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I found the movie Under the Influence to be a very realistic look into the functional dysfunction of a family that is besieged by the beast known as alcoholism. I could relate to the characters in this film growing up in a home where both parent were alcoholics. I could see my family in the characters in the film. The role of Noah Talbot (Andy Griffith) the alcoholic would have been my mother or father as they both were afflicted by this terrible disease. The film did a great job of showing how the disease of alcoholism can be passed from one generation to the next. As is the case of Noah’s son Eddie played by (Keanu Reeves) who is portrayed as a heavy drinker. But I think the one of the most powerful scenes is when Noah is laying in the hospital bed talking about his own father and how once in a drunken stupor had a bad dream and leaped from the bedroom window breaking his leg. The look of serene bliss on Griffith’s face in this scene shows how Noah didn’t view his own father as a man with a problem but as a man’s man, he goes on to say in the same scene that …show more content…
his father was a great man never missed a day of work giving the viewers insight into how he idealized his own father. Letting the viewers know that he drinks because that is what men do they work hard and play hard. Growing up in a home with two alcoholic parents I thank God that somehow I broke the cycle of this disease. The role of the enabler in this film is hard to really nail down. What I mean by that is that to some degree they all enable Noah. But since If I had to single out one character as the enabler it would have to be the wife Helen (Joyce Van Patten) the way she just sugar coats his drinking by simply never acknowledging the simple fact that he even has a problem. She just takes a pill and states that she is sick and goes to bed. She is clearly in denial. I can remember my own mother making excuses about my step fathers drinking. No matter what he did or how much he drank it was never his fault it was always stress from work, or “oh the holidays are just so stressful to your dad”. I never once heard her say that his drinking was a problem or that it was his fault that he had three DUI’s it was the other drivers fault for not looking both ways before driving through an intersection when the light was green. She always rationalized why he did or I should say the things they did while they were drunk. I can remember the day after getting beat by my step father in one of his drunken temper tantrums, my mother actually blamed me for it saying and I quote “ If you would just do your chores around the he wants them done this would never have happened” hearing her say that it was my fault that my step father drug me out of bed at 2 AM and beat me till my back and legs were red with angry welts was my fault because I didn’t clean the kitchen right hurt worse than any beating. The wife in the movie was the enabler and in my family both parents enabled each other. Eddie was the scapegoat, anytime the Noah didn’t do the deliveries for the hardware store he blamed Eddie. It was eddies fault that Noah got yelled at by customers. But I also feel that Eddie help to enable his father’s drinking by providing him with alcohol trying to win his father approval. I think Keanu Reeves done a wonderful job in this role. I feel the role of the hero child was filled by the youngest daughter Terri. She is the good daughter who tries through her goods grades at school as well as cooking and taking care of her mother. I feel she was doing this to try to make the world see her family as normal in hopes that through the sheer force of her good works she could fix her family. I can see the older son Steven filling the role of the lost child. He chose to move away and hide his emotion about the dysfunction of his family life behind the jokes of his comedy routine. He has put up a wall that he hides behind, when asked if he loves his girlfriend he retreats behind his wall displaying his ingrained fear of intimacy. The character Steven reminded me of my older sister who left home at sixteen and got married just to escape my mother and stepfather. Though she is still married to the same man I feel my sister never truly escaped as her and her husband are both heavy drinkers. I think the oldest daughter Ann is struggling with the fact that she is no longer the heroic child. A struggle she is losing she has very low self-worth thinking that is she does not achieve every goal set she is a failure. This self-esteem issues drives her to popping pills to keep herself centered. During her father’s illness her anger turns outward towards her husband resulting in a physical altercation. Her father’s illness as well as the issue she is having with her husband causes her to reach her breaking point causing her to attempt suicide. I really enjoyed the film, it was very well written.
I think it did a great job of showing how a family can come to view addictive and abnormal behavior as normal. I would recommend this movie to friends. I feel that it gives great insight into the dynamics of how the disease of alcoholism can trickle down the family tree affecting everyone it touches in such profound ways. Other than the lack of physical abuse I could see myself playing most of the roles the kids did as far as lost child and hero, I remember trying to fulfill most of those roles when I was younger trying anything from trying harder in school to trying to do chores to perfection in the hopes that I could through my works keep my parents from drinking. Thankfully as I got older I came to understand that their drinking was their illness not mine and until they decided they had enough I could do nothing to help them, but love and pray for
them.
