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. These include 24-hour hotlines, detox centers and rehab facilities.

  • Interventions are intended as a way to encourage an addict to seek treatment and also help them recognise their addiction and its negative consequences.
  • These include 24-hour hotlines, detox centers and rehab facilities.
  • Sometimes husbands and wives of high-functioning alcoholics are the only ones who know their spouse has alcohol problems.
  • And yet alcoholism—more accurately called “alcohol use disorder”—falls along a spectrum that ranges from mild to severe.

Most functional alcoholics will justify their behaviour to others as to why they are drinking. Excuses include stress at work, a long week or they simply enjoy socialising with their friends and family. If you know a high-functioning alcoholic, you have the power to make a difference. The best way for someone to help a high-functioning alcoholic is to have a forthright conversation with them about their addiction. Your conversation should happen when the person you are trying to help is sober. Most importantly, while you should avoid being judgmental or accusatory, you should also be honest about how alcoholism is affecting you and the alcoholic.

Characteristics of High-Functioning Alcoholics

Submit your number to receive a call today from a treatment provider. Call now to connect with a treatment provider and start your recovery journey. Consider not drinking yourself (at least temporarily), says Kennedy. You, too, might realize that your relationship with alcohol is negatively affecting your life. Recovery from substance use disorders (SUDs) is an ongoing process and those fortunate to have long-term recovery share one thing in common—an ability to recommit. “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.

Working alcoholics can still hold down a job and possibly excel in that job. They also tend to avoid legal and social repercussions of drinking, at least for a while. American Addiction Centers offers a range of treatment services in facilities across the country to help treat alcohol use disorders. With our help, patients don’t only appear to function normally, but feel and experience life to its greatest potential as a sober and recovering individual. Regrettably, in many cases, other people in their lives affirm their denial by agreeing with their excuses and encouraging them to drink more. Spouses and family members of high-functioning alcoholics sometimes makes excuses for them as well and continue to keep alcohol at home.

Detoxing

From here, there are many things you can do to help get you on a path to recovery. We know that taking the first step can be difficult, but we’re here to support – with no pressure or judgement. We’ll also help you to book your free addiction assessment there and then, with appointments usually available within a few days. If you’re struggling with addiction, we understand the challenges you’re facing and we’re here to help. Page medically reviewed by Dee Johnson (Mbacp, MNCS), Addiction Therapist at Priory Hospital Chelmsford. John A. Smith is a Senior Psychotherapist at The Dawn and an internationally accredited Addiction Treatment Professional (ISSUP), Certified Life and NLP Coach.

high functioning alcoholic

People with high-functioning alcoholism may be managing their jobs, finances and relationships in their daily life, but alcohol use is still causing physical and emotional harm. If you or a loved one are struggling with a problem with alcohol use, reach out to Banner Health for support. However, as alcoholism progresses, it becomes more difficult to control drinking behavior. An alcoholic may start drinking more frequently or in larger quantities and experience physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms if they try to stop drinking. While the appearance of their drinking may seem functional, there might be hidden consequences as a result of their alcohol use disorder. Although some well-known signs of addiction may not be present, for example a DUI or a lost job, those outcomes may yet happen.

Functioning Alcoholics in Denial

Our residential inpatient care, taking place at one of our specialist hospitals, are headed by our expert teams who will be there to support you around the clock. Built on the 12-Steps of recovery, our Addiction Treatment Programme comes with 12 months of aftercare included, allowing you to revert back to your life with continued support from our experts. An alcoholic’s physical appearance has gone through changes by stage four. High blood pressure and liver damage start to develop, as well as other harmful conditions. Additionally, some are prescribed to medication to manage symptoms such as heartburn.

People who live fully functional lives can still have AUD and can benefit from treatment and support. The condition causes changes in the brain that decrease the ability to quit on your own. This makes it important to seek medical treatment and peer support in your recovery process. The most in-depth care allows you to live full time at a treatment facility. These setups can also work along with 12-step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous. Relating to other people with substance abuse issues may help someone break through denial and begin to recover.

This is part of our ongoing commitment to ensure FHE Health is trusted as a leader in mental health and addiction care. There should be zero doubt that living a sober lifestyle can be extremely difficult. Many people start the road to recovery but stumble back to the substance of their choice—sometimes multiple times. Unlike a traditional alcoholic, the functioning alcoholic is better at hiding mistakes. Yet the action of hiding those mistakes is a sure sign that they’re an alcoholic.

high functioning alcoholic

In the short term, alcohol use increases the risk for alcohol poisoning, fetal alcohol syndrome, accidents, injuries, violence, and risky sexual behavior. However, certain food groups also have benefits when it comes to helping with the discomfort of withdrawal symptoms and detoxification. They may also withdraw from social situations and find excuses to miss events or optional commitments where drinking is not available or possible. There may also be new legal issues arising for them, like driving under the influence or making other poor decisions. In a reporting coup, Selvin acquired research that helped fill in Gordon’s inner life during that pivotal time.

Are You or a Loved One a Functioning Alcoholic? Know the Signs

A high-functioning alcoholic may hide their alcohol abuse for years without suffering any major losses. Under the surface, this form of alcoholism can cause severe psychological and emotional damage https://ecosoberhouse.com/ to the alcoholic and also their loved ones.. Unfortunately, high-functioning alcoholism, as a secret or undiagnosed disorder, can be more dangerous than obvious, debilitating alcoholism.

  • He found two women who, in the late 80s, had gained the drummer’s cooperation for a book that never got off the ground.
  • Liver damage is the most talked about physical consequence and that is a concern almost immediately.
  • Functional alcoholics may not even realize they’re actively concealing symptoms of their disorder.