But when it comes high functioning alcoholic down to it, they don’t have control over their drinking. High-functioning alcoholics seem fine even though they drink a lot. It can be hard to tell if someone has a drinking problem if they’re high-functioning. Recovering from alcoholism is a journey that requires commitment, support, and professional help.
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They might drink excessively when they’re supposed to be caring for children. They manage to “blend in” because their drinking seems contextually appropriate. Unfortunately, this external normalcy makes it hard for others to recognize the depth of their problem.
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There are no official diagnostic criteria for what it means to be high functioning. For this reason, it is hard to determine exactly how many people might have high-functioning AUD. Sarah Allen Benton, M.S., LMHC., LPC, is a licensed mental health counselor and author of Understanding the High-Functioning Alcoholic. In “case management,” a professional may work with you one-on-one.
- When this happens, it means that you’ve developed an alcohol tolerance, and it’s a red light that your substance abuse is problematic.
- As with anyone who’s struggling with an alcohol dependency, acceptance is an initial but significant step.
- High-functioning alcoholics crave alcohol, develop tolerance to it over time, and experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop drinking.
- Many high-functioning alcoholics in recovery have testified that someone can only live a normal life with alcoholism for so long until the disorder starts to affect their health and behavior.
Drinking At Inappropriate Times
Just because someone is high-functioning doesn’t mean they’re not at risk of hurting themselves or others as a result of their drinking. It’s important to treat high-functioning alcoholics just like all other addicts by helping them realize the severity of their addiction and encouraging them to seek treatment. 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.
Risks of excessive alcohol use
Even though they may want to stop, many functioning alcoholics often won’t know where or how to begin the process. 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. People can have a varied reaction and tolerance to alcohol and that doesn’t necessarily mean they are alcoholics. However, as functioning alcoholics drink more regularly, they develop a higher tolerance. They still want to feel the buzz or numb out from their problems for a while, so they will begin drinking more as their tolerance to alcohol increases. Functional alcoholics are often intelligent, hardworking and well-educated.
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Although many believe they can go through this process alone, it’s best to detox in an addiction treatment center. Although uncommon, many people experience medical emergencies during detox, and having immediate access to assistance is vital. High-functioning alcoholics may not suffer obvious external negative consequences for their alcohol use problem. To avoid these conversations, you or your loved one might hide their alcohol consumption. For example, you may consume excessive alcohol before attending an event. So it may look like you only had a few drinks, but in reality, you’d already had twice as much before arriving.
Functioning alcoholics in denial
- Negative life experiences, such as grief, abuse, or living in poverty, can also increase the odds.
- When asked how many drinks you’ve had, you’ll lower the number, or you may drink a few alcoholic beverages around people but consume much more in private.
Alcoholism affects everyone in a household — not just the individual who drinks. Alcohol abuse increases the risk of physical and emotional violence, https://ecosoberhouse.com/ as well as substance abuse in other family members. An addiction therapist can help you find positive ways to deal with the stress of living with a functional alcoholic. 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.
Don’t Enable Their Drinking
If you approach someone with genuine concern about their drinking and they tell you you’re crazy or start making excuses, they likely have a problem. If they admit they drink too much and successfully cut back (for more than a few days), it may be less cause for concern. They need alcohol because they’re physically and mentally dependent on it. Because they’re trying to hide the truth, they may see their odd behavior as a red flag and become afraid that people will find out they’re an alcoholic. People with alcohol addiction often struggle to focus or perform daily tasks.