Alcoholics can go on to develop heart, respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders. There can also be declines in their mental and overall health, especially if they’re not eating healthy diets or engaging in physical activity. You may begin to notice that a couple of beers after work has turned into a six-pack or even a case. As time goes on and tolerance increases, they may attempt to hide the growing problem, and a growing number of empty bottles or cans, from friends and family. If you’re seeking help for sunrock strain leafly yourself or a loved one, our expert team is here to guide you every step of the way. If you think that you or someone you know may be drinking too much, ask your doctor about getting help – whether it’s from a therapist, psychiatrist, or other addiction specialist.
- By Sarah Bence, OTR/LBence is an occupational therapist with a range of work experience in mental healthcare settings.
- When a loved one has a drinking problem, it’s hard to know how to help, especially if they are in denial.
- You might hear the term ‘currently functioning’ used to emphasise that a person’s ability to function right now is unlikely to last.
- High-functioning alcoholics crave alcohol, develop tolerance to it over time, and experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop drinking.
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The main risk of high-functioning alcoholism is the potential for a worsening condition. Over time, you may struggle to maintain social and familial obligations and relationships. A high-functioning alcoholic’s behavior may change significantly while drinking. For example, a usually calm person may become outgoing, aggressive or even impulsive while consuming alcohol. An alcohol use disorder, as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or DSM-5, is a problematic pattern of behaviors related to alcohol use.
Drinking is often covert, and the person may deny they have any issue with their drinking. While social drinking is a common part of some cultures, it’s different from «responsible drinking» which emphasizes moderation and safety. However, regular social drinking can lead to dependence, including the development of high-functioning alcoholism. This means someone may appear to function normally in daily life while struggling with alcohol dependence.
Other alternatives include group or individualized therapy, consulting educational resources and books, or attending online support groups. We’re here 24/7 to help guide you or your loved on through rehab and recovery. Submit your number to receive a call today from a treatment provider. Support from other people who struggle with alcohol use disorder is an integral part of recovery, alongside medical treatment.
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Consequently, many people may not realize their drinking has become a genuine problem. “For example, you may notice your spouse drinking more beers at dinner, sleeping less and less, and increasingly on edge well before they start missing workdays,” Grawert adds. 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.
How to Tell If You or a Loved One Is a High-Functioning Alcoholic
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. «Functioning» is subjective and limiting when describing a person living with alcohol use disorder. As a result, being able to fulfill job duties adequately does little to discourage them from continued patterns of alcohol abuse. Consciously or unconsciously, the codependent may help the alcoholic to continue drinking to maintain the status quo. Many high-functioning alcoholics earn a good living and can support their families while continuing to drink.
Functional alcoholics are often intelligent, hardworking and well-educated. Their professional status or personal success can make it hard to approach them about having a “problem” with alcohol. Unfortunately, even when functional alcoholics begin to recognize that they have a drinking problem, they still resist reaching out for help.