The Recovery Process: The Influence of Alcoholics Anonymous on the Identity Formation of an Alcoholic

Abstract

In the beginning, the use of alcohol proves to be a pleasurable experience for a developing alcoholic making the alcoholic more social or more confident in his or her own skin. Not long after, though, the alcoholic finds him- or herself alone because he or she has created conflict and has pushed friends, family, and romantic partners away due to their drinking. Numerous researchers developed multidimensional models to explain the reasons for and the progression of alcoholism. Narrative interviews help gain greater insight into life experiences and allow the life story of recovering alcoholics to emerge. In order to further investigate and hear the voices of recovering alcoholics, I 0 semi-structured, open-ended interviews were conducted. Through these interviews, 3 themes (social problems due to drinking, an alcoholic's drinking career, and the influence of Alcoholics Anonymous on the identity of an alcoholic) were identified and investigated.