This may sound counterintuitive, but most addicts do actually grieve the loss of their addictions. What once comforted them and took up great parts of their lives is now gone. Of course not only do addicts grieve the loss of their addictions but what they have been losing out on because of their addictions.

According to Psyche Central, “Filled with doubts but motivated by hope, the recovering addict may be disappointed to find that they may feel even worse for a while. Having to face emotions that have long been repressed and take stock of the losses brought on by their addiction, the recovering addict may be filled with grief, anger and bitter regrets.

“Grief is a universal emotion that can arise any time a person loses someone or something they value. For many addicts, unresolved grief, loss or trauma contributed to the addiction, and those feelings get compounded in early recovery when the addict gives up drugs or alcohol and begins to see all that they’ve lost to their addiction.”