Has anyone lost a child from a drug overdose? Do we ever heal?

I am so sorry for your loss. The pain must be unbearable.
Families Anonymous (FamiliesAnonymous.org) and Nar-Anon (www.Nar-Anon.org)
are two groups that offer in person and online meetings that might be of help to you.
Families Anonymous has a special Zoom Meeting that is a US Bereavement Group Meeting.
It is the last Sunday of the Month from 12:00pm - 1:00 PM Eastern Time.
The Zoom Meeting ID is: 509 168 6103
Passcode: 821837
Contact: marias@familiesanonymous.org

Our daughter has an addiction and when we stopped enabling her, the two above groups were of great help to me. She has since stopped all communication and estranged herself from us. The two groups mentioned above have been very helpful to me and there are members in each group who have lost children due to a drug overdose.

For me, there is not a day that goes by that I do not think of our daughter and mourn the loss of her in our lives, but we learn to live our best lives possible while coping with the loss.

Your loss is so new. Continue to reach out for help and you can get through this.

Ty so much for your kind words...I will check in to the meeting...I pray for you and your family..and your daughter to seek help. I to was an addict..did the same thing your daughter did. My mom prayed and prayed..I finally...after 10 + yrs ....hated what I seen in the mirror..I was tired of chasing..( the dragon) what drug users call it. ..meaning they way the drugs made them feel the first time they used..it never happens....hince. chasing the dragon....don't give up hope...you sound like a very good person ..here if you ever need a ear....I live the life of a recovering addict..

@jeffroatenberry You've received some very good support and recommendations here. I'd like to say that I'm so, so sorry for the loss of your son. I have seen and heard of far too many deaths from opioid overdoses. Before I retired I worked with adults in a recovery/behavioral agency. I saw so much suffering and pain but I also saw successes such as you describe of yourself. As you well know there is no "magic formula" and recovery is a process that does get less difficult over time.

You ask "is life every normal again"? I don't have an answer for that question and I'm not sure if anyone does. I have experienced intense grief from the loss of loved ones. It feels like the grief will never end. I tried to treat myself with compassion knowing that it was a difficult time for me. I let myself cry which to me feels healing. I also tried to keep up with my schedule but realized that some days I just could not do that. That's where the self-compassion comes in.

Are you thinking you will attend the Zoom meeting for Families Anonymous?

Ty Helen..I certainly intend on checking the zoom session out..your kind words are appreciated..it truly has been a rough year...I suffer from self compassion...I've made so many mistakes in my life..hence. (recovering addict) not something I'm proud of... just when me and Zach were getting close...I loose him..my chest literally hurts somedays ..again ty. Grieving Father

Update. Seen a therapist..recommend me
To see a phycotris.....never what you want to hear....gonna take it one day at a time

@jeffroatenberry oh, I understand all to well.
My 45 year old daughter, mother of 3, died from an overdose also, in 2018.
Her brother, my 54 year old son, has been arrested, jailed, and in prison many times because of his addictions. He was arrested last month for drugs, and a concealed weapon. Apparently he has been released according to the jail records, and now living on the streets of Portland. I live 1000 miles away. I love him very much, but I need to take care of me now, so I’m distancing myself from him.

There’s no getting over the loss of your child no matter the circumstances.
For me, I relax and can be serene in my chaos because of my relationship with Jesus the Christ. I speak to Him (prayer), and listen for a response. I know He is always there for me, and I am loved because I have confessed my sins, and accepted Him as my Savior. That’s all I needed to do.

He is with me always, and will never leave me no matter what, so I can rest in this peace, and I do.

My wish for you is that you also find peace, and comfort.

Blessings
Susan

I'm so sorry to hear of your child dying. Recently, you sent me a very nice private message about my husband dying. That was so thoughtful of you!

Your experience was not expected. That makes it so much harder to bear. My husband had lung cancer and was 83 so death was not a surprise. Still you and I are both grieving for loved ones. However those two loved ones are up in Heaven with God and Jesus and all the angels. We will both be reunited with our loved ones eventually.

Give all your troubles to God. Just talk to him like he's your best friend and he is! Tell him how you feel and ask for his help. It worked for me. I could accept the death of my husband of 30 years much easier when I talked to God. And, I just talk to him like I'm talking to you. No formal prayers, just good conversation.

Also tell your other loved ones how much you love them. It's important. I wish I had more loved ones who were alive so I could tell them how much I loved them. But at age 78 they are all up in Heaven too!

I wish you the best. I'll say a prayer for you.
PML

Thank you ma'am..Im working on myself and my life..saying a prayer 🙏 for you as well 🙏

Thank you so much for the prayer! We can't have too many! Good for you working on yourself and your life! God will get you through all this.
PML