Alcoholism in Family Narratives

The author's father drank compulsively, secretly, in pain, and trembling.

The author's father's death at the age of sixty-four.

To explore the impact of his father's alcoholism on his family and to understand his own struggle with the legacy of his father's addiction.

<p>A complex mix of love, hatred, and fear.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Nobody (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The author learned the corrosive mixture of helplessness, responsibility, and shame that comes with being the child of an alcoholic.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The author compares his father to a torture victim who refuses to squeal, suggesting that he was consumed by shame and denial about his addiction.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The author feels guilt and confusion because he realizes that he could not have caused or cured his father's alcoholism, yet he still carries the burden of responsibility.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>family</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The author argues that alcoholism is usually portrayed in popular culture in a humorous and lighthearted way, which is inaccurate and diminishes the true pain and suffering it causes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Some people in the audience might appear grim because they have personal experience with alcoholism, and the jokes and stereotypes about drunks can be painful and triggering.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The author says that his father never admitted to his drinking because he was consumed by shame and denial and was afraid of the consequences of acknowledging his addiction.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The author compares his father to a coward, a bully, a bumbler, and ultimately, a frog. This highlights the profound transformation that alcohol caused in his father's personality.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The author's family kept his father's drinking a secret, and they rarely spoke about it. This emphasizes the shame and secrecy that often surround alcoholism.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The author argues that the effects of alcoholism, like the effects of malaria, can linger long after the crisis has passed, leaving behind lingering shame and anger.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The author says that as he learned more about alcoholism, he learned to feel pity and compassion toward the drinker, but also anger.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The author says that religious texts often condemn drunkenness and suggest that it is a sin that will prevent people from entering heaven. He notes how this emphasis on sin made it difficult for him and his family to understand his father's addiction.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The author says that religious texts emphasized the idea that the sins of the fathers could have an impact on the children, which added to the sense of guilt and responsibility he felt for his father's alcoholism.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The author's father's drinking created a chaotic and unpredictable environment in the home, making it a dangerous and frightening place for the children.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Trying to control her husband's drinking by hiding alcohol or monitoring his spending. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The author compares his father to a minefield, suggesting that even the smallest bump could trigger a volatile reaction as he was increasingly unpredictable and dangerous.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The author's father used mints to mask the smell of alcohol on his breath.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The author's family watched over their father when he was driving because they were afraid he might stop at a liquor store and buy more alcohol.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The author disliked the Gallo Brothers because he associated their wine labels with his father's drinking, blaming them for his father's addiction.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>When drunk, the author's father became clumsy, cowardly, and could not fix simple things such as a bicycle tire. He also turned into a bully, a bumbler, and even a danger to himself and others.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The author says the most frightening thing about his father when drunk was the unpredictability of his rage, which is a manifestation of the volatile nature of alcoholism. It often made his father unpredictable, dangerous, and hard to reason with.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The author's father ended up in the ditch, in the hospital, and in jail. He was unable to work, take care of himself, or live a normal life.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The author compares his father's transformation to the fictional characters who undergo dramatic metamorphoses, such as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, or a werewolf. He likens his father's drinking to a supernatural possession or demonic influence, further emphasizing the transformative power of alcohol.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The author's father died from his alcoholism, as he was unable to control his drinking and its negative impact on his health.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The author's son feels responsible for his father's depression and believes that he should be able to fix it.</p> Signup and view all the answers

A person who is addicted to alcohol and suffers from the disease alcoholism.

A type of alcohol withdrawal syndrome characterized by hallucinations, tremors, and confusion.

A state of being under the influence of alcohol, characterized by impaired judgment, coordination, and speech.

The act of hiding or concealing the fact that one is an alcoholic or is drinking excessively.

The emotional and psychological burden of having a parent who is an alcoholic.

The tendency to overwork and dedicate excessive effort to compensate for past failures or feelings of inadequacy.

The constant fear of losing control, arising from witnessing a parent's erratic behavior due to alcoholism.

The feeling of guilt and responsibility for a parent's alcoholism, often felt by children of alcoholics.

The tendency to avoid situations where alcohol is present or to refrain from consuming alcohol, often driven by past experiences or fear of addiction.

The act of pretending not to see or acknowledge the reality of a parent's alcoholism, often used by children to cope with the situation.

The emotional scars left behind by growing up with an alcoholic parent, often manifesting as anxiety, low self-esteem, and difficulty with relationships.

The tendency to become overly responsible and dependable, often as a way of compensating for a parent's unreliability due to alcoholism.

The act of hiding the family's secret of alcoholism from outsiders, often leading to feelings of isolation and shame.

The act of blaming oneself for a parent's alcoholism, leading to feelings of inadequacy and self-blame.

The feeling of shame associated with having a parent with an addiction, often leading to secrecy and difficulty in seeking help.

The process of understanding that a parent's alcoholism is a disease rather than a conscious choice, leading to a shift in perspective and reducing guilt.

The act of hiding bottles of alcohol from a parent who is an alcoholic, often done by children to try and control the situation.

The act of a child watching and observing their alcoholic parent's behaviors, often leading to a heightened awareness and sensitivity to emotions.

The use of religious beliefs and teachings to understand and cope with a parent's alcoholism, often leading to feelings of judgment and fear of punishment.

The act of witnessing a parent's transformation from their sober self to their intoxicated self, often described as a frightening and unpredictable shift.

The use of metaphors and analogies to describe the experience of living with an alcoholic parent, often employing imagery of possession, monsters, and demons.

The act of blaming a parent's alcoholism on their own actions, leading to feelings of responsibility for their parent's behavior.

The act of a parent threatening to leave or abandoning their family, often motivated by alcohol or conflicts arising from it.

The emotional and psychological impact of a parent's death due to alcoholism, leaving behind a lingering sense of loss and grief.

The act of protecting a parent from the consequences of their alcoholism, often leading to enabling behaviors and hindering their recovery.

The process of seeking help and support from others to cope with the effects of growing up with an alcoholic parent, leading to healing and self-discovery.

The act of recognizing and addressing the unhealthy coping mechanisms that developed as a child of an alcoholic, leading to personal growth and self-awareness.

The act of breaking the cycle of alcoholism and addiction within the family, through awareness, support, and seeking help.