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7 Signs of a High Functioning Alcoholic

We offer personalized treatment programs to help anyone regain control of their life and health. Our holistic addiction treatment programs will address the root cause of alcohol use disorder and help you heal from the physical, mental, and spiritual effects of alcohol. Alcoholism can take a devastating toll on a person’s physical health, emotional well-being, personal relationships and professional life. However, many alcoholics manage to function effectively, holding down jobs and maintaining households.

Intervening in the addictive behavior may be seen as a threat to the family’s financial security — even if the family must put up with emotional neglect or physical abuse. The U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics noted that nearly 60% of violent incidents against a domestic partner or family member were committed under the influence of alcohol. The level of treatment necessary for someone struggling with alcohol use disorder can vary. Some may need medical detox to get past the acute withdrawal stage and subsequent residential treatment to address their alcohol addiction. For others, outpatient treatment, such as an intensive outpatient program (IOP) or partial hospitalization program (PHP) may suffice. The degree of impairment is not the same for everyone, but everyone with a substance use disorder could function significantly better without using their substance of choice.

Why we no longer say high-functioning alcoholic

The functional alcoholic can function at social events but is not able to hide it from their spouse. For example, the spouse might see the partner drinking secretly or discover the emotional side effects of alcoholism. It’s possible that the spouse can become emotionally abusive or distant too. The chance of getting into a motor vehicle accident while under the influence is among them. Alcohol poisoning is a potential threat to high-functioning alcoholism, too. Injuries from accidents, burns, acts of aggression, and domestic violence are also possible.

Despite saying they’re going to have “just one drink,” high-functioning alcoholics are unable to limit their alcohol consumption. They tend to drink heavily while at a party or bar, and when it comes time for last call, they quickly down their drink then run to the bar to order another. Also, high-functioning alcoholics will finish the drinks of others and never leave a drink on the table.

What are the main signs of high-functioning alcoholism?

Unfortunately, a combination of denial and a lack of support from their family and friends often prevents high-functioning alcoholics from ever getting treatment. Nevertheless, high-functioning alcoholics face medical and legal risks from drinking excessively. For example, high-functioning alcoholics are more likely to drink and drive and develop cirrhosis from binge drinking. The fear of not being able to consume their drug of choice is a hallmark of addiction, and high-functioning alcoholics may continue to drink and maintain control, despite negative consequences. Although they may never experience severe consequences, such as losing their job or getting a DUI, they might drink throughout the day to reduce cravings and avoid withdrawal symptoms.

By addressing their drinking problem, individuals can improve their health and overall quality of life. As a progressive disease, the best time to get alcoholism treatment is now before there are major effects on your relationships, job, and health. Through our outpatient and virtual outpatient alcohol rehab programs, you can continue with your life normally while in the recovery treatment. These programs allow enough flexibility to allow you to remain at your job or school full-time while taking care of obligations at home. There is a difference between someone who suffers from high-functioning alcoholism and someone who simply enjoys drinking alcohol. High-functioning alcoholics crave alcohol, develop tolerance to it over time, and experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop drinking.

Diagnosing High-Functioning Alcoholism

These memory lapses can be severe enough that they’re considered blackouts. Research shows that the severity of blackouts varies by your individual make-up and that these alcohol-induced memory lapses can jumpstart long-term neurobiological abnormalities and psychiatric symptoms. After completing detox, you may participate in a treatment program at a substance abuse treatment center. Like medical detox, inpatient and outpatient options are available based on your specific needs.

You may feel pressure to hide your drinking or drink with strangers who aren’t aware of your history with alcohol. Another stigma for high-functioning alcoholics is the perception that they’re using drinking to escape from problems they cannot face, including mental health issues. In short, your career and personal reputation may become vulnerable to attack. So how and when does one high functioning alcoholic know if they or a loved one has a problem with alcohol. Although some individuals in recovery find value in admitting that they are an alcoholic, it is something that many find difficulty in coming to terms with. Suggesting that one is alcoholic is suggestive that one fits into a one-size-fits-all demographic, which stereotypically conjures up images of a low-functioning individual.

HFAs have the same disease as the stereotypical “skid-row” alcoholic, but it manifests or progresses differently. Yet, living with a functioning alcoholic husband or wife inevitably affects the relationship and it can end up becoming a toxic marriage. Unless the issues are addressed in a healthy manner, the relationship ultimately deteriorates into fights about alcohol abuse and there’s a risk of domestic violence. Many https://ecosoberhouse.com/s don’t want to admit to themselves, let alone others that their drinking is a problem. Such individuals can become short-tempered, irritable, angry, or even aggressive if they are confronted about their drinking habits.

Even though they may want to stop, many functioning alcoholics often won’t know where or how to begin the process. This is where family, friends and medical professionals can work together to create a plan to help end this cycle before they do more harm to themselves. Nearly 20% of alcoholics are highly functional and well-educated with good incomes. Because these types of users appear stable and mostly unaffected by their drinking, the steps to effectively confront a functioning alcoholic and work with them on their behaviors can be even more difficult. For example, people reference recent conversations with you, but you can’t remember them because you were drinking.

Sarah Allen Benton, M.S., LMHC., LPC, is a licensed mental health counselor and author of Understanding the High-Functioning Alcoholic. The first step in helping a friend or family member who is drinking too much is to approach them about their alcohol use. Yet, a high functioning alcoholic needs help as much as a classic alcoholic. They might also brag that they’ve stockpiled liquor so that there’s always enough for everyone. Such comments and behaviors can be a deflection tactic to hide a drinking habit that’s out of control. Functional alcoholics can appear stone-cold sober most of the time, but then you’ll occasionally catch them blind-drunk.

For example, contacting the local chapter of AA to specifically find a group for partners of functional alcoholics is key. When a person is dating a functional alcoholic that they care for, they’re going to want to get them help. It’s natural to attempt to try and smooth things over for them, but it’s important to be careful. The individual mustn’t do the following things when confronting a functional alcoholic.

At some point, a high-functioning alcoholic has tried to quit drinking but failed in their attempt. This pattern is often repeated, and you may notice that they go through periods where they drink heavily and then make an attempt to quit. Even though they continuously go through this cycle, they still refuse to seek treatment. This is part of their personality where they feel like they can handle their drinking on their own without getting help from others. Just because someone is high-functioning doesn’t mean they’re not at risk of hurting themselves or others as a result of their drinking.

• For those who aren’t familiar with this disorder first-hand, when they hear the term “alcoholic,” they might picture someone unable to hold a job or maintain healthy relationships because of their drinking.
• Furthermore, dysfunctional alcoholism can trigger the same dire set of health-related consequences as those with high-functioning alcoholism.
• Dysfunctional alcoholism overlaps with the same physical consequences of drinking as high-functioning alcoholism.

Reach out to a treatment provider for free today for immediate assistance. A holistic approach to substance abuse treatment often employs a number of approaches and tools to aid in the need to… They keep their alcohol stashed in a secret location where their friends and family won’t find it, like in their desk or car. One of the most famous classic Hollywood stars, Elizabeth Taylor spent over three decades of her career addicted to alcohol and painkillers. She became the first celebrity to openly admit herself to rehab at the Betty Ford Center in 1983. Alexander the Great was a legendary Ancient Greek general who is considered one of the greatest military commanders of all time.

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