Because these indicators tend to appear gradually over time, they can be challenging to identify, as well as to connect directly to drinking. Denial is such that the individual tries to believe there is no serious problem that needs to be addressed. Generally, functioning alcoholics are convinced that they have everything under control and are often able to convince others of the same. As alcohol use increases, high-functioning alcoholics may begin to cancel appointments or other engagements in an effort to hide hangovers, withdrawal symptoms, and other indications of addiction. The professional lives of high-functioning alcoholics are often challenging and stressful. This can become a vicious circle in which going out for drinks provides a temporary escape from stressors.
Is it Possible to Effect Change When a Loved One Has an Addiction?
There are many rehab centers and support groups, both online and in-person, for people who are working to achieve sobriety. If you’re ready to get started, contact a treatment provider today to learn more about your treatment options. A “functional alcoholic” (or “https://sober-home.org/salvia-everything-you-need-to-know/“) isn’t a formal medical diagnosis, but a term used colloquially to describe a person who is dependent upon alcohol but can still function in society. The term “currently-functioning” may be used since it’s not likely they will remain functional (and not misuse alcohol) indefinitely.
Why we no longer say high-functioning alcoholic
If they’re not receptive, keep trying — and set boundaries to protect your own well-being. Instead, she recommends seeking more formal support with Al-Anon or therapy to help you create boundaries and care for yourself. “Always approach a loved one from a place of support and desire to help them, instead of leading with judgment or anger,” says Omar Elhaj, MD, a senior medical director at LifeStance Health.
How to Recognize a Functional Alcoholic
Research indicates that workplace interventions can be effective in the primary prevention of alcohol abuse, benefiting both employees and employers. The implementation of brief intervention sessions by occupational health professionals has shown promise in reducing alcohol-related issues at work. With high-functioning alcoholics, the negative consequences of their drinking may be obscured by their outward successes.
Many people with AUDs decide to have further treatment and support, such as attending group therapy, individual counseling, or support groups. The more a person drinks, the more at risk they are of developing severe alcohol use disorder. People should note that the term “high functioning alcoholic” is no longer in use within the medical community. This is due to the potentially stigmatizing language around the word “alcoholic”, which may also prevent someone from seeking help and support. Sometimes an HFA many become defensive and express that they are unwilling to seek help for their drinking.
What might look like denial may actually be a lot more complicated and multilayered for people with high-functioning AUD. Being able to carry out regular responsibilities with AUD is not the same as being free of https://sober-home.org/ the disease. Alcohol use disorder can still have a significant impact on a person’s life, even if they appear to be coping from the outside. These criteria are often internal struggles, not observable to others.
I stared at the ceiling with a pit in my stomach, a void in my soul, a dead cell phone battery, and an inner knowing that I would never let myself feel this way again. I gathered my few belongings from the night before and shamefully walked to the Boston “T” to get back home. When I arrived, reeking of booze from the evening before and makeup strewn down my face, I was confronted by two of my female roommates. There may be many reasons why someone is hesitant to seek help — from lack of awareness to stigma and shame. “For starters, the media, our workplaces, and many social circles normalize drinking to excess,” says Ruby Mehta, a clinical social worker and director of clinical operations at Tempest.
- For example, a computed tomography (CT) scan tests for liver enlargement, which can occur after years of chronic drinking.
- According to 2020 data by the CDC, nearly 30,000 people died that year from alcoholic liver disease (cirrhosis).
- 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).
- This particular holiday season may pose greater challenges than those in the past for individuals in early sobriety.
The first step for most people is detox, which means quitting alcohol. A detox may take place at a hospital or inpatient facility, such as rehab. The National Institute of Health suggests that loved ones should start by talking about their concerns.
The COVID-19 pandemic saw an increase in alcohol-attributable deaths, potentially linked to stress, loneliness, and social isolation, factors that could also affect the prevalence of high-functioning alcoholism. High-functioning alcoholics effectively live a double life wherein they appear highly functional on the outside but are anxious, depressed, angry, and preoccupied with their next opportunity to drink on the inside. To cope with your stress, you may want to attend a support group for family and friends of people with alcohol use disorder (such as Al-Anon) or consider therapy.
Drinking alone or being secretive about drinking can be another sign of alcohol use disorder. Drinking alcohol at unconventional times—such as early in the day or at gatherings where nobody else is drinking—is another hallmark of this disease. If you’re ready to seek treatment for alcoholism or would like to know more about your treatment options, American Addiction Centers (AAC) can help. AAC is the parent company of Alcohol.org and is a nationwide provider of treatment facilities focused on providing hope and recovery for those in need. Daily drinking can have serious consequences for a person’s health, both in the short- and long-term. Many of the effects of drinking every day can be reversed through early intervention.
Despite their seemingly controlled exterior, high-functioning alcoholics face an increased risk of long-term health complications, including hormonal imbalances, malnutrition, and sleep disorders. The term is somewhat controversial, as it implies a level of control or sustainability that may not exist, and it may contribute to denial and delayed treatment seeking. High-functioning alcoholism, a subset of alcohol use disorders (AUD), presents unique challenges in identification due to the individual’s ability to maintain outward appearances of normalcy.
‘High-functioning alcoholics’, or ‘functioning alcoholic’, are colloquial terms for someone who’s dependent on alcohol but is still able to function relatively effectively in their daily life. They’ll be able to continue doing many of their daily tasks like going to work and looking after family members. It’s important to recognize that recovery is a personal and unique experience. While every story differs, the common thread is the courage to seek help and the determination to pursue a sober life, regardless of the challenges posed by high-functioning alcoholism. Recovery from high-functioning alcoholism is a multifaceted journey that extends beyond initial treatment, requiring a strong commitment to long-term sobriety. Groundbreaking research indicates that sustained abstinence from alcohol can lead to significant recovery of brain function and structural health.
With these interventions, people can find health and happiness in sobriety. Setting specific sobriety goals, as suggested by recovered.org, can provide focus and accountability, increasing the likelihood of successful recovery. Long-term recovery plans, such as 12-step programs and ongoing therapy, are crucial for maintaining sobriety and preventing relapse.
Keep that idea in mind while you approach the topic of alcohol abuse and addiction. Even if you feel that you are still in control of your life and your work or relationships aren’t visibly suffering, a relatively mild alcohol use disorder could already be affecting your mental and physical health. Left unmanaged, compulsive drinking behaviors can get progressively worse, with their negative impact on your life becoming ever more apparent. HFAs typically do not realize the extent to which their drinking affects others. The fact that they are “functioning” and able to go to work, excel in academics, provide for their family and still drink excessively feeds their denial. They believe that their drinking only impacts themselves, that they deserve to drink because of their hard work or stress, and that if life appears “put together” on the outside that they are entitled to keep drinking.
In short, “there’s not a single image of AUD,” points out Sabrina Spotorno, a clinical social worker and alcoholism and substance abuse counselor at Monument. People who are high functioning with a drinking problem “seem to have everything together,” says Matt Glowiak, PhD, LCPC, a certified advanced alcohol and drug counselor. They’re able to successfully manage tasks around their work, school, family, and finances, he says. Consider speaking to your primary care provider about your concerns or attending a support group as a first step. If someone you are close to is living with alcohol use disorder, you may be looking for ways to help them cope with the impacts of their disease on your own life. Below are some signs that you or someone you love may be living with alcohol use disorder.