Susan Juby’s Nice Recovery is a book that candidly tells the story of an alcoholic's journey to sobriety. The novel shows how a person can be drawn into addiction from a young age, and the fight to stay sober is never easy, no matter what your circumstances may be. However, the book barely touches on why Susan became an alcoholic. When reading, it is almost believable that she simply never learned how to drink properly, and became dependent on needing to be “blackout drunk” anytime she drank. This is not true. The reason Susan Juby became an alcoholic because it was the easiest solution to her crippling fear of being lonely. From the early days that Juby recounts in her novel, it is blatantly obvious that she never quite “fit in”. Juby explains that her love of books, which would one day shape her career, was a serious social handicap as a child. She explains how books led her to believe certain things like, “a lack of concern about clothes and personal appearance showed solid character”, meanwhile in the real world that lack of concern “spelled social disaster” (7). This struggle to find people who appreciated her for who she was created a deep need to be someone different. This need was what …show more content…
The wild company came with eyeliner, feathered hair and drinking. The drinking gave Susan exactly what she had been crying out for; a huge boost of confidence. The new persona she takes on helps her to ease her social troubles. Juby describes that alcohol could magically “turn me so outlandishly confident, exuberant, even, that I had to share the excellence that was me,” (19) which was a far cry from the awkward girl who read too many books to be liked by her peers. This is when the reinforcement happened, and coincidentally it was also where her addiction began. The addiction began because she had proven to herself that she could be likable and social- all she needed was alcohol to do
On February 27, 2014, I visited an Alcohol Anonymous (A.A) therapeutic group meeting called Another Chance. Another Chance is an intergroup meeting located inside the Concord Baptist Church of Christ, at 833 Gardner C. Taylor Boulevard, Brooklyn, NY 11216. Another Chance has been in operation for over thirty years, and holds open discussion meetings on alcohol use and prevention, every Thursday from six in the evening until seven o’clock. This group interaction with alcohol substance use and abuse focuses on helping all members regardless of race, ethnicity or culture, to abstain from drinking one day at a time; and encourages them to maintain healthy thoughts and emotions through the use of the “Twelve Steps and Traditions” of recovery and intervention approaches.
One in every twelve adults suffer from alcoholism in the United States, and it is the most commonly used addictive substance in the world. The World Health Organization has defined alcoholism as “an addiction to the consumption of alcoholic liquor or the mental illness and compulsive behavior resulting from alcohol dependency.” Reiterated themes encompassing Jeannette Walls’ father’s addiction to alcohol are found in her novel, The Glass Castle: a memoir, which displays instances of financial instability and abuse that hurt the Walls children for the rest of their lives. The Walls’, altogether, are emotionally, physically, and mentally affected by Rex’s alcoholism, which leads to consequences on the Walls children.
With her longing for something more than what she gets on an everyday basis, her growing fondness of Lenny right up to her first drink and drug use, and the symbolism of the blue and green, it is evident that she will not be able to overcome her temptations and be drawn back into the world of drugs and alcohol, only more intense this time. She has already started doing drugs, drinking, and smoking again. She has seen the sober life for way too long and she isn't happy with it. Her cigarette smoking and drinking, although not illegal, will still conform do her downfall. "When the glass was finished she would pour another. When the bottle was empty, she would buy another"(107).
In the end it seems as though there is no real moral or lesson to be learned. She wasn't really an addict; she just liked to drink. No long recovery, no epiphany. No treatment, no withdrawal problems. No lasting health issues. No real permanent problems in the end.
Throughout the years, and throughout various forms of media, some of the greatest creative minds have been the victims of the most unfortunate circumstances. For many, their major problem is that of addiction, and one could say that it affects their work, for better or worse. For example, a writer’s prose usually is affected at least partly by the author’s inner dialogue, and thus, the author’s problems get mixed in with their writings. Therefore, the author’s addictions become a part of the work itself.
