Alcoholism In My Family

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Alcoholism

Octavia Hampton

English Composition I

Instructor Jennifer Cheek

Holmes Community College

January 29, 2014

Every family has been afflicted by alcohol or alcoholism in some way, whether rich or poor, according to statistics. In fact, alcoholism is considered the “family disease”, because of its negative effects on the roles of family members, and the family’s image/reputation. Alcoholism has badly affected my family as well. My aunt, who is extremely caring, loving, humble, and generous, has suffered from this chronic disorder for years. After her husband’s death in 2003, she became an alcoholic. I honestly believe that she turns to alcohol to stop her from thinking/grieving about her husband, yet it destroys her beautiful personality that she has when she is sober. My aunt depends on alcohol the most during holidays, when there is a death in the family, and during general family gatherings.
My aunt heavily depends on alcohol on holidays. When the family gathers, eat, and enjoy each other, my aunt seems to always turn to a bottle of liquor. For example, last Christmas, my family gathered, as usual, and ate, talked, laughed, and reminisced. It was a joyous time. The warmth of the fire burning in the fire place, the tasteful smell of Christmas dinner, and the love of family filled the atmosphere. Yet, when my aunt arrived, the family immediately knew she was intoxicated and begin to feel disappointed. She greeted the family members with what she thought were kisses, but were really her lips meeting the jaws, while leaving tons of slobber. She smelled as if she bathed in alcohol and she would talk much louder than the normal. The family still re...

... middle of paper ...

...to prevent any incidents from occurring. This type of behavior disappoints my family every time there is a gathering, yet we all still love my aunt.
Although my aunt is an alcoholic and suffers from alcoholism, my family still loves her and would never exclude her from family events/gatherings. The family wishes that she would cooperate and get help but that has been denied many times. Yet, when she is not intoxicated, my aunt is a warm-hearted woman, who will feed anyone who is hungry, open her home to loved ones who are in need, and will speak with the softest voice ever. My family would like to enjoy this sober person as she is without alcohol, and not the intoxicated person who seems nonchalant. Hopefully, in the future, my aunt will seek deep in her heart to get some help and depart from the use of alcohol, which not only affects her but affects her family.

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