The master’s thesis discusses the issue of alcohol addiction in women. The research question refers to how women experience their alcohol addiction. The author used a qualitative method of grounded theory to conduct the research. The empirical data were obtained in interviews with women who have experience with alcohol addiction. With open and axial coding, the author identified five basic categories: circumstances that affected the development of alcohol addiction, development of alcohol addiction, experiencing one’s own alcohol addiction, effects of alcohol addiction and experiencing treatment, which the author introduced in detail with subcategories and reinforced them with statements from the participants. The results of the research showed that, according to answers about their experiences, women abuse alcohol to regulate negative emotional states. Women mainly use alcohol to alleviate emotional distress, relieve internal tension and reduce stress. The women answered that they seek solace, consolation and oblivion in alcoholic intoxication, and drink in order to try to escape themselves and their difficult life circumstances. Emotional experience, in relation to being aware of their addiction, is imbued with feelings of shame, guilt and fear of losing family, especially children. According to women’s answers, it is the fear of losing the affection of children that contributes most to their decision to seek treatment, as adult children are those who make strong demand for treatment and usually support it with threats of leaving or breaking off contact. In the treatment process, where a support group plays an important role, women are freed from feelings of shame and experience a sense of belonging and acceptance, according to their answers. Above all, they experience relief, realizing they are not alone and that they are not the only ones struggling with alcohol addiction.
The master’s thesis provides an insight into emotion and thinking of women who are addicted to alcohol, and thus presents an important contribution to better understanding the inner world of women for whom alcohol becomes a “cure” for relieving emotional pain. Understanding the experiencing of women addicted to alcohol can significantly help to raising awareness among the general public and breaking the taboo attitude towards female alcoholism. The obtained information also presents an important contribution to changing attitudes towards women struggling with alcohol addiction.
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