The grief process is a fairly standard one as described by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross. For survivors, there is a 6th step, healing.

Denial, bargaining, anger, depression and acceptance being the first five she described.

Going through that process, not stopping to stay angry, not staying in self-pity, makes a person stronger, wiser, more compassionate, adds a fullness to their character.

And getting stuck detracts. One either grows or shrinks when experiencing a loss such as that. Alcoholism is a way to deny the loss, and not grow.

That is one with which I'm familiar. But then when one stops drinking, the losses have to be processed.

Anyway, that's a suggestion based upon not only my experience but that of a whole lot of people I've had the privilege to know well.

Good luck.

Arf