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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. 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.
You may care for your family at home and keep up with projects at work. Did you know drug abuse and addiction cost American society more than $740 billion a year? For the functional alcoholic, the denial runs deep, because they have yet to encounter significant negative consequences. A “functional alcoholic” (or “high-functioning alcoholic”) isn’t a formal medical diagnosis, but a term used colloquially to describe a person who is dependent upon alcohol but can still function in society.
Warning Signs That You’re A Functioning Alcoholic
¶They find themselves thinking obsessively about drinking when and where and with whom they will drink next. Or, like Ms. Benton, they may seek help after recognizing that no matter what they try, they are unable to drink normally and fear that sooner or later their luck will run out. These are ways to deal with the strong urge to drink that they experience on a daily basis. Contact us today to find out which program might be right for you, or to begin the process of arranging for treatment. If you find yourself buying a bottle of wine a few times a week, you might want to get help. For some people, AUD may also mean more than physical dependence, but a stress reliever or source of psychological escape.
Can you drink all the time and not be an alcoholic?
Most people who drink excessively are not alcohol dependent.
In many instances, a spouse or partner may use the phrase “high-functioning” to downplay the seriousness of their alcohol addiction. Mission Harbor is dedicated to treating Santa Barbara County and Los Angeles County with specialized mental and behavioral https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/what-is-a-high-functioning-alcoholic/ health programs in a convenient outpatient environment. Our treatment facility is accredited by the Joint Commission and LegitScript Certified. Multiple areas of a high-functioning alcoholic’s life are greatly affected by the addiction.
What Are High-Functioning Alcoholics?
People who drink heavily for years on end increase their risk of developing certain cancers and liver disease. As one can see, alcohol abuse can come in many shapes and sizes, but in all cases can lead to a variety of problems. High-functioning alcoholism is still alcoholism, and high-functioning alcohol abuse is still alcohol abuse.
In many cases, their addiction is taking a gradual toll, but because they have good jobs, perform the expected tasks of daily life, and avoid legal problems, the problematic effects are not yet observable. Many different treatment options are available for those with functioning alcoholism, depending on the severity of their drinking and their personal needs. Inpatient treatment may be appropriate if your loved one requires a lot of assistance to stop drinking.
How to help friends and family
You probably have a stereotypical image of someone who is an alcoholic. You might picture someone who drinks all the time, rarely has a day without a hangover and often can’t recall what happened the night before. It’s someone who can’t get their drinking under control, even though their life may falling apart.
View our editorial content guidelines to learn how we create helpful content with integrity and compassion. The use of this website is subject to our privacy policy and disclaimer. Psychotherapy, or “talk therapy,” is a popular treatment method for alcohol addiction.
Their Behavior Significantly Changes While Drinking
Even though you may not feel as drunk, your judgement is still clouded, and you will still suffer ramifications like getting a DUI if you’re pulled over while driving drunk. For example, people reference recent conversations with you, but you can’t remember them because you were drinking. These memory lapses can be severe enough that they’re considered blackouts.