We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers. Alcoholism affects everyone in a household — not just the individual who drinks.
Drinking Alone, Secretly, or at Unconventional Times
Group members include peers who provide comfort and advice to one another. Many people who attend support group meetings experience therapeutic benefits. Treatment providers are available 24/7 to answer your questions about rehab, whether it’s for you or a loved one. Submit your number and receive a free call today from a treatment provider.
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But having alcohol use disorder doesn’t necessarily mean a person is unable to function in their daily life. Alcoholism can take a devastating toll on a person’s physical health, emotional well-being, personal relationships and professional life. However, many alcoholics manage to function effectively, holding down jobs and maintaining households. A high-functioning alcoholic may hide their alcohol abuse for years without suffering any major losses.
Risk Factors for Functional Alcoholics
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- Although I have not drunk alcohol in two decades, images and sensations of the experience are one thought away.
- Your doctor may also conduct imaging tests if other laboratory studies come back abnormal.
HFAs may provide the main source of income for a family and therefore the spouse or partner may not feel that they have the leverage to persuade the HFA to get help. ‘High-functioning alcoholics’, or ‘functioning alcoholic’, are colloquial terms for someone who’s dependent on alcohol https://rehabliving.net/ 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. Spouses may catch alcoholics drinking in secret or see the emotional side effects of alcoholism.
I’m In Recovery
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. People who drink heavily for years on end increase their risk of developing certain cancers and liver disease. For example, an alcoholic who is high functioning may never get fired for coming to work impaired. They may never experience a DUI arrest or have a fight with their significant other over their alcohol use.
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. Sometimes husbands and wives of high-functioning alcoholics are the only ones who know their spouse has alcohol problems. People addicted to alcohol may be able to function at work or in social drinking situation, but they’re unable to hide the disease from the person closest to them. Alcoholics have a stereotype, and the people who have a severe addiction to alcohol are the ones who get all the press and set the standard for what society pictures as alcoholism. This stereotype can also make it difficult for loved ones to recognize moderate alcoholism in a friend or family member. Diseases like addiction tend to be highly personal, and every person’s trajectory, triggers, and prognosis will be different.
This is why psychological counseling, such as talk therapy, is important if you’re recovering from AUD. This can help you learn new coping skills so you can turn to other behaviors instead of drinking in order to live a healthier life. Your doctor may also conduct imaging https://rehabliving.net/alcohol-medication-interactions-potentially/ tests if other laboratory studies come back abnormal. For example, a computed tomography (CT) scan tests for liver enlargement, which can occur after years of chronic drinking. Your doctor may order this test if your blood tests indicate abnormal liver functioning.
If you spot signs of alcoholism in a loved one, encourage them to seek help. You can research available resources in your area where they can connect with support. Bedside Stories highlights captivating personal stories that take place behind the scenes in health care. The refusal to abstain can become more apparent in certain situations.
Functional alcoholics are often in deep denial about their problem. After all, they have managed to maintain the appearance of success despite their addiction. 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.
They drink alcohol with every meal and often carry alcohol with them. “They may be quite skilled at hiding their alcohol use and not fit ‘alcoholic’ stereotypes,” said Travis Chenoweth, a social worker at Banner Behavioral Health Hospital in Scottsdale, Arizona. They may acknowledge that they drink more alcohol than they should but deny that it’s a problem and that need to stop drinking. However, heavy drinking will almost always become a problem over time. You probably have a stereotypical image of someone who is an alcoholic. You might picture someone who drinks all the time, rarely has a day without a hangover and often can’t recall what happened the night before.
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. Due to some people’s ability to mask their AUD, it is difficult to find research on those that are high functioning. Sometimes, a person’s personality can influence their tendency for denial. Certain traits, such as independence and perfectionism, can add to a person’s hesitancy or reticence to seek help, says Grawert. Even if you are aware that your drinking has become a problem, it’s common to worry about what others might think.
It’s someone who can’t get their drinking under control, even though their life may falling apart. By Sarah Bence, OTR/LBence is an occupational therapist with a range of work experience in mental healthcare settings. “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. However, alcohol use disorder is diagnosed based on a set of criteria that aren’t always seen by others. These behaviors are potential signs that a person is unable to control their cravings for alcohol or they’re trying to resolve withdrawal symptoms by drinking, both of which are symptoms of AUD. Peer pressure and easy availability of alcohol can increase the risk of developing an AUD.
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. If you’re concerned about a loved one’s relationship with alcohol, it’s important you approach the topic with compassion and at a time when they’re sober. Support groups can also help people who are codependent on a high-functioning alcoholic. Co-Dependents Anonymous is a 12-step program for people who are trying to recover from a codependent relationship. Other support groups, such as Al-Anon, are available for friends and family members who need help dealing with an alcoholic’s issues.
People who are in a codependent relationship with an alcoholic prioritize the needs of the alcoholic over their personal needs. They often suffer a variety of mental health issues, such as low self-esteem and depression. If you’re suffering from the effects of codependency, it may be time to take a break or distance yourself from the relationship. Unfortunately, being able to drink and still maintain their responsibilities doesn’t mean a person is free of alcoholism.
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. Another sign of a functioning alcoholic is someone who may abstain from drinking throughout the week, but then binge drink on the weekends or binge drink at night after their work is done. Unlike other alcoholics, the term commonly used to refer to people with alcoholism, high-functioning alcoholics don’t display obvious side effects of their disease.
A “functional alcoholic” (or “high-functioning alcoholic”) 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. Being an HFA affects every aspect of that individual’s life—but they are often unable to see this truth until they get sober. In terms of family life and friends, there is also the problem of “secondary” denial that loved ones may have about an HFA by not believing that they are “real” alcoholics. This powerful sense of denial also prevents the loved ones of HFAs from intervening.
This includes times when many people give up alcohol, such as “dry January” or the period of fasting and penitence in the Christian calendar leading up to Easter known as Lent. It may also cause an individual to refuse to travel to areas where alcohol access may be limited. Someone with alcohol use disorder may struggle to cut back on drinking or quit, either when trying to do so themselves or when asked by others to try. These criteria are often internal struggles, not observable to others. Someone can live with alcohol use disorder without anyone else noticing.
If you or a loved one is ready to overcome an alcohol addiction, reach out today. Treatment providers can connect you with programs that provide the tools to help you get and stay sober. Call now to connect with a treatment provider and start your recovery journey. However, I was ready to hear their concerns and fears genuinely, and after four years of trying to control my drinking, had finally accepted that I was an alcoholic. Drinking alone or being secretive about drinking can be another sign of alcohol use disorder.
Family members may need to hold an intervention for their loved one with alcoholism. Professional interventions allow family members to communicate constructively in a safe environment. Mission Harbor is dedicated to treating Santa Barbara County and Los Angeles County with specialized mental and behavioral health programs in a convenient outpatient environment. Our treatment facility is accredited by the Joint Commission and LegitScript Certified. Alcohol addiction is extremely difficult to overcome on your own..
