Term Paper on "Al-Anon the Open Discussion Group"

Term Paper 4 pages (1223 words) Sources: 3 Style: APA

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Al-Anon

The open discussion group of Al-Anon that I attended proved a very eye-opening experience. The nature of the group itself very much reflected the lives and issues that the family members and friends of alcoholics gathered there were facing. The open nature allowed people to attend when they liked and stop whenever they wanted, or to attend sporadically. There were many regulars in attendance, and it was also clear that there were several total newcomers (myself included). There was also one man, Doug, who apparently attended only when the situation with his wife (ex-wife, actually, but with partial custody of their two children) grew especially bad. There was a wave of initial sympathy from the regulars towards him when he walked in the door; his presence was enough to make it known that things were worse.

This leads to an interesting observation on the connection of alcoholism with other disorders. It has long been noted that alcoholism has an exacerbating effect -- possibly even a causal one -- on depression in alcoholics (Janssen, 2007). Though one could not claim a truly medical link, there is also a direct connection between alcoholism and depression (or similar symptoms) in the families and friends of alcoholics. The stress and helplessness that most of those present at the meeting felt by their own admission bordered on depression. Accepting the clinical definition of depressions as "a mood disorder in which feelings of sadness, loss, anger, or frustration interfere with everyday life for an extended period of time" certainly applies to almost all members of Al-Anon; feelings of sadness, anger, and frustration that interfere with daily life on a regular basis are the hallmarks of dealing with an alcoholic friend or family member (RightHealth, 2008). It is little wonder, then, that the people at this meeting, especially the newcomers, exhibited many of the typical signs of depression and general fatigue.

The group interacted like many support groups, in ways that were specifically meant to combat depressive feelings with networks of support and solution, to counter the feelings of isolation and helplessness that typify both depression and the effects of alcoholism and alcoholics. In alcoholics, depression is often exacerbated by withdrawal of the support of friends and family (Janssen, 2007). This is one of the reasons Al-Anon defines alcoholism as a "family disease," and determines that truly effective treatment must involve the entire network of the alcoholic's support groups (Al-Anon, 2006). This concept also applies to the family and friends of alcoholics, who must also feel a sense of support and assistance with their own struggles.

Susan was one of the speakers at this meeting. She had been coming to Al-Anon meetings for years, and very candidly shared -- due to repeated experience, I suppose -- the details of her father's alcoholism, including the abuse he inflicted on her during his prolonged periods of extreme inebriation. These experiences left Susan feeling powerless and alone in the world for many years, and resulted in severe depression and substance abuse problems of her own. This clearly illustrates the depressive cycle that often plays out in instances of alcoholism, both in the alcoholics themselves and in the people around them. Depression is a disorder that affects almost everyone connected, whether directly or indirectly, to alcoholism. The very nature of the disease, according to the twelve steps of both Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon, is insurmountable without the aid of a "higher power" (Al-Anon, 2006). One could argue that such an attitude actually increases feelings of helplessness in regards to alcoholism, which could actually deepen depression rather than alleviating it by mediating responsibility.

Still, both of these programs have proven effective in… READ MORE

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