As well as the long last effect that alcoholic parents have on a child and a loved one. Moreover, McCullers writes his story incorporating the reality of alcoholism to allow people to visualize the effect of addiction and how it a very serious life changing issue that can deteriorate and break apart families. Mucllurs also indirectly emphasizes the sacrifices that parents must do to ensure the happiness and wellbeing of their children and how being disconnected from your social circle can lead to very serious mentally draining issues. As well as how he emphasizes Martins own intentions and how Matin suffers his own dilemma throughout the story for specific
As I read “Under the Influence: Paying the Price of My Father’s Booze” over and over again I began to realize that my cousin and my family fall into the same situation as Sanders’ did. The essay made me realize that my family is not the only one who has to face this difficulty throughout my whole life. Even though I am not twenty-one yet I know that I am not going to abuse alcohol the way that some people can because I know it can have a different effect on my body and mind unlike some people. I feel the same pain that Sanders’ has gone through losing his father to alcohol. There is always a part of me that wishes I could talk to my cousin and uncle and just ask them why, why did they do it?
In the article “Children of Alcoholics” produced by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, the author explains the negative effect of parental alcoholism on their children’s emotional wellbeing, when he writes, “Children with alcoholic parents are more likely to experience symptoms of anxiety and/or depression, antisocial behavior, relationship difficulties, behavioral problems, and/or alcohol abuse. One recent study finds that children of drug-abusing fathers have the worst mental health issues (Children of Alcoholics 1). Walls reflects upon her childhood experiences in which her father would become drunk and not be able to control his behavior, as she writes, “After working on the bottle for a while, Dad turned into an angry-eyed stranger who threw around furniture and threatened to beat up Mom or anyone else who got in his way. When he’d had his fill of cussing and hollering and smashing things up, he’d collapse” (Walls 23). The Walls children, who frequently encounter their father’s abusive behavior, are affected mentally in the same way that national studies have shown. Jeanette Walls describes how, after drinking, her father’s behavior becomes cruel and intolerable through his use of profanity, threats, and angry, even violent, actions. In a conventional family, a parent has the responsibility of being a role model to influence their children in a positive way as they develop. Unfortunately, in the Walls family and other families with alcoholic parents, children are often subject to abuse and violence, which places them at risk, not only physically, but mentally. Rex’s irrational behavior when he is drunk is detrimental to the children’s upbringing, causing them to lose trust in their parents, have significantly lower self-esteem and confidence, and feel insecure. Rex’s behavior contributes to Jeanette’s
Alcoholism is one of the most common disorders in the world today. It is a disease, a sickness that harms the body and the mind in the most violent ways possible. The body is racked by a need to suffice its desire, and this leads addicts to do anything to get the alcohol into their systems. In Angela’s Ashes, alcoholism is a major theme, and becomes the destroyer of the families and loved ones that are involved.
I truly enjoyed the movie, because of how honest it is about how people struggle, but never give up. It is a story of family and perseverance that is heart wrenching. I would completely endorse this movie and push it to be in the curriculum in the future. My hope is that students continue to over fill your class as you aloud me to do this semester. The movie explains so much of Deaf Culture that the standard population could really use to know. Which is probably why I whish the movie was more common in movie rental places, Hulu and other video cites. It is a fantastic movie with a fantastic message.
From interviewing celebrities such as actress Kristen Johnston and politician Bill White, the film identified substance abuse can happen to anyone. I found more sympathy to those once I learned the facts, not opinions, of substance abuse users. It was interesting to find how the physiology of ones’ brain may change over time, thus proving it is not always a person’s free will of choice to use. People of addiction are like anyone else who may have fallen down the wrong path. Some who have found substance abuse for coping, did not realize they were becoming addicts. Others have found the media and advertisement placing pressure on them because it looks entertaining and fun. With limited outreach programs, it is crucial to increase the awareness among young groups for prevention. With fear of being judged, the stigma and health disparities of addiction cause many to not seek help. Equal opportunity should be available to everyone. As a future nurse, I find an important role for me is to lead in educating and being opened minded to the struggles of each one of my patients. My job is to refrain from stereotyping and being an advocate. As healthcare is always evolving to provide the most adequate care, I look forward towards the future as more people are educating and trying to eliminate those struggling through addiction
After finishing this memoir, there is no denying that the main character, Augusten Burroughs, has a problem. From a very young age his alcoholic tendencies (coupled with other drug use) have caused hardships for both himself and those around him. As he aged, so his alcoholism increased. In Dry: A memoir we get to see Augusten’s challenging journey from a life revolving around alcohol to sobriety. As previously mentioned, it is undeniable that Augusten did have a problem. But, does this automatically mean he is clinically diagnosable with an alcohol related disorder? Unfortunately, in this case, the answer is yes. Augusten Burroughs is not only diagnosable for clinical substance dependence, but could be considered the poster child of the disorder, fulfilling almost every criterion for the diagnosis.
