The Challenge of Adversity: Three Narratives of Alcohol Dependence, Recovery, and Adult Development

Abstract

Turning points have been known to reverse the downward spiral of alcoholism and its concomitant associations with divorce, depression, and work-related difficulties. In this study, the authors present the stories of 3 women from the Mills Longitudinal Study who were alcoholic. Using a narrative approach, the authors tracked the women's developmental gains during recovery using Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development, specifically focusing on the tasks of identity, intimacy, and generativity. Results show that despite similar personal problems and turning points that moved them to stop drinking, each woman followed a different path to self-reconstruction and psychological growth. These accounts offer important information about individual differences in recovery from alcoholism, which are often lost in larger aggregate accounts of personal change.

Identity Shifts as Turning Points in Health Behavior Change

“…The model proposed here can be seen as a synthesis of substantive evidence in support of the enduring practical value of Strauss's higher level theory. It is echoed in other types of qualitative work as well, as in Paris and Bradley's (2001) narrative study of turning points as catalysts for developmental growth in women recovering from alcoholism. This analysis represents a partial and exploratory step toward a groundedformal theory of health behavior change.…”

An ongoing process: A qualitative study of how the alcohol-dependent free themselves of addiction through progressive abstinence

“…They are torn between abstinence and craving. In the IAA cycle, frustrated sufferers may try to overcome alcohol, but their resolve may be vulnerable [20]. In the process of maintaining abstinence from alcohol, strong willpower in the face of the temptation, and the mere idea, of drinking, is essential.…”

Perceived Social Support from Counselors and Client Sobriety During Aftercare: A Pilot Study of Emotional and Functional Support

“…Extending this work to the area of substance abuse disorders, Miller (2000) argued that unconditional acceptance of AOD clients by counselors can facilitate self-acceptance by these clients. If this kind of internalization took place in the current study, AOD clients who reported high levels of ES might have let go of their shame and self-stigma (Luoma et al, 2008;Wiechelt, 2007) and come to redefine themselves as ''worthy'' and as meriting of self-respect (see Paris & Bradley, 2001, for similar thinking).…”