The Lived Experiences of Alcohol Addiction: Men of Alcoholics Anonymous

Abstract

Alcohol addiction is one of the most prevalent and debilitating psychiatric disorders among the general population. Yet, little has been published on what it is like for men to actually experience this disorder. The purpose of this study was to identify commonalities in the experience of alcohol addiction among seven male members of Alcoholics Anonymous. Using a phenomenological approach, the participants completed an audio taped, unstructured, nondirective interview in which they were asked to describe their experience of alcohol addiction. The interviews were then transcribed and read by a phenomenological research team. Four themes were discovered: Emotions, Control, Awareness of Others, and The Turning Point, as well as a temporal ground. The authors conclude that mental health professionals should encourage alcohol addicted persons to talk about their experiences and to help them identify feelings and develop new coping skills.

Existential aspects of living with addiction – Part II: caring needs. A hermeneutic expansion of qualitative findings

“…Meaning vs. meaninglessness appeared as a central spiritual uncertainty that patients needed to resolve. The addicted person will probably experience shame and guilt (Merrit 1997, Ehrmin 2001, Zakrzewski & Hector 2004, Wiklund et al. 2006), experiences that have a tendency to be internalised and to become a part of a person’s sense of self, thus creating a frame of reference around a core expressing ‘I am bad’ (Kaufman 1992).…”

Existential aspects of living with addiction – Part I: meeting challenges

“…Re-contextualising themes as challenges for patients to meet presents a new understanding of living with addiction. Furthermore, exploring these challenges, can contribute to the understanding of what is happening when the patient reaches the turning-point described earlier as central to recovery (Koski-Jannes 1998, Lillibridge et al 2002, Kearney & O'Sullivan 2003, Zakrzewski & Hector 2004. In Paper 2 another step will be taken, to explore the kind of caring needs linked to the challenges and reflect on how nurses can assist the patient in meeting them.…”

“…Perceiving oneself as inferior to others and alienated from self and others, as well as being afraid of revealing oneself as vulnerable, are also described as motives for using drugs (Boyd & Mackey 2000a, Wiklund et al 2006. Research also reveals that the use of drugs changes perceptions of self (Gray 2005) and aims to provide a means to escape psychological pain (Boyd & Mackey 2000b, Zakrzewski & Hector 2004. However, drugs contribute to further suffering, such as loss of control but also feelings of shame, guilt and low self-esteem (Merrit 1997, Ehrmin 2001, Edwards 2002, Lillibridge et al 2002, Brown 2006, feelings associated with the consequences of addictive behaviour and experiences of failure.…”

The body, the shelter, and the shebeen: an affective geography of homelessness in South Africa

“…The links between the corporeal, emotional and psychological effects of alcohol abuse have been explored in some depth in recent qualitative health research, particularly in the field of nursing. 58 Smith 59 for example, notes that while the initial effects of drinking may be pleasurable, withdrawal symptoms for alcoholics are often unpleasant, leaving the drinker feeling out of control and 'not themselves', which encourages further drinking to 'find relief'.…”