Content
A high functioning alcoholic is an informal term that refers to someone who appears to maintain a successful professional and personal life while drinking excessive amounts of alcohol. Drinking is often covert, and the person may deny they have any issue with their drinking. Behavioral treatments, like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), helps people identify and overcome the underlying issues that led to excessive drinking. Certain medications may also be prescribed to reduce alcohol cravings or block the positive effects of alcohol.
Risks and Negative Consequences of Alcohol Use Disorder
High-functioning alcoholics may not notice these health effects until the damage is significant, making it harder to reverse. Alcoholism affects everyone in a household— not just the individual who drinks. Alcohol abuse increases the risk of physical and emotional violence, 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. “High-functioning alcoholic” is not a formal clinical diagnosis found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).
Drinking to cope with stress or emotions
It does not necessarily “treat” AUD but can help people with AUD cope. However, you can use these as a guide to finding out whether someone has alcoholism or not. Unfortunately, being in denial will only prevent you from getting early treatment for alcoholism.
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
Reach out to us today by calling us or scheduling a conversation at a time that works for you. Furthermore, self-care activities such as adequate sleep, nutrition, and exercise may also suffer. It’s important to note that while these signs may not always be overtly visible, they are indicative of an underlying issue that requires attention. They might exhibit patterns such as abstaining from drinking during the week and binge drinking on weekends, further complicating the identification of their condition.
Conditions
That same person could be sneaking drinks throughout the day, using alcohol to cope with stress or emotions, or have tried to quit or reduce drinking several times without success. While they may be high-functioning in certain areas of life, individuals with AUD may overlook their physical and mental health. Poor sleep, frequent hangovers, or minor health issues like digestive problems may become routine but ignored. High-functioning alcoholics are skilled at rationalizing their behavior.
Social support, such as that provided in rehab centers during treatment, is vital to counteract this tendency. High-functioning alcoholics often exhibit a tendency for social withdrawal, leading to self-isolation. Despite maintaining an outward appearance of normality, they may progressively distance themselves from family and friends. Over time, these effects can jeopardize career progression and academic success. Early recognition and intervention can help mitigate these risks and improve outcomes for high functioning alcoholics. A high functioning alcoholic, as the term suggests, is an individual who maintains a seemingly normal and successful life while secretly battling alcohol addiction.
Let’s dive deeper into what it means to be a high-functioning alcoholic and how to recognize the signs. A combination of therapy, counseling, and support groups is often the most effective treatment. The partner of a high-functioning alcoholic drug addiction treatment may also experience guilt, wondering if they are somehow to blame for the addiction. They might feel responsible for “fixing” the problem, leading to codependent behavior.
Day Drinking to Feel Good
- The two strangers are entirely different, yet both have one thing in common; they are craving their next alcoholic drink.
- Most work full time and have stable relationships along with high earnings.
- For some people, this can be a pleasant feeling that enhances social interactions and makes them feel more confident.
- The classic picture of someone with alcohol use disorder is someone who always drinks too much and whose life is falling apart because of it.
And any alcohol abuse raises the odds of domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, and fetal alcohol syndrome. ” or “I don’t remember what happened last night” become frequent phrases. Blackouts, memory lapses, and fuzzy recollections, particularly after drinking episodes, are a hallmark sign of high-functioning alcoholism. Important details from conversations or commitments get lost in the haze of alcohol consumption.