Originally Posted by
suncatcher 
..... but it is like grieving the death of a friend for me
It isn't just like grieving, it absolutely IS grieving. It's the sadness and pain that comes from loss, it leaves a hole that can only be described as grievous. It actually helped me to accept that I was indeed grieving. Knowing that grief has to go through it's stages, accepting that and respecting the process, made getting through it a little easier. I'm not saying it was by any means easy, it was not! But it was easIER to cope with once I recognized it for what it was. I grieved harder for the that particular loss than I ever did when a loved one has died.
I hope you do decide to hang out with us for a while. Having the support of people who truly understand can be invaluable, and it certainly relieves some of that loneliness only those of us who have loved addicts can comprehend.
Hang in there!