Vigilance: The lived experience of women in recovery

Abstract

Recovery from addiction is an individualized process and necessitates understanding the phenomenon from the perspective of the individual living the experience. This qualitative study seeks to understand women’s lived experience of recovery. Data were collected through participant interviews of women self-identifying as in recovery and interpreted from a phenomenological lens. The overarching theme is vigilance—a way to maintain recovery from addiction through remembering, being careful, and seeking community.