Death , Taxes , and Cannabis
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Healing from Grief and Bereavement With Cannabis
Death , Taxes , and Cannabis
by Peter Kershaw , Contributing Writer
Grief isn ’ t merely a state of sadness or depression . Rather , grief is an extended period of deep , and sometimes even debilitating , sorrow and anguish .
Grief most typically results from losing the most important , valued , and irreplaceable thing ( s ) in one ’ s life . This generally excludes material things ( since those can often be replaced ). In most cases , grief is brought on by the loss of a relationship due to the death of a loved one — a spouse , partner , parent , child , close friend , and sometimes even a cherished pet . We can also grieve because of an unexpected breakup of a cherished relationship ( e . g ., divorce ). The experience of grieving is known as bereavement . Where the loss is expected , say due to a terminal illness , the grief may be lessened since we might be given some time to anticipate our loss . But where the loss is unanticipated , say due to an automobile accident , war , murder , suicide , etc ., the grief is often severe and traumatic .
As the old adage goes , “ There are two things unavoidable in life : death and taxes .” About 2.5 million people die in the United States annually , each leaving an average of five grieving people behind . It ’ s estimated that 1.5 million children ( 5 % of children ) have lost one or both parents due to death by age 15 . Because death itself is unavoidable , whether it be a natural death from old age or untimely unnatural death , and because we each have loved ones , everyone is bound to experience grief at least once in their life . Some of us may face tragic circumstances resulting in grief several times . The more cherished the relationship , the greater our grief experience tends to be .
In her 1969 book On Death and Dying , Swiss-American psychiatrist Elizabeth Kubler-Ross articulated the five stages
24 May 2024 of grief . “ The five stages — denial , anger , bargaining , depression , and acceptance — are a part of the framework that makes up our learning to live with the one we lost . They are tools to help us frame and identify what we may be feeling . But they are not stops on some linear timeline in grief .” She later qualified that the stages are not linear or a predictable progression but will appear in varying intensities and times and varying combinations and then subside over time as we progress through our grief . Bereavement due to the loss of a loved one may last a matter of days , weeks , or perhaps even months .
Grief is categorized as “ uncomplicated grief ” and “ complicated grief .” Uncomplicated grief tends to be more straightforward to diagnose and treat . Complicated grief , which affects 10-20 % of grievers , proves more challenging to treat and is of longer-lasting duration . The greatest risk that comes with complicated grief is suicide . Symptoms of complicated grief often include several of the following :
● Depression
● Suicidal ideation
● Anxiety
● PTSD
● Insomnia
● Increased risk of physical illness , such as heart disease , cancer , or high blood pressure
● Long-term difficulty with daily living , relationships , or work activities
● Substance abuse , especially alcohol
Grieving patients often turn to their primary care physician for help . Few MDs are qualified to address grief and are far more likely to treat the symptoms ( i . e ., those shown above ) with pharmaceuticals , having little appreciation of the risks . An ethical MD will be quick to refer a bereaving patient to a mental health specialist . Though mental health specialists generally receive some rudimentary schooling in grief , they ’ re often lacking in practical experience . It ’ s important to seek out a specialist well-trained and practiced in bereavement . Many are not , and of those that aren ’ t , they may potentially cause more harm than good ( especially those psychiatrists who are too quick to prescribe pharmaceuticals ).
Bereavement support groups can be especially beneficial . Though there are many such support groups , identifying one local to you may prove challenging . A great many churches host bereavement support groups that are open to anyone . If you ’ re already a church member , you ’ re likely to have success making those connections . If you ’ re not a church member , calling some local churches will likely yield positive results . Many pastors ( particularly those who were seminary-trained ) are highly skilled in grief counseling . And it ’ s for good reason and not just tradition that even family members who aren ’ t particularly religious will often seek to have a religious memorial service for their loved one . Having a funeral service performed by a compassionate clergyman can provide great comfort .
Unhealthy Methods of Processing Grief
Self-medicating is quite common with bereavement . Alcohol , in particular , is the go-to drug of choice as grievers seek to “ drown their sorrows .” Any perceived relief from booze is temporary and almost always makes things worse , particularly since the volume of alcohol needed to provide relief is considerable ( the last thing a griever needs is a DUI ). The same can be said of many pharmaceuticals . Neither alcohol nor pharmaceuticals do anything to heal the emotions