In The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls, Rex Walls is highly dependent on alcohol, which significantly hurts Jeanette and her siblings and drives the family apart. The Walls children and countless others like them across the United States have become victims of alcoholism, which is a factor that they cannot control, but debilitates them socially, physically, financially, and emotionally. Rex Wall’s alcoholism causes him to frequently neglect his children and ignore their needs, which often endangers them. Furthermore, Rex’s alcohol addiction affects his behavior causing him to use profanity and act in an angry and even violent manner, negatively impacting the family as a whole. Many readers of
Reading this I remembered, that I heard in AA meetings people referred to alcohol as their best friend, who is reliable and present. In case of Caroline’s mother death, she turned to her drink for the support and comfort, in the manner of a child who is afraid to be without a favorite blanket or a teddy bear. “Protect me. Shield me from being alone in my own head”, those thoughts were racing in her mind as she increased her daily alcohol intake after her parent’s death. Knapp got sober two years after, and it was sad for me (and I am sure for Caroline, too) to realize that her parents never have seen her daughter free from the addiction, never will have quality time with them and a brand new relationship that they could have been built if Caroline would not have been
Gorski, T. T., & Miller, M. (1986). Staying Sober: A Guide for Relapse Prevention. New
Robinson, David. From Drinking to Alcoholism: A Social Commentary. London: John Wiley and Sons, 1976.
Coming into the substance abuse meeting the student nurse was scared and nervous. She was scared of the reaction of the consumers and feared all the stereotypes she heard about typical alcoholics. Innervison gave the student nurse a new outlook on these types of consumers. She no longer looked at them as people who were just drunks and wanted to use AA as an excuse to make it seem like they are getting help. She never really looked at alcoholism as a true addiction; it seemed like more of an excuse to escape life’s problems. Sitting in and listening to these consumers gave the student nurse a dose of reality. The student nurse now understands alcoholism better and AA helped her realize recovery is truly a process that takes one day and one step at a time.
throughout her childhood with an alcoholic father and a selfish mother who cared more about her art and happiness than that of her children’s. Alcohol misuse can affect all aspects of family functioning: social life, finances, good communication, relationships between family members, parenting capability, employment and health issues, It also has a strong correlation with conflicts, disputes and domestic violence which can leave a damaging effect on children. Alcohol misuse often times changes the roles played by family members in relation to one another, and to the outside world as well.... ... middle of paper ... ...and agencies designed to meet the physical, intellectual, and social-emotional needs of individuals and families.”.
Severe mood swings, violent rages, memory loss—each of these problems were a part of my family life during the past two or three years. These problems are the result of alcoholism. Recently, a member of my family realized his abuse of alcohol was a major problem to not only himself, but also to those around him. He would lose control of his temper and often would not even remember doing it the next day. Alcohol became a part of his daily life including work, home, and any other activities. His problem was that of a "hidden" and "high-society" alcoholism. When he was threatened with the loss of his job and the possibility of losing his family, this man knew it was time to get help. After he reached his lowest point, he took the first step towards recovery—admitting his problem.
For Adult Children of Alcoholics, surviving their families becomes the point of existence. The fortunate may be able to draw support from a supportive adult, and may emerge with fewer difficulties than their brothers and sisters. The majority, however, have to “make do.” Some spend lonely hours in their rooms wishing only to vanish behind the woodwork. Others attempt to rescue the foundering vi...
My assignment was to attend an Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meeting and write my observations and thoughts on the meeting, its structure and philosophical beliefs. I was extremely uncomfortable about attending such a personal meeting. Would individuals welcome me or feel as if I would judge? Even though I was uncomfortable, I am glad I attended the meeting as it was a very enlightening experience for me.
In The Great Gatsby, many individuals are involved in a struggle to find themselves and who they want to be. Personal identity is a very challenging thing to define. Everyone has an image in their mind of who they want to be. These images are usually very different from the actual identity of a person. In this novel, Jay Gatsby’s search or struggle for a new identity for himself is an ongoing journey. He has dedicated his entire life creating an image to impress Daisy Buchanan and to set himself into her society. This image does not necessarily depict who he is in reality.