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In this episode we cover a particular type of grief common when loving an addicted person called ambiguous loss. Ambiguous loss is a profound sense of loss and sadness that does not stem from the death of a loved one. It may arise from a lack of emotional connection despite someone's physical presence, or conversely, the persistence of emotional ties in the absence of physical closeness. This type of loss leads individuals on a quest for answers, complicating and prolonging the grieving process, often leaving grief unresolved. The standard 5-step process of grief is not always applicable to partners and spouses of alcoholics and addicts and you've probably felt this before when reading about grief. You know you're grieving, but the literature isn't adding up. We take some time to talk about why. We take a deep dive into the work of Dr. Pauline Boss and her pioneering of ambiguous loss and how to develop resiliency to get through it.

Articles and Study Referenced in Episode:

Ambiguous Loss: A Complicated Type of Grief When Loved Ones Disappear (PDF)

Resilience in Ambiguous Loss - American Journal of Psychotherapy

The Ambiguous Loss of Loving an Addict and Letting Them Go (Psychology Today)

Craving love? Enduring Grief Activates Brain’s Reward Center (Study)

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