However, its effects on physical health, mental health, and relationships Substance abuse are very real. If you or someone you know is showing signs of high-functioning alcoholism, don’t wait for things to get worse. Non-high-functioning alcoholics show more outward symptoms of alcohol addiction. They may exhibit physical signs of drinking, isolate themselves from others, and drink in a way that disrupts their responsibilities, jobs, and relationships.
Non-high functioning signs
Our treatment facility is accredited by the Joint Commission and LegitScript Certified. Primary care physicians can serve as an essential resource during the earliest stages of an alcohol use disorder. They can help potentially diagnose the condition and also provide direction in terms of treatment resources. There are many overlapping traits between functional alcoholism and more severe AUDs, which is why it’s crucial to speak to a professional as soon as possible.
High Functioning vs Non-High Functioning Alcoholics
While both high-functioning and non-high-functioning alcoholism involve problem drinking, they can appear quite different in everyday life. Many high-functioning alcoholics rationalize their drinking by pointing to their lack of “typical” consequences. In reality, alcohol use can still be deeply problematic even if it has not yet led to legal troubles or an inability to meet professional obligations. High-functioning alcoholism can be difficult to detect, both for the person experiencing it and for friends, family and co-workers.
Risks Of High-Functioning Alcoholism
Understanding alcoholism can be challenging, particularly when it manifests in people who appear to function https://ecosoberhouse.com/ normally in most areas of life. This can make it more difficult for others (and even the individual themselves) to recognize a problem. Despite the ability to “hold it all together,” alcoholism invariably takes its toll on physical health, emotional well-being, relationships, and future prospects. This article examines how to identify a high-functioning alcoholic, discusses the risks they face, and outlines ways to help them pursue a healthier, alcohol-free life.
Getting inside the mind of a high-functioning alcoholic
Or they may drink in front of their children, increasing their risk of becoming an alcoholic when they grow up. High-functioning alcoholics can be moms, dads, husbands, wives, brothers or sisters. The type of relationship you have with the person with alcoholism often affects how his or her disease affects high functioning alcholic you. A high-functioning alcoholic often does such a good job of hiding their issues that other people don’t know the issues exist.
The Signs of a High-Functioning Alcoholic
It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers. The difference is that they’ve developed strategies to hide or rationalize the extent of their drinking. In many cases, they may not even fully recognize the severity of the issue themselves because their outward success seems to contradict the stereotype of alcoholism. For those who aren’t familiar with this disorder first-hand, when they hear the term “alcoholic,” they might picture someone unable to hold a job or maintain healthy relationships because of their drinking. But having alcohol use disorder doesn’t necessarily mean a person is unable to function in their daily life.
- And any alcohol abuse raises the odds of domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, and fetal alcohol syndrome.
- At Casa Palmera, our goal is to aid you in a comprehensive spiritual, physical, and emotional recovery.
- A high-functioning alcoholic may hide their alcohol abuse for years without suffering any major losses.
- Without intervention, the façade of control will eventually crack, leading to consequences that affects every aspect of their lives.
State Rehab Guides
Whether you have an alcoholic spouse, partner or other loved one, you may be wondering how to help. High-functioning alcoholics can benefit from having an at-home support system before, during and after any form of treatment for their addiction. There are hundreds of resources all over the country designed to address the issue of alcohol abuse and addiction. 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.
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. If this sounds like the scenario in your marriage, your spouse may be struggling with an alcohol use disorder (AUD). However, studies show that nearly one-quarter of functional alcoholics experienced major depression at least once. As a functional alcoholic, you may not realize you have a drinking problem. It’s probably because you haven’t encountered severe consequences from your drinking. Alcohol use disorder is the medical umbrella term used to describe all alcohol-related substance use disorders.
