Do You Feel Like You’re Simply Existing?
If You’ve Lost a Loved One to Addiction, You’re Not Alone
Hi, I’m Andrea Magder. I created Ethan’s Harbor after losing my son, Ethan, to addiction in 2017. Losing my son completely changed my life. And if you’re here, you probably know how isolating and heartbreaking this type of loss is. All the years of living in chaos, worry, and second-guessing do not simply disappear because our loved one is suddenly gone.
In the years following Ethan’s death, I also founded The Artist Lives Gallery, a nonprofit that honors the creative work people leave behind. Building that space gave me a sense of purpose again, but it also opened my eyes to how many of us are living with this type of loss.
That is what led me to grief coaching. People who lose loved ones to addiction need support from someone who gets it, who has lived it firsthand. Someone who is not uncomfortable with the tough parts and will not offer clichés or advice that is impossible to follow.
I am here to help you find your footing again and to make sure you do not have to do any of this alone.
-
Grief often feels overwhelming, no matter how your loved one passed, but when that loss is due to addiction, it carries a unique and heavy burden. It’s not just the pain of their absence, but you’re also left carrying the weight of their struggles and the memories of what they endured. The emotional rollercoaster of regret and heartache can leave you feeling lost and drained, often making it feel impossible to bear alone.
My Coaching Method
-
Self Care
We’ll work together to come up with a self-care routine that will be simple for you to follow. This will involve strategies to improve your sleep , eating healthy foods, and finding ways to stay physically active. Additionally, we’ll explore emotional self-care techniques, such as meditation, journaling or other creative outlets, that can be integrated into your daily routine.
-
Find a Purpose
Losing a loved one to addiction brings a mix of complex emotions, including exhaustion and guilt. It can feel like you’ve lost a piece of yourself after dedicating so much time to their care. I will help you rediscover your identity and find purpose by helping you reconnect with old passions or discover new ones.
-
Discover Creativity
In grief, it's common to feel lost or aimless. A creative project provides structure and something to focus on, even for small periods. This can be anything from a new hobby like journaling, photography to painting or knitting. These activities provide achievable goals, no matter how small, offering moments of progress that may feel difficult to find in other areas.
-
Start Moving Forward
Moving forward and living your life doesn’t mean forgetting about your loved one. It's natural to feel like you're barely staying afloat, but every step you take is progress, no matter how small. When you feel overwhelmed and unable to focus, establishing simple routines can give you some clarity. It won't be easy, but remember every small step forward is progress in the right direction.
How You Can Benefit From Coaching
Grief coaching gives you something many people don’t realize they need after a loss like this: structure, support, and a way forward. Counseling can help you explore your emotions, but coaching focuses on what to do with your life, when everything feels unfamiliar. It isn’t about forgetting your loved one or forcing yourself to “move on.” It’s about learning how to live in a world that has changed and how to move forward.
When you lose someone to addiction, the grief carries a lot of layers. You probably spent years trying to help them and protect them, and suddenly you’re left with their absence which feels more than disorienting. Many people tell me they don’t even recognize themselves anymore. Coaching can help you discover the parts of yourself that got buried under the constant fear, and exhaustion.
As a certified grief coach who has also been through this kind of loss, I understand how heavy it feels. You won’t have to explain yourself to me. I’ll help you sort through the aftershocks and begin rebuilding your life.
Together, we’ll work through what brings you meaning, and what helps you move through each day with more clarity and purpose.
