scholarly journals A hero’s journey: becoming and transcendence in addiction recovery

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-166
Author(s):  
Lymarie Rodriguez-Morales

This article presents findings from a study that explored young adult men’s lived experience of addiction recovery whilst participating in Alcoholics Anonymous and Twelve Step fellowships in the UK. It argues that changes in self-narrative and temporality might be critical features of the experience of addiction recovery in young adults, facilitating the process of individuation. Examples from the participants’ accounts are provided to illustrate the changes in their sense of identity in light of their recovery trajectories. Participant recovery, as in the mythical hero’s journey, shows itself to be a quest through transformation and growth into a genuine and balanced selfhood, necessitating the difficult transcendence of an unwholesome selfhood that was manifested in their addiction. In mythical literature, the hero develops authenticity and a higher ethical conduct as the result of a process of individuation, and we can find evidence to suggest a similar occurrence in the participants’ journeys. Finally, I reflect on the limitations of the biomedical language of addiction and the potential implications of the hero’s journey myth in the delineation of a more humane and empathic discourse on young men’s recovery and selfchange.

2012 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 239-246
Author(s):  
Catherine Aquino-Russell ◽  
Roger Russell ◽  
Allison Russell ◽  
Catrina Russell

“This is a life-changing experience for all of us. You have one child with diabetes and your whole family has diabetes” (Isenberger, 2009, p. 134). More than two million Canadians have diabetes; 10% live with type 1 diabetes, involving the pancreas not being able to produce insulin (Canadian Diabetes Association, 2009). The incidence of type 1 diabetes is greater than has previously been described (Karvonen et al, 2000). One longitudinal phenomenological study used interviews for data collection to uncover family members’ lived experiences when their children (aged 9-14) were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (Wennick & Hallstrom, 2006, 2007; Wennick, Lundqvist, & Hallström, 2009). Interestingly, Balfe (2009) wrote, “young adults with type 1 diabetes are a “forgotten group” (p. 128). The purpose of our ongoing phenomenological research is to explore the experiences of young adults and their family members. We are having challenges recruiting potential participants (individuals and their family members) to write about and email their experiences living with or having a young adult member who lives with type 1 diabetes; however, we have one description of a lived experience written by a young adult which is so eloquent, that we wanted to share it with others. We have completed a Giorgi (2009; Giorgi & Giorgi, 2003) descriptive phenomenological analysis guided by the humanbecoming theory for nurses (Parse, 1998) and have related the findings to the literature. This paper includes a moving metaphorical illustration about what it is like for one young adult to live with type 1 diabetes. 


Sexualities ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 136346072199575
Author(s):  
Sarah-Jane Page ◽  
Heather Shipley

This article utilises data from two parallel mixed-methods projects to examine attitudes to queer identity among heterosexual Muslim and Christian young adults aged between 18 and 25 in Canada and the UK. Drawing on questionnaires, interviews and video diaries, our analysis revealed the enormous complexity regarding how participants made sense of their, largely contextually mediated, attitudes. A qualitative approach enabled us to carefully consider how these attitudes are forged, formulated and embodied, offering greater nuance and detail compared with attitudinal approaches focused solely on quantitative data. Responses by these young Muslim and Christian participants explore the fluidity and movement in the attitudes expressed, further emphasising complexity.


2021 ◽  
pp. 0044118X2110197
Author(s):  
Ricky J. Pope ◽  
Jeffrey N. Jones

This research explores the integration of creative and expressive arts in a young adult problem-solving court and the perceived benefits of participation. The Young Adult Diversion Court (YADC) was created to help young adults 17 to 20 years of age complete probation requirements. This qualitative study is informed by interpretive interactionism to examine the lived experience of participants. Ethnographic observations were conducted over 20 months, and interpretive interviews were held with 32 young adult participants and 8 program coordinators. Participants described an engaging programmatic design, and felt cared for and supported by staff in the YADC. The use of the creative and expressive arts and spoken-word practices allowed participants to overcome vulnerabilities through self-expression, regulate emotions and process trauma, and consider possible future selves. This research suggests the potential of alternative approaches in the criminal justice system that intervene in the lives of young adults to promote positive change.


2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (05) ◽  
pp. 20469-20472
Author(s):  
Shakya R ◽  
Bhattacharya SC ◽  
Shrestha R

Objectives: To observe the sexual dimorphism among the young adult age group ranging from 18-21 years, of Kathmandu University students by measuring craniofacial circumference and canthal distances. Rationale of the study: These data could be useful for establishing the craniofacial standards and adds an implementation on plastic surgery, crime detection as well as in the industrial field. Method: 300 clinically normal students of Kathmandu University aged between 18-21 years were examined for the study. Fronto-occipital circumference, outer and inner canthal distances were measured. All the parameters were compared between males and females. Result: The cranial circumference as well as the inner and outer canthal distance in males was found to be significantly higher as compared to the females. Conclusion: The results concluded that sexual dimorphism remarkably exists in young adults of Kathmandu University students.


