A Small Note

Alcoholism and mental illness are frequently hidden away in the metaphorical closet as shameful, a sign of weakness, of a lack of ethics and moral, as opposed to what it truly is: a cry for help.

The former is unfortunately common in many of the family lines included on this site, snowballing down the generations and frequently resulting in abusive and neglectful behavior (in its many forms), which then in turn leads to anger and depression, to seeking more liquid comfort in a bottle.

Alcoholism does not spring from the earth unforeseen and fully formed. By many accounts, the drinking and cycles of unemployment spurred much internal frustration and anger from both patriarch and matriarch alike, the results of which could hardly be called good in any respect. Father (and oft times Mother) would take their bottled frustrations out on those younger and smaller than them, which in turn lead to recurrence of the initial problem in the new generation. And so the cycle continues.

Much of the same can be said of mental illness, which rarely received the compassion and help it deserved. In the few instances assistance was received, it was through medical acts that we would likely call torturous nowadays. In most instances, it was easier to hide it away in an asylum.

While the actions taken by those suffering cannot and will not ever be condoned or acceptable; while the recipients of such acts never have deserved it; while it is quite easy to moralize after the fact, the initial source is still deserving of understanding and sympathy.