Today, healthcare professionals would say that a person has an alcohol use disorder (AUD). High-functioning alcoholics will do what they can to drink while appearing sober. They’ll binge drink on weekends to ensure they have no obligations the following day. Unfortunately, many high-functioning alcoholics tend to believe they don’t need treatment. The earlier a person begins drinking, the more likely they are to develop an alcohol addiction. A medical or addiction treatment professional can go over the symptoms someone is experiencing and assess where they could fall on the AUD spectrum.
The term high functioning alcoholic is no longer in use in the medical community. However, some people may use the phrase to refer to individuals who are experiencing an AUD but are still able to successfully function in their work and personal lives. This article explores the meaning of the term high functioning alcoholic, looks at the signs and symptoms of alcohol use disorder (AUD), how people can help friends and family, and more. Treatment programs at The Recovery Village include a full spectrum of alcohol recovery services, from alcohol detox to rehab, aftercare and sober housing. When you’re ready to seek help, or if you have questions about how to live with an alcoholic, we’re here for you.Contact ustoday to learn more about our treatment options. Functional alcoholics are often intelligent, hardworking and well-educated.
Why we no longer say high-functioning alcoholic
Within 5 minutes, you’ll receive an email with these details – free of charge. Many alcoholics use denial or aggression as their chosen mode of avoidance, but others have a seemingly rational explanation for their behavior. Many alcoholics take part in activities that they have no recollection of the next day – such as dancing on bars, going home with strangers, doing drugs, having sex, and more. At the time, they may not seem extremely intoxicated, but when asked about their behavior the next day, they’re unable to remember what happened. If you use alcohol, especially regularly, it begins to affect your brain structurally and functionally. Alcohol and other addictive substances activate the areas of your brain that are part of your reward system.
How to Know if I’m a High-Functioning Alcoholic?
Seeking help for addiction may feel daunting or even scary, but several organizations can provide support. It is important to note that these signs may not be obvious to a loved one or friend. This is because people can be skillful at hiding the signs of an issue with alcohol.
- These achievements often lead to an increase in personal denial as well as denial from colleagues and loved ones.
- One of the main reasons that people who misuse alcohol seek help is the eventual negative consequences of their alcohol consumption.
- Whether your loved one agrees or not, their actions affect you and you deserve outside support.
- Many resources are available, whether you want to help yourself or someone you care about.
- At some point, a high-functioning alcoholic has tried to quit drinking but failed in their attempt.
The Recovery Village Atlanta offers comprehensive addiction treatment for drug and alcohol addictions and co-occurring mental health conditions. Many high-functioning alcoholics recognize their need for alcohol, but they keep the various areas of their lives separate. For example, they drink only after work, never during work-related functions or in the office. Some also take great steps to create a portrait of a healthy person.
Family and Children’s Programs
When you lose control over drinking patterns, it can create negative consequences in different areas of your life. Alcohol addiction is one of the most severe levels of an alcohol use disorder, but these disorders can also be mild or moderate. Another way that many alcoholics may deflect from their relationship with drinking is by drawing comparisons to behaviors in others that they deem “worse” than their addiction. Sometimes, this might be pointing to people they know who drink more or have more severe consequences after drinking. In other circumstances, they might explain away their addiction by stating that it’s not as bad as drug addiction or some other substance use issue.
Sarah Allen Benton, M.S., LMHC., LPC, is a licensed mental health counselor and author of Understanding the High-Functioning Alcoholic. The refusal to abstain can become more apparent in certain situations. 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.
A test recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT). How does alcohol affect blood pressure If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, our expert team is here to guide you every step of the way. If they are open and willing, they might enter into an inpatient rehab and begin a new chapter in life. If they are in denial, you will have to hold fast to your boundaries.
Yet supervisors and colleagues tend to “turn their backs” to what is going on under the surface unless the person stops fulfilling job requirements, he says. Twenty years ago today, I woke up from a typical alcohol-induced blackout in an apartment I did not recognize in an unfamiliar Boston neighborhood. 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. Pinnacle Health Group and Still Behavioral Health Group are available 24/7 to discuss your treatment options.
Another way functioning alcoholics stand out from the rest is their ability to hide their larger, more high-risk problems. For example, you may not be able to contact a loved one for a period of time. Later, you’re told they were “just with friends,” but they may have been binge drinking. Some suffer blackouts and miss blocks of time during their day as a result.
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. For someone who’s high-functioning in their alcohol addiction, another viable option could be an outpatient program. Outpatient programs offer more flexibility regarding the schedule but provide the support and recovery resources needed. Other options that could be part of treatment for high-functioning alcohol use disorder include group or individual therapy and participation in support groups. Broadly, the term alcohol use disorder can describe a spectrum of medical conditions characterized primarily by not being able to stop or control drinking.
