Join us on "Grief Untangled" as we explore the delicate dance between grief and the tempting embrace of alcohol. Unravel the consequences of using spirits to numb the pain and discover the perilous spiral it may lead to. Amidst the shadows, find a glimpse of light in healthier coping mechanisms, guiding the way toward genuine healing.
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[00:00:00] Hey dear listeners, welcome back to another episode of Grief Untangled, Untangling the Threads of Grief, Healing and Hope. I am your host, Coach Didi and today we are delving into a topic that often walks hand in hand with loss. The use of alcohol to numb the pain
[00:00:24] of grief. It's a delicate exploration, one that unravels the consequences of seeking solace in an unhealthy coping strategy. Let's get in. When we lose a loved one in our life, it feels like having a big heavy cloud of sadness hanging over you. Now alcohol is like
[00:00:52] a magic pill that can make the cloud seem to disappear at least for a little while. When we drink alcohol, it goes into our body and makes us feel different. It can relax us
[00:01:05] and make us forget about the sadness for a short time. It's like a pause button for our feeling. You might feel a bit numb, like the pain isn't as strong as it was before. But here's the thing that magic doesn't last. When the effect of alcohol wears off,
[00:01:25] the cloud of sadness comes back and sometimes it can feel even heavier. It's like the pause button was pressed, but the feeling was just waiting in the background. Using alcohol to numb the pain might seem like a quick solution, but it doesn't really make the
[00:01:43] sadness go away. It's more like covering it up for a bit and if we keep using this magic pill too much, it can create problems. Like feeling even sadder when the effect wears off or even getting stuck in the cycle of addiction. Alright, let's dive into the
[00:02:04] scientific explanation of how alcohol addiction is formed in simpler terms. When we drink alcohol, it affects our part of brain called the reward system. This system is like a natural built-in way for our brains to encourage us to do things that make us
[00:02:24] feel good. When we eat something tasty or do something enjoyable, our brain releases a chemical called as dopamine which gives us a sense of pleasure and reward. Now, alcohol also triggers the release of dopamine in this reward system. It makes
[00:02:42] us feel relaxed or happy for a while. Our brain being the smart but sometimes tricky organ it is remembers this feeling. It thinks, hey that was nice, let's do that again. So if we keep drinking alcohol and repeatedly get that pleasurable
[00:03:01] feeling, our brain starts to adapt. It begins to rally on alcohol to release dopamine. Over time, we might find that we need more alcohol to feel the same level of pressure because our brain has become less sensitive to its effect.
[00:03:18] Now, this is where it gets tricky. Our brain now accustomed to alcohol starts sending signal that we need it to feel good. It's like a little voice saying remember how good it felt last time? You were able to forget your pain. Let's
[00:03:36] try again. The cycle can lead to a point where we are not just drinking for enjoyment or using it to numb our pain. We are feeling compelled to drink even if it's causing problem in our life. At this stage, it's not just about
[00:03:53] numbing your pain. It becomes a deeper sometimes challenging relationship between our brain and alcohol and breaking this connection often requires professional help and support. So in simple terms, alcohol addiction is like a loop where our brain and the pleasure seeking systems get tangled
[00:04:13] up with the effect of alcohol creating a cycle that's hard to break without assistance. So while it might feel like a temporary escape, it's important to find other ways to deal with the sadness, ways that help us face or
[00:04:30] our feelings and work through them instead of just pressing pause talking to friends doing activities we enjoy or seeking support from others are healthier ways to navigate the tough feeling that come with grief. I've talked about healthy coping mechanisms in my previous episode. So
[00:04:50] if you're looking for that, check out that episode which is titled as healthy and unhealthy coping mechanisms. As we navigate the intricate dance between grief and alcohol remember that numbing the pain doesn't lead to genuine healing. It's in facing the tempest of emotions that we
[00:05:07] unhearth strength and resilience. Let's choose the path that nurtures the spirit and allow the heart to heal authentically. Thank you for joining us on this exploration on grief and tangled. Until next time, this is Coach DD signing off.