The impact of grief and loss on mental health and addiction

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Grief is a difficult and painful emotion that everyone faces at some point. It naturally follows a significant hardship or loss, such as the death of a loved one, the breakdown of a family, feeling separated from one’s community or even a sense of lost identity or purpose. It feels like a weight you can’t quite explain. No two people carry this weight the same, but when left unaddressed, it can deeply impact mental health and increase vulnerability to addiction.

At Marrin Weejali, we provide drug and alcohol recovery and emotional support programs for Aboriginal and non-Indigenous people in Western Sydney. Grief often sits beneath the surface of addiction and mental distress, so acknowledging and working through that pain is an important part of the healing journey we support every day.

Whenever grief is mentioned, many people automatically associate it with death, but it can arise after any kind of loss. People grieve the end of relationships, both romantic and platonic, a sudden decline in health, the loss of employment, or moving away from family and friends. A person’s background, relationships and life circumstances all shape how grief is experienced and expressed.

Unresolved grief can affect the mind and the body. It may appear as sadness, anger, guilt or numbness. Some people withdraw, while others become easily frustrated or restless. Physical signs can include tiredness, disrupted sleep, changes in appetite, and a lack of concentration.

It can also influence how a person thinks and behaves. This is why some people turn to substances or other unhealthy coping mechanisms to escape emotional pain. Others may struggle to connect with people or lose motivation to care for themselves. Understanding grief in all its forms is important for creating space for recovery, support and healthier habits.

While there is no set time limit for grief, and in the case of losing a loved one there’s an element of it that will always remain, experiencing that kind of pain without support over a long period of time can take a toll on emotional balance and functioning. Feelings of emptiness or hopelessness are common and frequently develop into depression, anxiety or trauma-related distress.

From there, substances or repetitive behaviours can seem like the solution. But it’s a temporary relief. Addiction in this context is rarely due to choice or weakness; it’s a response to overwhelming emotion that has nowhere else to go.

Connection is one of the most powerful tools for emotional healing. When people feel heard and have a safe space to talk about difficult memories and feelings, grief becomes easier to bear. Support from counsellors, family and friends is a reminder that they don’t have to endure it alone.

A sense of belonging is equally important. Being part of a community, cultural identity or spending time with people who listen without judgment can restore the safety and stability that often feels so shaken after a big loss.

Recovery from mental health challenges or addiction that have been shaped by grief and loss is never a straight path. It takes time for the intensity to ease and for balance to return. The process should be respected as a gradual journey, not a quick fix, and often requires compassionate, professional, trauma-informed support to create lasting change.

At Marrin Weejali, we recognise grief as more than an emotion. It’s something that can drive daily choices and relationships long after a loss actually happens. Our drug and alcohol recovery and social and emotional wellbeing programs are designed to provide long-term support that helps clients move forward in their lives. We offer a culturally secure environment for healing, and every plan is tailored to the individual’s needs and circumstances.

Routine helps in rebuilding normalcy after loss. Simple acts like keeping regular appointments, preparing meals or returning to work or study restore a sense of structure and purpose. We encourage clients to re-establish these patterns where possible, at a steady pace and offer support in regaining motivation.

Recovery doesn’t mean forgetting what’s been lost. It means finding a way to live with it without being consumed by it.

Grief changes the way you see the world. It can feel exhausting and endless, but it also reflects the depth of love behind the loss. Managing mental health or addiction while learning to live with grief takes enormous strength, but that strength is already within you.

At Marrin Weejali, our programs were created by our people, for our people. We support individuals, families and communities as they work toward positive change, understanding that emotional wellbeing is central to that journey.

If you or someone you know needs support, you are welcome at Marrin Weejali.

Contact us for a confidential discussion.