Thatcher, Christina (2021) Whys and what ifs: writing and anxiety reduction in individuals bereaved by addiction. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, https://doi.org/10.1080/15401383.2021.1924097.
External website: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15401...
Research has shown that writing can help reduce anxiety in individuals who have experienced trauma or complicated grief. This small case study asked if writing could also reduce anxiety in those bereaved by addiction. For this study, thirteen individuals who experienced increased anxiety as a result of bereavement by addiction completed two semi-structured interviews and responded to ten writing prompts over four weeks. Thematic analysis was used to analyze interview transcripts and narrative analysis was used to analyze participants’ writing. Findings from this study suggest that writing decreased anxiety for six participants by helping them to identify intrusive ruminations and by demonstrating the progress they had made since the death of their loved one. However, more research is needed to understand why writing reduced anxiety for only half of these participants and to understand how writing might be more effectively used as a therapeutic intervention for individuals bereaved by addiction.
F Concepts in psychology > Emotion (anxiety / joy)
HJ Treatment or recovery method > Recreation therapy (bibliotherapy, music, dance, drama, play, art, sport, exercise)
J Health care, prevention, harm reduction and treatment > Type of care > Mental health care (Psychiatry / Psychology)
L Social psychology and related concepts > Family > Family and kinship > Family support
L Social psychology and related concepts > Family > Family and kinship > Family and substance use > Substance related family problems
P Demography, epidemiology, and history > Population dynamics > Substance related mortality / death
T Demographic characteristics > Child of person who uses substances
T Demographic characteristics > Parent / guardian
VA Geographic area > Europe > United Kingdom
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