Life Story of Salama Abunde

Salama Abunde was born on March 12, 1987, in a small town in Kenya. She was the youngest of four children in a close-knit family. Her early childhood was filled with love and laughter, though the family struggled financially. Her parents worked hard to provide for their children, instilling in them the values of perseverance and hard work. Salama was a bright and curious child, always eager to learn and explore.

As Salama entered her teenage years, she began to feel the pressures of societal expectations. She excelled academically but struggled with self-esteem issues, often comparing herself to her more outgoing and confident siblings. The family dynamic started to change as her parents’ relationship became strained, leading to frequent arguments. Salama, a sensitive and empathetic individual, was deeply affected by the tension at home. She often withdrew into herself, feeling a growing sense of inadequacy and self-doubt.

Salama moved to Nairobi for university, where she studied Business Administration. It was during this time that she met her future husband, Daniel. Their relationship moved quickly, and they were married shortly after graduation. Salama found a job in a marketing firm, and for a while, life seemed to be on track. However, the unresolved issues from her past and the pressure to succeed began to take a toll on her mental health. She started drinking socially, but it soon escalated as a way to cope with her growing anxiety and feelings of inadequacy.

Salama's marriage to Daniel began to deteriorate after a few years. The initial excitement and passion gave way to arguments and misunderstandings. Daniel became increasingly frustrated with Salama’s drinking habits, which only worsened as she tried to numb her emotional pain. Their communication broke down, and Salama felt isolated and misunderstood. Her self-esteem plummeted, and she became more dependent on alcohol to get through the day. The couple separated in early 2020, further exacerbating Salama’s sense of failure and loneliness.

Following the separation, Salama’s relationship with her family also suffered. Her siblings were concerned but didn’t know how to help, and her parents, though supportive, were disappointed and worried about her future. Salama struggled to communicate her feelings, often feeling judged and misunderstood. Her low self-respect and lack of assertive skills made it difficult for her to seek help or set boundaries, both with her family and in her personal life.

On July 5, 2020, Salama checked into a treatment facility for alcohol use disorder. The decision was not easy, but after a particularly severe episode, she realized she could not continue living this way. The primary complaint was her struggle with alcohol, but Salama also recognized the need to address other deep-seated issues: her poor communication with family and others, low self-respect, lack of assertive skills, low self-esteem, and pervasive negative self-talk. She was burdened with feelings of shame, guilt, and remorse, particularly related to her family and failed marriage.

Discharge Report

Salama Abunde

Patient Details

• Age: 33 years old

• Marital Status: Separated

• Date of Admission (D.O.A): 5th July, 2020

• Date of Discharge (D.O.D): 2nd October, 2020

Chief Complaint: Alcohol Use Disorder

Salama Abunde was admitted primarily for treatment related to alcohol dependence, indicating a pattern of alcohol use that negatively impacted her health, relationships, and daily functioning.

Other Issues

• Poor Communication with Family Members and Others.

Salama had difficulty effectively expressing herself and engaging in meaningful conversations with her family and other individuals, leading to misunderstandings and conflicts.

• Problems between Self and Other Family Members.

Ongoing interpersonal conflicts within her family, possibly exacerbated by her alcohol use, contributed to a strained home environment.

• Low Self-Respect.

Salama struggled with valuing and respecting herself, which could be linked to her past behaviors and current self-perception.

• Low Assertive Skills.

She had difficulty standing up for herself, expressing her needs, and setting boundaries in her interactions with others.

• Low Self-Esteem and Negative Self-Talk.

Salama frequently engaged in self-criticism and doubted her worth and capabilities.

• Feelings of Shame, Guilt, and Remorse from the Past Family.

Past family-related experiences left her with deep-seated feelings of shame, guilt, and remorse, further affecting her mental health and self-image.

Objectives of Treatment

• Develop a Recovery-Conducive Lifestyle

Help Salama establish a life free from mood-altering substances, focusing on sustained sobriety.

• Boost Communication Skills

Enhance her ability to communicate effectively with family members and others.

• Resolve Family Conflicts

Assist in addressing and resolving ongoing issues with family members.

• Enhance Self-Respect

Empower Salama to value and respect herself more.

• Improve Assertive Skills

Strengthen her ability to be assertive in her interactions.

• Boost Self-Esteem and Positive Self-Talk

Foster a more positive self-image and internal dialogue.

• Alleviate Shame, Guilt, and Remorse

Equip her with skills to manage and reduce feelings of shame, guilt, and remorse stemming from past experiences.

Achievements

• Sobriety

Salama maintained sobriety throughout her three-month treatment period.

• Improved Communication

She developed better communication skills with her family and others.

• Enhanced Self-Esteem

Her self-esteem showed noticeable improvement.

• Reduction in Shame, Guilt, and Remorse

There was a slight alleviation of her feelings of shame, guilt, and remorse.

Effective Interventions

• Individual Counselling

One-on-one therapy sessions tailored to address Salama's specific issues and goals.

• Group Therapies (12 Steps of AA)

Participation in Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, which provided peer support and a structured approach to recovery.

• Life-Skills Sessions

Training in essential skills for managing daily life and maintaining sobriety.

• Food Therapy and Physical Exercise

Nutritional guidance and physical activities to promote overall health and well-being.

• Family Therapy/Interventions

Therapeutic sessions involving family members to address and resolve familial conflicts.

• Peer-Peer Interaction

Engagement with peers in similar recovery journeys to share experiences and support each other.

• Community Therapeutic Duties

Involvement in community tasks to build a sense of responsibility and connection.

Recommendations to Maintain Sobriety

• Attend Aftercare Programs

Continue with support groups, individual counseling, or outpatient treatment to stay motivated, receive ongoing support, and strengthen relapse prevention skills.

• Build a Supportive Network

Surround herself with supportive individuals, including family, friends, sponsors, and fellow recovering individuals.

• Practice Self-Care

Maintain self-care routines involving grooming, exercise, nutrition, and sleep to promote physical and emotional well-being.

• Utilize Healthy Coping Strategies

Apply anger management techniques and healthy coping strategies learned during treatment to handle challenging emotions and situations without turning to alcohol.

• Communicate Effectively

Keep developing effective communication skills to express needs and emotions constructively and assertively.

• Foster Honesty and Accountability

Stay committed to honesty and accountability in relationships, make amends when necessary, and work on building trust.

• Seek Continued Therapy

Consider ongoing therapy to address underlying issues, develop new skills, and receive support in maintaining long-term sobriety and achieving personal growth.

Prepared by:

Omondi

Counselling Psychologist