Show Recovering alcoholic speaks on impact of abuse Ramiro Flores Contributing Writer A and its A jT ALCOHOLISM impact on a family were one of many subjects discussed during Alcohol and Drug Awareness Week held April 20 16 at Lynda Steele a spokesperson son for Families and Alcoholism Alcoholism Alcoholism Al Al- lectured to students students students stu stu- dents Wednesday April 22 Steele a recovered alcoholic herself helped educate students students students stu stu- dents about family members member's reactions within the home of ofa a problem drinker There is a problem if a drinker has loss of control Steele said Among other symptoms an alcoholic feels he or she is the healthiest person in the family They are physically dependent requiring a certain certain certain tain amount of a chemical tobe to tobe tobe be normal she explained A closely related behavior is that the problem drinker must have it but no severe withdrawal symptoms occur without it Steele presented a demonstration of family roles which were played by the audience The first role was the alcoholic The next role is the spouse or controller He or she must figure out how to get control since the alcoholic cannot said Steele The controller is co- co dependent and covers up for forthe forthe forthe the alcoholics alcoholic's errors behaviors behaviors behaviors be be- and failure of responsibilities The next victims are arc the children Different roles were played beginning with the hero The hero does well in school and tries to take re for the family because the alcoholic cannot He or she also feels guilty forthe for forthe forthe the problems that have occurred occurred occurred oc oc- in the family The second role played byone by byone byone one of the children is known as a scapegoat He or she wants to be away from it all by acts tf of rebellion because the scapegoat doesn't want vant todeal to todeal todeal deal with it This character is generally the trouble maker of the family Another role is the lost child This person is opposite of the scapegoat by staying out of trouble The child is very shy and literally hides away from everything by entering a fantasy world The mascot or clown tries to break tension with lith humor Comic relief is the only way out The clown clo watches to lighten things up when they need to be explained Steele Unfortunately Unfortunately Unfortunately this person is usually usually usually usual usual- ly suicidal due to anxiety During these mixed emotions emotions emotions emo emo- between the children the controller or parent loses contact with the rest of the family because they need to focus their attention else else- where Insanity may start to set in after a while Steele later explained that each of these roles are arc sometimes sometimes sometimes some some- times inconsistent or inter inter- changeable One person may begin to play all roles at some some- time She discussed different types of families The two types are a functional and non-functional non family A functional can communicate and interact with each other Rules and values are arc taught inan in inan inan an early age The non-functional non family has no communication espe espe- I feelings are not al allowed allowed allowed al- al I lowed said Steele Other include denial that I there is an alcohol problem inthe in inthe inthe the family Friends rarely or orare I Iare iare are never invited to the home The long chain of of t j problems grow because feelings feelings feelings feel feel- ings are kept inside and nothing nothing nothing noth noth- ing is expressed except depression Eating disorders result from not being able to jr j i r do this One main reason feelings feelings feelings feel feel- ings are not expressed is because because because be be- cause they only stir sUr things j up Steele said Feelings j must be paid attention to and andare j t jare are arc very important f I 1 Ji 11 JiL u j L I |