Significant loss as a factor in alcoholism

Abstract

The relationship between the significant loss of a loved one and alcoholism has minimized the implications on coping mechanisms to generate healthy behaviors. This article is based on in-depth semi-structured interviews with men between the ages of 30 and 70, with more than 10 years in Alcoholics Anonymous in the State of Tamaulipas, Mexico. The objective was to reflect on the meanings of the significant loss of a loved one and alcoholism. In the search for meaning, it is explained that a factor that leads to alcoholism is not a single significant loss of loved ones, but also an accumulation of material and non-material losses, limited resources were reflected to face the losses, the relationship between the loss significant with alcoholism was mediated by two main aspects, beliefs about the effects that alcohol consumption produces as ways of escaping from reality and the influence of the family at the beginning of alcohol consumption. On the other hand, the presence of the spiritual, the conscience and the emotions that they experience during their mourning process and alcoholism, led them to identify the problem of addiction, which allowed them to influence the rehabilitation process.