The lived experiences of women overcoming addiction and self-harming behaviors.

Abstract

The main aim of this research was to investigate the lived experiences of women cleared of addiction who exhibit self-harming behaviors, including suicide. The qualitative research method was interpretive phenomenology. The sample of this study consisted of 10 women who had been cleared of addiction and had a history of suicide attempts. They were selected through targeted and available sampling from a counseling center in Tehran. After conducting in-depth interviews and analyzing the data, the main themes identified in the research was traumatic behaviors experienced, including suicide. The main concepts that emerged were despair, shame, social stigma, traumatic life context, negative early life experiences, experiences of divorce, primary and secondary detachment, ineffective coping strategies, inability to solve problems, socioeconomic difficulties, and feelings of meaninglessness. sub themes also included gender discrimination within the family and society, blame and humiliation, the addiction of a second spouse, and fear of marriage. Based on the research findings, it can be concluded that women who have left addiction face many challenges, including psychological and social problems. They tend to blame themselves, viewing themselves as the root cause of personal and social issues. Furthermore, under societal pressure (due to the stigma and shame associated with addiction), they often compare themselves unfavorably with others. Consequently, due to their inability to achieve an acceptable and standard life or cope with childhood experiences, these women experience depression and helplessness, which ultimately drives some to consider suicide as a way to alleviate or escape this stigma.