People who are concerned about their drinking habits, and those who are showing signs of an AUD, may wish to reach out for help and support. According to the NIAAA, the majority of people with an AUD can benefit from some form of treatment. It’s not as easy to pinpoint whether or not someone you know is a functional alcoholic. If a person is succeeding at work, looks happy with their family, and has no outward signs of distress, how can you tell if someone is addicted to alcohol?
What are the signs of functional alcoholism?
They do not drink socially, and are typically experiencing a co-occurring mental health condition such as depression, bipolar disorder, or OCD. Alcohol consumption can start to erode relationships with others as a person’s behavior becomes more erratic. They may engage in risky behaviors while drinking, including unsafe sex, driving, or swimming. They may begin to drink all day, starting the day with a drink to counteract hangover. Drinking may start to interfere with work, or the ability to hold a job, and may disrupt family life. In some cases, you may not notice many functional consequences to a person’s alcohol consumption with AUD.
Impact of Being a Functional Alcoholic
Alcoholism may become a method of self-medication to fight depression and other emotional symptoms. Interestingly, while this group drinks less often than other alcoholics, they tend to “binge drink” more often and consume more alcohol during those binges. For example, on “binge days,” members of this group often consume up to 14 drinks. Although the average age of this group is 24, most have spent at least the last four years as an alcoholic.
The five subtypes of alcoholic
They often lead seemingly normal lives, excelling in their careers and social circles, which masks the severity of their alcohol dependency. This condition is particularly deceptive as it hides in plain sight, allowing the individual to deny or minimize the negative impacts of their drinking. Despite their outward success, functional alcoholics face significant health and emotional risks due to their alcohol use. Whether you have an alcoholic spouse, partner or other loved one, you may be wondering how to help. High-functioning alcoholics can benefit from having an at-home support system before, during and after any form of treatment for their addiction. There are hundreds of resources all over the country designed to address the issue of alcohol abuse and addiction.
Their anxiety and depression may be obvious, and their moodiness and secretiveness impact spouses, children, and other loved ones who are puzzled by their inconsistent behavior. According to research sponsored by the National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence (NCADD), approximately 14 million American adults—or one out of every 13—suffer from an alcohol use disorder. While a person who is high-functioning alcohol can still fulfill their obligations in many areas of life, that does not mean that their drinking does not take a toll on their health, relationships, career, and well-being. For the functional alcoholic, the denial runs deep, because they have yet to encounter significant negative consequences. Unhealthy alcohol use includes any alcohol use that puts your health or safety at risk or causes other alcohol-related problems. It also includes binge drinking — a pattern of drinking where a male has five or more drinks within two hours or a female has at least four drinks within two hours.
Listen to relatives, friends or co-workers when they ask you to examine your drinking habits or to seek help. Consider talking with someone who has had a problem with drinking but has stopped. Functional tolerance is when a person builds enough tolerance to alcohol that they can drink a significant amount and still appear normal to friends or family members while participating in activities of daily living.
- There may also be new legal issues arising for them, like driving under the influence or making other poor decisions.
- A functioning alcoholic, by definition, is a person who has an alcohol use disorder, or AUD.
- There’s generally a known connection between substance use disorders and other mental health conditions, and whether or not you attend inpatient treatment, these can be addressed accordingly with your care team.
- If you’re related to the person or married to them, you want to see them succeed.
- They may take steps to avoid the person while they are drinking, or they may experience feelings of guilt, shame, or self-blame.
It can now be vital to find healthy coping skills and outlets that can help you sit with and move through these feelings. Coping skills and outlets can include creative outlets, like journaling and art, talking to other people and turning to your support system, or engaging in physical activity. A therapist can help with self-compassion, self-talk, interpersonal relationships, goal setting, and establishing coping skills or outlets that are healthy for you as a unique individual. People with alcohol use disorder, or those who misuse alcohol, might be high functioning, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that they don’t have a problem. This may look like a person who maintains employment or otherwise maintains a life that is seen as socially acceptable despite alcohol misuse.
For most of us, drinking would cause our lives to implode, leading us to seek help for our actions. However, functional alcoholics don’t have the same negative consequences for their actions. The denial runs deep for them because they don’t suffer financially and go to work every day.
Recovery Advocacy
Unfortunately, even when functional alcoholics begin to recognize that they have a drinking problem, they still resist reaching out for help. By the time they admit the problem, their withdrawal symptoms—which can begin within a few hours after their last drink—can become more and more severe. Many people with alcohol use disorder hesitate to get treatment because they don’t recognize that they have a problem. An intervention from loved ones can help some people recognize and accept that they need professional help. If you’re concerned about someone who drinks too much, ask a professional experienced in alcohol treatment for advice on how to approach that person. Highest alcohol-related work and social problems, visits to the ER, and family issues.
The term high functioning alcoholic is no longer in use in the medical community. However, some people may use the phrase to refer to individuals who are experiencing an AUD but are still able to successfully function in their work and personal lives. Once informed, open a dialogue with the individual, expressing your concerns in a non-judgmental, empathetic manner. Avoid accusatory language, focusing instead on specific behaviors and toosie meaning drug their impact. Encourage them to seek professional help, offering to accompany them to appointments or support groups if they’re open to it.
Such groups can offer valuable support, encouragement, advice, and information. Family members may feel on edge and worried about their loved ones drinking. They may take steps to avoid the person while they are drinking, or they may experience feelings of guilt, shame, or self-blame. Usually, it is only when their continued drinking becomes more painful than the prospect of going through the pain of alcohol withdrawal, will they finally reach out for help. Alcohol use disorder can include periods of being drunk (alcohol intoxication) and symptoms of withdrawal. Individual therapy, combined with marriage or family counseling, can strengthen your self-esteem and help you build a healthy, sober relationship.
