Substance Abuse, Chronic Sorrow, and Mothering Loss: Relapse Triggers Among Female Victims of Child Abuse

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore chronic sorrow as a relapse trigger among female victims of child abuse seeking treatment for substance abuse relapse. A purposive convenience sample of 12 women was interviewed using qualitative description to provide insight into their perceptions of relapse triggers. In addition to chronic sorrow, three common themes were interwoven in the narrative stories of these women: mothering loss, blocking feelings, and relapse triggers. Feelings described as relapse triggers included loneliness, sadness, anger, and frustration. The information gleaned from these women can be incorporated into the treatment of women and children in an effort to better prepare them for these recurrent feelings and triggers that could result in substance abuse and relapse.