Drinking resumption: problematic alcohol use relapse after rehabilitation. A phenomenological
hermeneutical perspective
Sammanfattning
The majority of patients being treated for alcohol abuse disorders experience one or more
relapses after treatment. The fact that people use this inebriant in a way leading to so much harm and
suffering might seem a conundrum. Therapists, family and others might find the person's relapse to
be dramatic and upsetting, and one might question whether the person has the sufficient will or
motivation to change. However, few previous studies have explored relapse from the patient's
perspective. The aim of this study was to illuminate the patient's lived experience of relapse and to
develop a deeper understanding of this phenomenon. The study consisted of qualitative interviews
using a phenomenological hermeneutical approach. Three main themes emerged from the analyses:
‘craving’, ‘self-image’ and ‘time’. The findings were discussed in the context of phenomenological
literature. Cravings could occur unpredictably; nevertheless, craving was a common experience for
the patients and signified a risk of relapse. Bodily experiences of craving were frequently mentioned,
and alcohol addiction could be understood as to be a disease or a learned habit. Self-image was, at
times, adversely affected by relapse episodes. Therefore, feelings of shame, self-respect and
recognition were significant concepts. This study found that the perception of time as past, present
and future greatly influenced the participants' experiences of relapse and rehabilitation. Thus,
relapse was an upsetting and dramatic experience that could cause great discomfort and sometimes
life-threatening situations. However, relapse could also be viewed as a planned event. This study
highlights important truth and reality about alcoholism and relapse grounded in people's lived
experience.