The crippling effects of alcoholism and drug dependency are not confined to the addict alone. The family suffers, physically and emotionally, and it is the children who are the most disastrous victims. Frequently neglected and abused, they lack the maturity to combat the terrifying destructiveness of the addict’s behavior. As adults these individuals may become compulsively attracted to the same lifestyle as their parents, excessive alcohol and drug abuse, destructive relationships, antisocial behavior, and find themselves in an infinite loop of feelings of emptiness, futility, and despair. Behind the appearance of calm and success, Adult Children of Alcoholics often bear a sad, melancholy and haunted look that betrays their quietest confidence. In the chilling silence of the darkest nights of their souls, they yearn for intimacy: their greatest longing, and deepest fear. Their creeping terror lives as the child of years of emotional, and sometimes physical, family violence.
I thought the video was very memorable because it showed how young these kids were and they were already taking multiple pills each day. It is sad to me that these children will likely spend most of their lives on medication. Also, the little girl, Jessica, really stuck out to me. I had never seen such a violent thought come from a four year old, it was something you would never expect because most people don’t recognize that kids can have bipolar disorder too. The meaningful and powerful part of the movie to me was that a little girl died in the night as a result of all the medications she was prescribed. That was very shocking to me because
When people hear the word "drug," they usually think of an illegal substance such as cocaine, heroin, marijuana, or any other drug that can be found on the street. Most people never consider the fact that consuming alcohol can be just as harmful as illegal drugs, not only on the body, but on the mind and spirit as well (#1). If constantly abused, alcohol can be even worse for one than taking illegal drugs (#5) Irresponsible drinking can destroy a person's life as well as the lives of those around them. When people become both physically and psychologically addicted to alcohol, they become an alcoholic and suffer from a disease called alcoholism. One denotation of this term is "a diseased condition of the system, brought about by the continued use of alcoholic liquors" (Webster's Dictionary, 37). Another definition of this term, given to me by my English professor, Janet Gould who is in fact, a recovering alcoholic, is that alcoholism is a mental dependence and a physical allergy (#3). Alcoholism somehow affects us all through a parent, sibling, friend, or even personal encounters with a stranger. In fact "alcoholics may become angry and argumentative, quiet and withdrawn, or depressed. They may also feel more anxious, sad, tense, and confused. They then seek relief by drinking more" (Gitlow 175).
People sometimes say that drugs and alcohol make for the best stories. While the saying often refers to a fun night out, drugs and alcohol can just as easily tell stories about desperation, despair, and, tragically, death. What starts out as a good time, can turn into a disaster in a blink of an eye and without a warning. Sadly, the user is too stoned to notice and the downward spiral begins.
I believe this movie does a good job incorporating what we have discussed in class in terms of adolescent development. Although the movie is greatly exaggerated and blown up, the movie does emphasize on key factors to the development of an adolescent. Aside from the self-identity and friendship, the film incorporates parental relationships, academics, teacher-student relationships, risky behaviors, and moral development during adolescent
“When I was 13, my dad started drinking more and more. Every day he would come home from work and have beer, lots of it. I didn’t think much of it at first, but then he started getting more angry and violent. He would shout at my mom and me. It was like my father had gone and been replaced with another guy” says an anonymous kid who lives with an alcoholic parent in “How my dad’s drinking problem almost destroyed my family”. The kid depicts that he is so confused, angry and upset especially when his father got fired for going to work drunk. This is one of many children’s voices who suffers having an alcoholic in their family. Most of them are depressed because alcohol has destroyed their family. This is an addiction that does
To conclude, I think this movie is a good example to show how a homeless person lived and how he survived his life from being a homeless. Throughout all his life he showed what can determination do even though there are obstacles in the way. Doing is best paid off his hardships. So from dreaming big, be determined on what you're trying to do, and be responsible on things will make you succeed in the future.
Not only does this movie deal with the issues of society, but it points to biblical scriptures that help lead us in the right direction. The biggest lesson that this film taught me was that if I put my complete faith in God, then no matter what happens, he will provide, watch over, and take care of me. I learned that expressing belief in God is not enough. I have to live everyday believing and trusting him and I have to show my trust and faith through my actions and my words.