High Functioning Alcoholics What Are the Hidden Warning Signs?
While their drinking might not disrupt their lives in obvious ways at first, the damage—both internal and external—can and will accumulate over time. Alcohol is a socially accepted substance that is often at the center of celebrations and social gatherings. Plenty of people drink on a regular basis, using alcohol as a social lubricant or for temporary stress relief. While most individuals don’t intend on becoming addicted to alcohol, drinking regularly can lead to alcohol use disorder, which includes potentially becoming a highly-functioning alcoholic.
The Signs of a High-Functioning Alcoholic
- This happens every time or frequently enough that drinking seems to become out of control or turn into a binge drinking session.
- One of the significant signs of a high-functioning alcoholic is when drinking is done alone, sometimes even in secret.
Alcohol rehab programs can be more or less intensive depending on a person’s needs and goals. Sometimes this can mean a long-term stay in a specialized treatment facility, or regular attendance in outpatient treatment sessions, or both in sequence. Premier Toronto rehab facility dedicated to providing comprehensive treatment Halfway house for both addiction and mental health. Recovery is about creating a healthier relationship with yourself and the people around you, and it starts with acknowledging the problem. Regular heavy drinking can lead to blackouts or forgetfulness after a night of drinking. A high-functioning alcoholic may not remember conversations, events, or how much they drank the night before.
Alcohol Detox: 9 Things to Consider
- Media portrayal of people with alcohol use disorder is often stereotypical and does not accurately reflect the complexity of alcoholism as a disease.
- “Functioning alcoholic” is an outdated term that in the past was used to describe people with alcohol use disorder who appear to meet their everyday responsibilities.
- While these types of alcoholics may not struggle to hold down a job or maintain a relationship, long-term alcohol abuse will cause a range of health consequences.
They may never experience a DUI arrest or have a fight with their significant other over their alcohol use. They might also be able to maintain good health for decades before the consequences of alcohol abuse show up when they are older. A functional, or working alcoholic might drink throughout the day, and never get so drunk that they can’t perform their regular duties. Moderate drinking throughout the day is a sign that a person is trying to prevent withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings.
Services for Professionals
Blackouts can be a dangerous sign of heavy drinking and could lead to harmful consequences. Recognizing these signs is crucial for the intervention and treatment of high-functioning alcoholism. Moreover, these personality changes can contribute to mood swings, further complicating their relationships and professional life. Therefore, noticing these changes can be a crucial step in identifying high-functioning alcoholism. Since drinking alcohol is a normal activity, high-functioning alcoholics often blend in with their friends and co-workers who also drink regularly, but who are not alcoholics.
What is high-functioning alcoholism?
In reality, a high-functioning alcoholic may be experiencing a great deal of stress while they maintain their drinking and all the dressings of a socially accepted lifestyle. So the appearance of functioning may be carefully manufactured to keep their alcohol use disorder (alcoholism) unchecked and unaddressed. So it becomes difficult to ascertain the true relationship that they have with alcohol. The term “functional alcoholic” is heavily debated in the addiction community, but it’s part of the social high functioning alcholic vernacular so it’s valuable to discuss the common misconceptions. Just because someone with an alcohol use disorder (the medical term for an alcoholic) is functioning doesn’t mean they’re functioning well or functioning in each aspect of their lives. Keep that idea in mind while you approach the topic of alcohol abuse and addiction.
Regardless of whether the person can function in some aspects of life, alcoholism is a serious disease. High-functioning alcoholics need treatment just like other alcoholics do. Also referred to as functional alcoholics, these people usually don’t realize that they rely on alcohol to feel normal. They don’t experience the typical consequences of alcoholism, such as drunk driving arrests, https://ecosoberhouse.com/ financial problems or blackout episodes. If you see the warning signs of alcoholism, and if communication hasn’t broken down entirely, you may want to take an honest, compassionate and direct approach with your spouse.
He highlighted that high functioning means ‘performing well in various aspects of life’ while having an alcohol addiction. Spithoff, Sheryl, MD CCFP, et al. “Primary care management of alcohol use disorder and at-risk drinking.” NIH National Library of Medicine, June 2015. When someone regularly drinks alcohol, they may develop a tolerance. This is a criterion for diagnosing an AUD and may be one of the first symptoms someone experiences.
Support group meetings are not just a vital part of the treatment process but are regularly used even after completing formal treatment. Medication-assisted treatment is a proven technique for treating alcohol withdrawals. These can range from “fragmentary” blackouts, where only certain details are missing, to “en bloc” blackouts involving total memory loss of events. While not all alcoholics experience blackouts, over 60% of a surveyed group of alcoholics reported regular instances of these memory lapses. They might exhibit patterns such as abstaining from drinking during the week and binge drinking on weekends, further complicating the identification of their condition. The Healing Place is available 24/7 to discuss your treatment options.
Signs your loved one is in denial
For instance, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps people address the mental component of addiction. CBT helps patients peel back the metaphorical layers, allowing them to understand the factors that contributed to their alcohol use disorder. In fact, many individuals experience medical detox at an outpatient level, while individuals with more serious addictions may opt for an inpatient medical detox situation. Medical detox means that you will go through the withdrawal process under medical supervision, but it doesn’t necessarily require you to check in at a treatment facility. While there is no known cause of any type of alcohol use disorder, including high-functioning alcoholism, some mitigating factors can play a role in developing an alcohol-related issue. High alcohol tolerance can lead to increased consumption, which can result in serious health complications over time.
- Even worse, when your husband isn’t drinking, your home life is filled with emotional unpredictability—you don’t know what moods he will be cycling through so you often feel on edge.
- A combination of these could also be appropriate, depending on the situation.
- “In some families, drinking too much is seen as comical, not a big deal, or a must during celebrations,” she adds.
- Sometimes, this might be pointing to people they know who drink more or have more severe consequences after drinking.
Next steps
In many cases, their addiction is taking a gradual toll, but because they have good jobs, perform the expected tasks of daily life, and avoid legal problems, the problematic effects are not yet observable. If you are looking for a treatment facility for your spouse, contact Casa Palmera today. Our compassionate and caring team of experienced professionals can answer any questions and walk with you and your partner on the road to alcohol addiction recovery.
