9: Identity: An Evolving Self-Concept

Identity transformation is a complex phenomenon that occurs when an individual moves from a life dominated by their addiction to one where they grow and develop their strengths in recovery (Robertson et al., 2021). This is particularly noticeable with the amelioration of undesirable characteristics that accompany addiction (Jauk & Dieterich, 2019) where a cognitively dissonant individual has the opportunity to redefine and rebuild their sense of self in the context of their recovery and the meaning they find in it (Lui & Hao, 2020; Martínez-González et al., 2016). The importance of this is endorsed by identity being a distinct component in the CHIME model and subsequently in G-CHIME, where it is linked with positive self-concept, overcoming stigma and an appreciation of the multifaceted domains of personal identity (Leamy et al., 2011).