions. You might feel anger, deep sadness, shock, or feelings of missing your loved one. These types of emotions are normal to experience after losing someone suddenly.<\/p>\n

An overdose is considered a sudden traumatic death and is quite distressing. This can have a significant impact on those who are left to cope with the loss. And if you are in active adicci\u00f3n<\/a> or walking a path of recovery, experiencing this kind of loss could really throw you \u201coverboard.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

It\u2019s ok to just grieve<\/h2>\n

Grief is love. We don\u2019t grieve someone, unless we loved them. There isn’t one way or a \u201cright\u201d way to feel. Everyone experiences grief differently. Every feeling that is coming up for you is valid and matters. It\u2019s also important to remember that grief is a process that can take time. So, be compassionate and patient with yourself<\/a> as you work through what\u2019s happened.<\/p>\n

Losing someone we love is incredibly hard. You might be struggling to deal with what you\u2019re feeling. No one truly knows what they\u2019ll experience in a situation until it happens. If you\u2019ve never dealt with addiction, losing someone to overdose might cause us to feel shame or guilt about the value of your relationship with your loved one or not doing more. An overdose can be traumatizing or triggering, especially if you’re in recovery. You may find yourself struggling with your recovery goals as you cope with the devastating loss of your loved one.<\/p>\n

The most important thing about grief is to allow yourself to feel and to know that you don\u2019t have to just \u201cget over it.\u201d Seeking support can be helpful. Talking to a grief counselor or other loved ones, or joining a support group can bring some relief.<\/p>\n

Your loved one was more than their addiction<\/h2>\n

There\u2019s still so much that people don\u2019t understand about addiction. Others might make assumptions or feel the need to share their perspective on addiction. It can be hard to hear those thoughts as you\u2019re grieving. It can help to focus on who your loved one was as a person and what they meant to you.<\/p>\n

Addiction was something your loved one experienced, but it certainly wasn\u2019t who they were. It\u2019s okay to set boundaries and let others know that what you need at that time isn\u2019t to focus on addiction. Instead, let them know that you need support in learning how to live without them and carry them with you.<\/p>\n

Take care of yourself<\/h2>\n

Grief can impact your mental, emotional, and physical well-being<\/a>. Tough emotions can come in waves and lead to isolation, changes in your eating and sleeping habits, and trouble getting through each day. Your mental and physical health are connected, so it\u2019s important to focus on your overall well-being. This can be challenging, especially in communities, where culturally mental health isn\u2019t as openly discussed. Prioritizing self-care is a major step in the healing process and it looks different for everyone.<\/p>\n

Here some ideas for places to start:<\/p>\n