However the reader interprets Jack’s place in the narrative, there is no doubt he is a flawed human with dysfunctions that are at play long before he arrives at the Overlook. In order to gain a better perspective on the reality of alcohol abuse, a key component to Jack and his bizarre visits to bartender Grady, we spoke to crisis therapist Sara Melendez.
Meg: “What is your professional background?”
Sara Melendez: “I have a BA in sociology and an MA in psychology. I also am an Internationally Certified Substance Abuse Counselor.”
Kelly: “Have there been times you have been overwhelmed or emotionally disturbed by your work? How do you deal with the heavy nature of what you do?”
Sara Melendez: “Yes, I have worked as a crisis therapist for the past fourteen years and have seen thousands of clients in all kinds of disturbing situations—too many to count. I deal with the heavy nature of what I do by understanding that everyone has a journey, and sometimes we don’t understand why they are destined to endure so much pain, but it is not my journey, so I have to respect where they’re at and the whole process of life itself.”
Meg: “Stephen King has been open about his struggle with multiple addictions, including during the time he wrote The Shining. Have you found that creative expression has helped with those grappling with addiction? Can creating art or focusing on hobbies and passions be a part of addiction therapy?”
Sara Melendez: “In hearing thousands of stories of people in crisis, I have found that some of their stories fall into patterns. That being said, I have yet to meet an individual who suffers a severe mental illness, or a severe substance issue (or both), that hasn’t suffered some type of childhood trauma. In order to cope, some follow creative pursuits and when under the influence are able to channel the pain of their childhood trauma into creativity. I’ve read several times that Stephen King witnessed his friend being hit and killed by a train when they were children. He returned home and had forgotten what happened by the time he got home, according to reports. I believe that event was not resolved at the time he wrote The Shining. Mr. King bases some of his stories around childhood trauma like The Stand (which also involved a train), Rose Madder (1995), It (Beverly was a classic victim of childhood sexual trauma by her father). I think that, yes, focusing on hobbies and passions can be part of addictions therapy; however, my belief is that when Mr. King wrote some of his stories in blackout mode (as I’ve read) he wasn’t necessarily in a therapeutic situation but was more likely processing his childhood trauma in his own way.”
Kelly: “Wow! That is fascinating, and so true that a lot of his work focuses on dysfunction in childhood, as exhibited by the character of Danny Torrance.”
Meg: “I like how authors, or any creators, have the ability to process their trauma through art!”
Alcohol-related fatalities are the third leading cause of preventable death in the United States, following the first, tobacco, and second, obesity.
Kelly: “In The Shining, Jack Torrance is an alcoholic. Soon, the reader finds out that, although he is intelligent and talented, he has lost his job at a prep school. This was due to his drinking which caused him to erupt at his students. He also uncharacteristically broke his son Danny’s arm. Can you speak to this Jekyll- and Hyde-like nature in those with addiction? Do you feel this is an accurate portrayal?”
Sara Melendez: “In some situations, yes. It depends on the substance. I’ve found that people high on methamphetamine and blackout drunk can be very labile—one second they’re reasonable and the next second they’re dangerous. People on the influence of other drugs, like heroin, marijuana, and opiates are not as extreme.”
Meg: “As The Shining progresses, we witness the conflict in Wendy Torrance’s life as the spouse of an alcoholic. What are some of the common issues and traumas that you have come to expect from loved ones in a similar position as Wendy?”
Sara Melendez: “With every person who is an addict comes an enabler or enabler(s). Wendy was an enabler by tolerating his behavior and staying with him even after he faced consequences due to his addiction (losing his job), and covered up his abuse by not reporting it to authorities after he abused Danny. Without enablers, addicts could not survive long as addicts.”
Kelly: “From your place of expertise, in which King novels or stories were you impressed with his representation of characters either besieged with addiction or mental illness?”
Sara Melendez: “I was impressed with two characters the most—Beverly in It and Rose in Rose Madder. Both were not addicts or mentally ill; however, they were victims of close family who had addictions and mental illness. Beverly had an abusive father who was sexually attracted to her, and had difficulty adjusting to her transition to womanhood. It would be safe to say he was a sexual addict as a father attracted to his own biological daughter and struggling to contain his impulses and therefore abusing her. Rose in Rose Madder had an abusive, alcoholic husband. What stood out to me the most in this book was that once she left her husband, started a new life, and found a new relationship that wasn’t abusive, she became abusive herself and acted out to her new significant other who wasn’t abusive at all. In my work with victims of domestic violence, I have found this to be true across the board, although no one really talks about it. Unless a victim of domestic violence works through their issues after they leave the relationship, they are very likely to act out violently toward their new partner, even if the new partner is not violent or abusive. It’s like they have all this internal rage. Mr. King touched on that, and it was the first time I’ve seen it in print, although I’ve witnessed it in working at domestic violence shelters and with victims of DV.”
Kelly: “I’ll have to re-read Rose Madder with that new perspective!”
Meg: “Aside from Stephen King, when you see or read fictional accounts of those with addiction or mental illness, do you feel they are depicted fairly? Have there been times you were disappointed with their portrayal?”
Sara Melendez: “Yes, very much so. Oftentimes the media will vilify a character and label them as bipolar or schizophrenic. They are portrayed as killers, or dangerous, or menaces to society. While there are of course people with either of these diagnoses who break the law, there are so many that are perfectly functional adults. Because I’ve worked in the trenches throughout my career with people who are bipolar or schizophrenic, I’ve found that they are amongst us at work, in the community, our neighbor, and sometimes our family. Most of the time as long as they take their medications, stay away from alcohol and drugs, and have support, they are not these crazed insane characters that the media portrays. In fact, those diagnosed with borderline personality disorder do far more damage to families and individuals than others more seemingly ‘dangerous’ diagnoses.”