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.