According to a government survey, about 20% of alcoholics in America are high-functioning alcoholics. They take care of their families, always pay their bills, and avoid trouble with the law. In fact, their families and friends might not even know they are alcoholics if they show no signs of having a substance use disorder. Some high-functioning alcoholics will even keep their alcoholism a secret or fail to recognize it themselves. People with mild or moderate alcohol use disorder may perform poorly at work and put their jobs at risk. They may struggle to maintain good relationships with their partners, family members and friends.
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Research shows that early identification and intervention are crucial for effective treatment outcomes. High-functioning alcoholism, a subset of alcohol use disorder (AUD), is characterized by individuals maintaining their professional high functioning alcoholic and personal responsibilities while struggling with alcohol dependency. The prevalence of high-functioning alcoholism is not explicitly stated in most studies, as it often goes undetected due to the absence of apparent life dysfunction.
Navigating Recovery and Sustaining Sobriety for High-Functioning Alcoholics
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. I gathered my few belongings from the night before and shamefully walked to the Boston “T” to get back home.
Here’s why high-functioning alcoholism is dangerous
- And in one of her latest videos, Julie opened up about how she managed to get back on the wagon and stay there, while hardly anyone in her life actually knew that she was suffering from alcoholism.
- If someone you are close to is living with alcohol use disorder, you may be looking for ways to help them cope with the impacts of their disease on your own life.
- High-functioning alcoholism, a subset of alcohol use disorders (AUD), presents unique challenges in identification due to the individual’s ability to maintain outward appearances of normalcy.
- Just because someone with an alcohol use disorder (the medical term for an alcoholic) is functioning doesn’t mean they’re functioning well or functioning in each aspect of their lives.
- While some struggle with their addiction, others can live successful lives.
An individual suffering from alcohol addiction will often defend their drinking by claiming they’ve “earned” it by working hard or they are “just blowing off steam” and enjoying their time away from work. Peer pressure and easy availability of alcohol can increase the risk of developing an AUD. Negative life experiences, such as grief, abuse, or living in poverty, can also increase the odds. Many people with AUDs decide to have further treatment and support, such as attending group therapy, individual counseling, or support groups. People who are concerned about their drinking habits, and those who are showing signs of an AUD, may wish to reach out for help and support.
How to Treat High-Functioning Alcoholism
It passes slowly when times are tough and moves too quickly when life is smooth. Although I have not drunk alcohol in two decades, images and sensations of the experience are one thought away. When the dopamine rush left, the night turned to morning, the music died down, and the crowd left—the reality of my powerlessness over alcohol was waiting for me. It waited patiently for my recognition for 12 years https://ecosoberhouse.com/ until that morning when my consciousness and the truth collided undeniably. However, I was ready to hear their concerns and fears genuinely, and after four years of trying to control my drinking, had finally accepted that I was an alcoholic. More recently, a 2020 study found that people who used alcohol to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic were more likely to drink alone and drink to excessive amounts.
Even if you feel that you are still in control of your life and your work or relationships aren’t visibly suffering, a relatively mild alcohol use disorder could already be affecting your mental and physical health. Left unmanaged, compulsive drinking behaviors can get progressively worse, with their negative impact on your life becoming ever more apparent. 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. American Addiction Centers offers a range of treatment services in facilities across the country to help treat alcohol use disorders.
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. Alcohol withdrawal can begin within hours of ending a drinking session. For people with functioning AUD, seeking treatment as an outpatient may help them reduce disruptions to their work or family life.
- According to 2020 data by the CDC, nearly 30,000 people died that year from alcoholic liver disease (cirrhosis).
- Support from other people who struggle with alcohol use disorder is an integral part of recovery, alongside medical treatment.
- 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.
They Drink Instead Of Eat
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. The term “currently-functioning» may be used since it’s not likely they will remain functional (and not misuse alcohol) indefinitely. Even though they may want to stop, many functioning alcoholics often won’t know where or how to begin the process. This is where family, friends and medical professionals can work together to create a plan to help end this cycle before they do more harm to themselves. Nearly 20% of alcoholics are highly functional and well-educated with good incomes. Because these types of users appear stable and mostly unaffected by their drinking, the steps to effectively confront a functioning alcoholic and work with them on their behaviors can be even more difficult.
This is because high-functioning alcoholics are often in denial about their addiction, so they are less likely to seek treatment. Since they’re not stereotypical alcoholics, they do not know or they will not admit that they have a serious problem with alcohol. A high functioning alcoholic is an informal term that refers to someone who appears to maintain a successful professional and personal life while drinking excessive amounts of alcohol. Drinking is often covert, and the person may deny they have any issue with their drinking. Many people who suffer from alcohol use disorder struggle to acknowledge they’ve developed a dependence on the substance.
