Study IDs strategies to help recovering alcoholics

Date:
November 1, 2021
Source:
North Carolina State University
Summary:
A new study identified six strategies recovering alcoholics use
to negotiate social situations and remain sober.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
A recent qualitative study has identified six strategies that recovering alcoholics use to negotiate social situations and remain sober, depending
on how they feel about stigmas associated with drinking and alcoholism.


========================================================================== "There is a stigma in the United States associated with not drinking
socially," says Lynsey Romo, corresponding author of the study
and an associate professor of communication at North Carolina State
University. "There is also a stigma associated with problem drinking. We
did this study because we wanted to understand how people negotiate this double-stigma socially in order to stay sober.

"There really is no clear guidance for people in recovery on how to deal
with stigmas associated with drinking and alcohol abuse, and a lot of
people in recovery grapple with shame and other issues associated with
these stigmas.

We're optimistic that outlining these strategies can serve as something
of a tool kit for helping people in recovery navigate these issues."
For the study, researchers conducted in-depth interviews with 22
U.S. adults who have been sober for at least 10 years.

The researchers identified six strategies for managing
stigma. Specifically, the researchers found that the strategies study participants chose depended both on whether they believed there was a
societal stigma against alcoholism and whether they felt such a stigma
applied to them. In other words, did they feel society was judging
them? And did they feel ashamed about being alcoholics, even though they
were in recovery? The six strategies were:
* Accepting the stigma: In this strategy, participants felt there
was a
societal stigma and that it applied to them, essentially
incorporating the stigma into their identity. Coping behaviors
here might include using self-deprecating humor about the subject.

* Evading responsibility for the stigma: This strategy involved
participants accepting that the stigma applied to them, but
minimizing their personal responsibility. That means, for example,
blaming it on hereditary factors or other factors beyond their
control.

* Reducing offensiveness of stigma: This involved accepting that
a stigma
applied to them, but focusing on the value and importance of
recovery, as well as how they have changed for the better since
entering recovery.

* Avoiding the stigma: In this strategy, participants accepted
that the
public stigmatizes alcoholism, but did not think the stigma applied
to them. This distances the individual from the stigma because
they don't identify with the label of alcoholism.

* Denying the stigma: This strategy challenges both the public
understanding of stigma and whether it applies to them. Essentially,
participants utilizing this strategy believe that nobody is perfect
and other people don't have the right to judge them. They also focus
on the fact that they're in recovery, which is an accomplishment
in itself.

* Ignoring/displaying the stigma: This strategy also challenges
both the
public understanding of stigma and whether it applies to them.

Participants using this strategy are open about their experiences
and engage in advocacy to educate others and combat stereotypes
about alcoholism and recovery.

This study is part of a larger body of work that makes clear alcoholism
is still stigmatized in society. And other research suggests that the
more people buy into these stigmas, the more likely they are to struggle
with relapses.

"We think our study is important because understanding and outlining
these strategies for managing stigmas can help recovering alcoholics
identify techniques for maintaining their sobriety and moving forward
with their recovery," Romo says.

"It's also important to note that the way recovering alcoholics
view themselves and the stigmas related to drinking and alcoholism
are not fixed - they will shift over time as people go through the
process of recovery. That means that the strategies are also not
fixed. In fact, people often adopt more than one strategy at a time." ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by
North_Carolina_State_University. Original written by Matt Shipman. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Lynsey K. Romo, Mary E. Obiol. How People in Recovery Manage
the Stigma
of Being an Alcoholic. Health Communication, 2021; 1 DOI: 10.1080/
10410236.2021.1983339 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/11/211101105354.htm

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