What is a High Functioning Alcoholic? Definition & Signs

The consequences of alcohol use aren’t as severe in someone with functioning alcoholism, at least not at the moment. It is not uncommon for individuals with AUD to experience conflict with family and friends, and have drinking negatively impact their job, schooling, and overall safety. For this reason, these factors are a part of the diagnostic criteria. Second, many people with this form of alcoholism are actually using it to help them with mental illness.

• Most importantly, while you should avoid being judgmental or accusatory, you should also be honest about how alcoholism is affecting you and the alcoholic.
• The term “currently-functioning” may be used since it’s not likely they will remain functional (and not misuse alcohol) indefinitely.
• When the pain or embarrassment gets bad enough, they can no longer deny that their drinking needs to be addressed.
• Some high-functioning alcoholics will even keep their alcoholism a secret or fail to recognize it themselves.

What Does It Mean To Have a Substance Abuse Problem?

Your conversation should happen when the person you are trying to help is sober. =https://ecosoberhouse.com/ Most importantly, while you should avoid being judgmental or accusatory, you should also be honest about how alcoholism is affecting you and the alcoholic. The person may offer excuses or attempt to explain away their addiction, but stay firm and offer to help the person start treatment. If possible, get other family member and friends involved and stage an intervention.

Career And Work Life

Therapy, alcohol rehab, and support groups can provide the necessary assistance. A high-functioning alcoholic is someone who suffers from alcohol dependency or addiction but can still maintain their daily responsibilities. They manage to go about their lives, fulfilling work or school obligations, often without anyone realizing the extent of their drinking problem.

How to help friends and family

It may also cause an individual to refuse to travel to areas where alcohol access may be limited. To learn more about addiction treatment and recovery resources, please contact a Recovery Advocate at The Recovery Village Atlanta Drug and Alcohol Rehab today. Since people with high-functioning AUD can be on the milder spectrum of the condition, the earlier treatment happens, the more it may be possible to avoid a progression. There are no official diagnostic criteria for what it means to be high functioning. For this reason, it is hard to determine exactly how many people might have high-functioning AUD. However, there are individuals that meet the criteria for AUD but do not experience these impacts.

While some struggle with their addiction, others can live successful lives. Being able to carry out regular responsibilities with AUD is not the same as being free of the disease. Alcohol use disorder can still have a significant impact on a person’s life, even if they appear to be coping from the outside. The refusal to abstain can become more apparent in certain situations. This includes times when many people give up alcohol, such as “dry January” or the period of fasting and penitence in the Christian calendar leading up to Easter known as Lent.

Center for Teens, Young Adults and Families

For anyone who’s concerned about a loved one’s drinking, please find a community of support like Al-Anon. Whether your loved one agrees or not, their actions affect you and you deserve outside support. Other alternatives include group or individualized therapy, consulting educational resources and books, or attending online support groups. These individuals might hold down steady jobs or even excel in their professions and be respected members of their communities. However, behind this facade of success lies a hidden struggle with alcohol abuse, which they may go to great lengths to conceal. 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.

Mental Health Resources

A high-functioning alcoholic will usually appear healthy despite consuming large amounts of alcohol. By Sarah Bence, OTR/LBence is an occupational therapist with a range of work experience in mental healthcare settings. Support from other people who struggle with alcohol use disorder is an integral part of recovery, alongside medical treatment.

• While their appearance may not be any different and they can still fulfill their responsibilities, you’ll start to see a pattern develop of turning to alcohol to cope with family, work or personal issues.
• A diagnosis is based on how many symptoms you experience over the past 12 months, with 11 total criteria.
• In this blog, we define what it means to be a high-functioning alcoholic, exploring signs and symptoms.
• This is part of our ongoing commitment to ensure FHE Health is trusted as a leader in mental health and addiction care.
• A high-functioning alcoholic’s behavior may change significantly while drinking.

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. If you use alcohol, especially regularly, it begins to affect your brain structurally and functionally. Alcohol and other addictive substances activate high functioning alcoholic the areas of your brain that are part of your reward system. Over time, you may drink not because you’re choosing to but because you’ve developed an addiction, and your use is compulsive due to effects on your brain.

According to the NIAAA, the majority of people with an AUD can benefit from some form of treatment. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 95,000 people lose their lives every year due to excessive alcohol use. Family members may feel on edge and worried about their loved ones drinking. They may take steps to avoid the person while they are drinking, or they may experience feelings of guilt, shame, or self-blame. Chronic heavy drinkers can display a functional tolerance to the point they show few obvious signs alcohol rehab of intoxication even at high blood alcohol concentrations, which in others would be incapacitating.

What makes a functioning alcoholic different is their ability to not just drink but to still maintain what seems like sobriety. Identifying a high-functioning alcoholic can be challenging since they often appear to maintain their daily responsibilities. However, certain behaviors and patterns can indicate a deeper issue. At some point, a high-functioning alcoholic has tried to quit drinking but failed in their attempt. This pattern is often repeated, and you may notice that they go through periods where they drink heavily and then make an attempt to quit.