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Recovered.org provides an anonymous online evaluation tool to check if drinking has become problematic and provides further resources for help and support. It is important to note that these signs may not be obvious to a loved one or friend. This is because people can be skillful at hiding the signs of an issue with alcohol.
When the pain or embarrassment gets bad enough, they can no longer deny that their drinking needs to be addressed. Consider speaking to your primary care provider about your concerns or attending a support group https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/family-support-is-crucial-in-addiction-recovery/ as a first step. People with alcohol use disorder are dependent on alcohol, but that does not mean that they drink every day. Reach out to a treatment provider for free today for immediate assistance.
What is a High Functioning Alcoholic?
We strive to create content that is clear, concise, and easy to understand. Managing AUD is a lifelong process, so the earlier you or your loved one seeks help, the more likely you are to succeed in overcoming the disorder and limiting recurrence. If you have AUD but are not connected with treatment, the risk of progressing to more severe AUD is much greater.
For anyone who’s concerned about a loved one’s drinking, please find a community of support like Al-Anon. Whether your loved one agrees or not, their actions affect you and you deserve outside support. Other alternatives include group or individualized therapy, consulting educational resources and books, or attending online support groups.
What is a “High-Functioning” Alcoholic?
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. Functional alcoholics are often intelligent, hardworking and well-educated. Their professional status or personal success can make it hard to approach them about having a “problem” with alcohol. 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. “Functioning” is subjective and limiting when describing a person living with alcohol use disorder.
If they are open and willing, they might enter into an inpatient rehab and begin a new chapter in life. If they are in denial, you will have to hold fast to your boundaries. But your value is not dictated by your loved one and their addiction.
Impact of Being a Functional Alcoholic
In other circumstances, they might explain away their addiction by stating that it’s not as bad as drug addiction or some other substance use issue. They might even rationalize their issues as only affecting themselves whereas murderers or other criminals hurt or kill others. Another way functioning alcoholics stand out high functioning alcoholic from the rest is their ability to hide their larger, more high-risk problems. For example, you may not be able to contact a loved one for a period of time. Later, you’re told they were “just with friends,” but they may have been binge drinking. Some suffer blackouts and miss blocks of time during their day as a result.
- 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.
- Certain traits, such as independence and perfectionism, can add to a person’s hesitancy or reticence to seek help, says Grawert.
- In nearly all cases, you won’t know this individual has an alcohol abuse and alcoholism problem until a significant event happens, such as a DUI, that makes them come face-to-face with their illness.
- Instead, voice your concerns, share how their drinking is affecting others, and suggest ways that you can help them talk to a doctor or join a support group.
- Although you may still hear people talking about “alcoholism” or “alcohol abuse,” the official term is alcohol use disorder (AUD).
- Alcohol becomes a daily necessity, almost a part of who they are.
While the appearance of their drinking may seem functional, there might be hidden consequences as a result of their alcohol use disorder. Although some well-known signs of addiction may not be present, for example a DUI or a lost job, those outcomes may yet happen. And there are other less obvious warning signals you can look for that indicate an alcohol use disorder. Because they keep drinking, they don’t feel any withdrawal symptoms.
The Experience Blog
This can look like binge drinking (drinking a lot over a short period) or heavy drinking (drinking a lot over a more extended period). Call now to connect with a treatment provider and start your recovery journey. The development of tolerance can occur when someone regularly uses alcohol. Tolerance is one of the signs used to diagnose an AUD, and it may be one of the earliest apparent symptoms. The term tolerance refers to a lowered effect of alcohol with repeated exposure.