Author(s):  
Marina Batista Chaves Azevedo de Souza ◽  
Isabela Aparecida de Oliveira Lussi

Estudos apontam que jovens podem exercer trabalhos informais por necessidade não por desejo pessoal, o que pode acarretar impactos negativos na saúde mental. O objetivo do artigo foi apontar abordagens, destacar problemáticas e realizar reflexões sobre juventude, trabalho informal e saúde mental, através do mapeamento de estudos científicos. Realizou-se uma revisão de escopo pelo modelo de Arksey e O’Malley para mapear/sintetizar os estudos. Foram encontrados 51 artigos com a expressão: "informal work" OR "informal workers" OR "informal sector" OR "informal job" OR informality AND "mental health" AND "young adult" OR "young adults" OR young OR youth e 2640 teses e dissertações. Após as exclusões das duplicações, ensaios teóricos, revisões, trabalhos indisponíveis e estudos em que os títulos e resumos não abordavam a temática central, analisou-se 6 artigos científicos e 3 dissertações na íntegra. Os estudos são de anos diversos, a maioria quantitativos e investigam associações entre trabalhos informais/precários/desemprego e sintomas psiquiátricos. Questões geracionais não foram consideradas indicadoras de peculiaridades sobre o assunto nos artigos, mas duas dissertações trouxeram essa discussão. Foram inexistentes artigos que priorizam percepções do trabalhador sobre sua condição de trabalho/saúde, todavia, uma das dissertações analisadas abordou as condições sociais e o trabalho precário como sugestivos a problemas de saúde. Indica-se como necessário realizar reflexões que articulem saúde mental a condições políticas/socioeconômicas, considerando o trabalho como determinante de saúde/doença e a juventude como detentora de idiossincrasias que influenciam nas reflexões sobre o tema.


Numen ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 62 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 243-264
Author(s):  
Jonas Otterbeck

This article addresses the understanding of Islam of nine young adult Muslims living in the Malmö and Copenhagen region.1 Throughout the interviews with the young adults, they mark their distance from what they perceive as unacceptable forms of Islamic ideas and practices, labeling these ideas as extremist and inconsistent. They develop discursive techniques of distancing themselves from the mediated Islam of radicals and the often negative rendering of Islam that they encounter in daily life and in the media. By negotiating with the dominant discourse on what a “respectable religion” should look like, the young adults construct a religiosity that shares much of theformprescribed by mainstream society, but is different incontent. The theoretical framework is drawn from the study of sociology of religion and, in particular, from Beverley Skeggs’ theories on respectability (1997).


Author(s):  
Gitte Normann ◽  
Kirsten Arntz Boisen ◽  
Peter Uldall ◽  
Anne Brødsgaard

AbstractObjectivesYoung adults with cerebral palsy (CP) face potential challenges. The transition to young adulthood is characterized by significant changes in roles and responsibilities. Furthermore, young adults with chronic conditions face a transfer from pediatric care to adult healthcare. This study explores how living with CP affects young adults in general, and specifically which psychosocial, medical and healthcare needs are particularly important during this phase of life.MethodsA qualitative study with data from individual, semi-structured, in-depth interviews with six young adults with CP (ages 21–31 years) were transcribed verbatim and analyzed. The participants were selected to provide a maximum variation in age, gender, Gross Motor Function Classification System score and educational background. A descriptive thematic analysis was used to explore patterns and identify themes.ResultsThree themes were identified: “Being a Young Adult”, “Development in Physical Disability and New Challenges in Adulthood” and “Navigating the Healthcare System”. The three themes emerged from 15 sub-themes. Our findings emphasized that young adults with CP faced psychosocial challenges in social relationships, participation in education and work settings and striving towards independence. The transition to young adulthood led to a series of new challenges that the young adults were not prepared for. Medical challenges included managing CP-related physical and cognitive symptoms and navigating adult health care services, where new physicians with insufficient knowledge regarding CP were encountered.ConclusionThe young adults with CP were not prepared for the challenges and changes they faced during their transition into adulthood. They felt that they had been abandoned by the healthcare system and lacked a medical home. Better transitional care is urgently needed to prepare them for the challenges in young adulthood.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-27
Author(s):  
Elaine L. Kinsella ◽  
Samantha Hughes ◽  
Sarah Lemon ◽  
Natasha Stonebridge ◽  
Rachel C. Sumner
Keyword(s):  

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document