Instead, the DSM-5 has established AUD as the term to replace previous stigmatizing terms such as alcohol dependence, alcohol abuse, and alcoholism. We also offer a free addiction assessment, which can help us understand the difficulties your loved one has been experiencing and talk through the best course of treatment for their recovery. Use the information below to book a free assessment and help your loved one start their journey to recovery today. Alumni support programs provide ongoing connection through support groups, events, and check-ins after formal care ends. Staying engaged in a recovery community significantly reduces relapse risk and helps individuals build a sustainable, alcohol-free life. Important tasks, relationships, or personal health begin to slide as drinking quietly takes up more time, energy, and mental space.
High functioning alcoholics: the walking wounded
- The picture of someone struggling with alcohol abuse disorder is often one where people struggle to live life normally as they battle a dependency on alcohol.
- This article explores the meaning of the term high functioning alcoholic, looks at the signs and symptoms of alcohol use disorder (AUD), how people can help friends and family, and more.
- This level of denial can be very tough to overcome and makes it difficult for a loved one to get through to the functioning alcoholic.
- Peer pressure and easy availability of alcohol can increase the risk of developing an AUD.
Binge drinking is defined as having four or more beverages in one drinking episode for women and five or more beverages for men (a typical drinking episode is around two hours). 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. It can be very hard for functioning alcoholics to realise they have a problem, with or without others’ input. If you are drinking more alcoholic units than recommended, you may have a problem.
It means that, while the person might be able to go about their daily life right now, it’s often only a matter of time before they see the negative consequences of addiction. Sadly, many high-functioning alcoholics don’t realise they have a problem until a long time has passed. But that doesn’t mean it’s too late for them to recover and begin a fresh start. So, if you are reading this, know that it is never too late to change, and right now, you are deserving of a healthier way of life – physically, mentally, and emotionally. The term ‘functioning alcoholic’ refers to an individual who can alcoholism maintain a relatively normal life in terms of work, relationships, and social activities despite having a significant alcohol dependency. They may be able to hold down a job, fulfil family obligations, and appear to function well in society, all while regularly consuming alcohol to excess.
External Appearance vs Private Life
If someone close to you is a high-functioning alcoholic, it’s just as important to seek support for yourself as it is to get help for your loved one. You likely have questions about how to deal with an alcoholic or how to help an alcoholic. Self-help organizations, church groups, and 12-step programs like Al-Anon and Alateen offer advice, hope and encouragement to people involved with functioning alcoholics. One of the main problems with being a functioning alcoholic is that you don’t draw any attention from your drinking.
Signs of Functional Alcoholism:
Our trained staff support you with the physical and mental challenges when working your way out of addiction. Holistic well-being and aftercare support can help you remove alcohol from your life for good. Answering yes to more than one of https://www.worldindigenousnetwork.net/sober-living-recovery-housing-addiction-alcoholic-7 these questions may indicate that your relationship with alcohol could be improved. Yet recognising those aspects within yourself that you don’t like may create a foundation for positive change. Even if you feel like you can drink and function, and you can carry out all life’s responsibilities while drinking, visualise how much better your life could be without the unquestioning need for alcohol. Your finances, career, relationships and fitness levels are all likely to increase once you stop drinking.
The best thing to do is to watch out for signs of functioning alcoholism in yourself and your loved ones, so you can address the issue before it escalates. Living with a functioning alcoholic can have a serious effect on your own health and wellbeing. You may be constantly concerned about the person, worn down by their behaviours or anxious about what they may do next. For many people, functioning alcoholic the recovery process begins with medical alcohol detox at licensed detox centers.
This stage focuses on safely managing alcohol withdrawal syndrome, which can range from anxiety and insomnia to dangerous complications like seizures. Clinical monitoring during detox helps reduce risk, manage symptoms, and stabilize the body before transitioning into therapeutic care. When support begins sooner, the brain and body have a better chance to recover, and unhealthy coping patterns are easier to replace with healthier ones. Early intervention also reduces the risk of relational damage, job loss, and medical crises that often emerge when drinking progresses unchecked.
Often, loved ones or coworkers remain unaware of the severity of the individual’s drinking because, on the surface, all seems well. If any combination of these signs arises repeatedly, it’s important to probe deeper into the possibility of an alcohol use disorder. Whereas, non-functional drinkers prioritise alcohol over their appearance regardless of social setting. Non-functional alcohol users have a fear of withdrawal symptoms that causes constant drinking 8. Non-functioning drinkers prioritise alcohol over everything else in life and disregard the consequences that come from this. In some cases, friends and family secretly assume responsibilities outside the functional drinker’s knowledge, to allow both themselves and the drinker to continue denying problematic drinking behaviour.
Detox under medical supervision is a safer and more effective option than attempting to detox without help. Whereas, functioning drinkers utilise alcohol to switch off and sleep without worry, then deal with the causes of emotions the next day 13. Functional drinkers avoid the internal guilt and shame of drinking itself by successfully convincing others there is no alcohol dependence occurring, therefore convincing themselves. If the dependencies that the functioning alcohol abuse sufferer has put in place are taken away, the user’s drinking is likely to escalate into non-functioning drinking 12.
Lifestyle Quizzes
But most high-functioning alcoholics have friends or loved ones who help them cover up the consequences of their drinking. These individuals may unconsciously encourage or enable the alcoholic’s behavior by allowing the alcoholic to avoid the negative consequences of destructive drinking. A functioning alcoholic can maintain work, relationships, and routines while hiding a growing dependence on alcohol. Other people with alcoholism may find themselves in financial difficulty, or maybe they’re experiencing relationship problems. It can be difficult to express or handle our feelings, so people may use alcohol to ‘numb the pain’. Furthermore, suppose you have responsibilities such as a job or children to take care of.
Many high-functioning alcoholics earn a good living and can support their families while continuing to drink. 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. It is estimated that around 20% of all alcoholics are classified as “functional alcoholics”. The typical functioning alcoholic is middle-aged, well-educated, has a stable job, and stable family life.
