Analysis of biographies of alcohol-addicted women in the memoirs of their daughters (based on letters of adult daughters of alcoholics)

Abstract

This study reconstructs the major biographical themes in the stories of daughters of alcohol-dependent women relating to their mothers. In particular, the article concerns the daughters experience of the mothers alcoholic disease, the phenomenon of violence in the family and the change in the mothers behaviour during attempts at addiction treatment. The research sample consisted of ten letters from adult daughters of alcoholic mothers written to their mothers as a part of the treatment of co-dependency and published in the daily press and on portals addressed to adult children of alcoholics. A biographical approach (a thematic type) was used in the research study. The analysis and interpretation of the letters based on their content revealed that alcoholic mothers managed to keep the family unaware of the disease for a long time, usually until the childs early adolescence or adulthood, especially when non-drinking fathers compensated for the lack of maternal care. The mothers exclusion from housework contributed to the emergence of the phenomenon of parentification (instrumental and emotional) among the daughters, who took over a significant part of the parental duties they showed mechanisms characteristic of the family heroine and the supporter. During the alcoholic binges, the mothers used drastic forms of physical and psychological violence against their daughters and husbands. Such violence often extended into the childrens adult life. Addicted women did not attempt treatment for a long time due to internal barriers (in their consciousness), and they did not identify with the image of an alcoholic (perceived by them and representatives of social services in a stereotypical way). They hid and ignored their problem, despite receiving support from their life partners and daughters in the recovery process.