One of the main reasons that people who misuse alcohol seek help is the eventual negative consequences of their alcohol consumption. When the pain or embarrassment gets bad enough, they can no longer deny that their drinking needs to be addressed. Getting drunk to the point of blacking out is dangerous for everyone involved. It leaves one vulnerable to malicious intent and raises the risk of life-threatening situations.
The longer it persists, the more convinced you may be that there isn’t a problem at all. We become convinced that alcohol is beneficial and necessary for getting through the day or coping with challenging situations. In fact, alcohol often impairs the ability to make rational Do You Genuinely Like The Feeling Of Being Drunk decisions, process emotions, and live life to the fullest. High functioning alcoholics and relationships can be problematic, especially if one person is sober. Alcoholism can put a strain on a marriage and regular drinking leads to a breakdown in communication. Some people with an alcohol use disorder spiral out of control, either quickly or over time, suffering incredibly severe consequences from substance abuse.
What Does it Mean to be a High Functioning or Functional Alcoholic?
They get frustrated with the situation and they themselves stop drinking. Going out with a specific boundary set only to exceed your self-imposed limit may be a sign of impulse control issues. The inability to stop drinking or follow a reasonable pace is significant in terms of identifying warning signs of functional alcoholism. People who are functioning alcoholics may not drink all day every day, but beginning the day with alcohol may be a warning sign of deeper-lying issues. Weekend mimosas first thing in the morning or spiking your coffee to make it through the workday could signify physical or mental dependence, especially when habitual. Chronic alcohol abuse takes a heavy toll on the body, leading to all sorts of health issues.
Functional Alcoholism: Impacts Of Alcohol Use Disorder
Professional rehabilitation and treatment facilities can help patients determine what form of treatment is optimal for them based on their specific circumstances and conditions. The sooner chronic alcoholism is identified, the better it could be treated and managed. Such severe consequences could be avoided, and alcoholics can start their lives in recovery. Around 19% of alcoholics, this subset is made up people that develop AUD later in life (average age 32), and they often have co-occurring mental health disorders or substance use disorders. The term “functional alcoholic” is one that is generally seen as outdated. It’s important to remember that functional alcoholism can be just as harmful in the long term as more severe forms of alcohol addiction.
How to Recognize a Functional Alcoholic
While the term „alcoholic“ was used in the past but is now viewed as outdated and stigmatizing. Today, healthcare professionals would say that a person has an alcohol use disorder (AUD). Because denial is common, you may feel like you don’t have a problem with drinking. You might not recognize how much you drink or how many problems in your life are related to alcohol use. Listen to relatives, friends or co-workers when they ask you to examine your drinking habits or to seek help.
It’s hard for anyone to comprehend, especially recovering alcoholics, but the substance has its grip on many people, even those we’d never suspect. Alcoholism is a disease that slowly develops over time, not all at once. While everyone may experience this progression differently, there are four common stages people go through when becoming a functional alcoholic. While the appearance of their drinking may seem functional, there might be hidden consequences as a result of their alcohol use disorder.
What Is a „Functioning Alcoholic“?
Unlike the stereotypical portrayal of alcoholics, functional alcoholics often lead successful, outwardly stable lives, making it challenging for outsiders to recognize the signs. This duality casts a shadow not only on their health and well-being but also on their personal and professional relationships. Further, the alcohol abuse within the functional category aggravates the same paradox of denial that almost every alcoholic faces. So long as a professional feels like they can effectively manage their job while drinking, the drinker presumes that there is no problem with their drinking habits at all.
- If you suspect a friend or colleague has a problem with alcohol, you can also encourage them to get help and offer your support.
- According to this CDC report, underage drinkers between the ages of 12 and 20 consume more alcohol at one time, and 90% of them binge drink.
- One such lesser-known yet widely prevalent form is functional alcoholism, a term that conjures images of individuals maintaining a seemingly normal life while struggling with alcohol dependence.
- Some people might respond well to the independence of an outpatient program program.
Society normalizes the use alcohol in many settings so becoming a functional alcoholic does not have the same stigma attached to it as most forms of drug use. Excessive alcohol use or “heavy drinking” is considered to be 15 drinks or more a week for men and eight or more drinks a week for women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Another consequence of alcohol use is possible legal issues, such as being caught driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI). This may also cause people to stay home and drink alone, increasing their isolation.
Consider talking with someone who has had a problem with drinking but has stopped. Alcohol use disorder is a pattern of alcohol use that involves problems controlling your drinking, being preoccupied with alcohol or continuing to use alcohol even when it causes problems. This disorder also involves having to drink more to get the same effect or having withdrawal symptoms when you rapidly decrease or stop drinking.
Alcoholism in any form is too often ignored unless it has harmful or tragic consequences. By opening the conversation about alcohol use disorders and recognizing potential trouble in our own habits, we can help to reduce the harm of alcohol on our families and communities. In a functional alcoholic relationship, one party will often start drinking more and the other person will feel less inclined to drink. An example of this would be when someone’s girlfriend starts drinking more and their boyfriend doesn’t get why she’s always drinking.
