In addition, these loved ones will report that while the HFA may provide for the family financially, that they are not able to be supportive emotionally. This can happen in a subtle manner over time, but can ultimately damage and destroy families. Being an HFA affects every aspect of that individual’s life—but they are often unable to see this truth until they get sober. In terms of family life and friends, there is also the problem of “secondary” denial that loved ones may have about an HFA by not believing that they are “real” alcoholics.
What are the main signs of high-functioning alcoholism?
Family First Intervention recognizes how powerful the dynamic of a family system is and how important the role family members play in a substance user’s decision to accept treatment for addiction. We hope a family sees the need to seek professional guidance as much as the substance user requires professional guidance. We are privileged to be an integral part of your loved one’s high functioning alcoholic decision to recover from functional alcoholism. Due to how acceptable social and recreational drinking is, excessive alcohol use may be difficult to identify. This is why focusing on behaviors provides much better insight than trying to watch for excessive consumption. Even binge drinking or alcohol warning signs may be missed or be perceived as moderate or tolerable.
- Withdrawal symptoms are not always pleasant and can be pretty severe which, in turn, can lead a functioning alcoholic to start drinking again to keep the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal away.
- Although an intervention can take many forms, many of these meetings open with each participant stating how the alcoholic’s behavior has harmed or disappointed them.
- Consciously or unconsciously, the codependent may help the alcoholic to continue drinking to maintain the status quo.
- You can also dispel some of the myths and stereotypes about alcoholics that I have written about in other blog posts on this site and in my book Understanding the High-Functioning Alcoholic.
- HFAs typically do not realize the extent to which their drinking affects others.
Seeking Help for Functional Alcoholism
Both residential and outpatient day treatment programs are available for those in recovery. However, there are individuals that meet the criteria for AUD but do not experience these impacts. The classic picture of someone with alcohol use disorder is someone who always drinks too much and whose life is falling apart because of it.
Why denial is common for people with AUD
Managing AUD is a lifelong process, so the earlier you or your loved one seeks help, the more likely you are to succeed in overcoming the disorder and limiting recurrence. 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. Outpatient programs make it possible for you to get treatment during the day and still live at home. There are also plenty of support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous or SMART Recovery that can provide additional support and help in the recovery process. It is also possible to detox as part of an outpatient program, which features varying levels of support and treatment. Recovered.org provides an anonymous online evaluation tool to check if drinking has become problematic and provides further resources for help and support.
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. For example, you might imagine an “alcoholic” as someone who is constantly near-blackout drunk, and someone who’s unable to maintain a job or family life. Instead, the DSM-5 has established AUD as the term to replace previous stigmatizing terms such as alcohol dependence, alcohol abuse, and alcoholism. 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. Organizations such as the American Society of Addiction Medicine can guide you to help, too.
- The test is free, confidential, and no personal information is needed to receive the result.
- This can happen in a subtle manner over time, but can ultimately damage and destroy families.
- Kristeen Cherney is a freelance writer and PhD candidate who specializes in covering topics related to mental disabilities, women’s health, skin health, diabetes, thyroid disease, asthma, and allergies.
- What might look like denial may actually be a lot more complicated and multilayered for people with high-functioning AUD.
The term “currently-functioning” may be used since it’s not likely they will remain functional (and not misuse alcohol) indefinitely. 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. Please note that functional alcoholics are hardworking, educated individuals who are successful at work and home. It is the successes they work hard toward that might make it hard to confront them about a drinking problem. While many people reach out for help, some people are not able to do so. If you’re living with a functioning alcoholic and if you think they need help, please reach out to professionals for help.
- Like medical detox, inpatient and outpatient options are available based on your specific needs.
- In the short term, alcohol use increases the risk for alcohol poisoning, fetal alcohol syndrome, accidents, injuries, violence, and risky sexual behavior.
- Both binge drinking and heavy drinking patterns increase a person’s risk of AUD and are common behaviors among people with AUD.
- However, these individuals still have to deal with the effects of alcohol abuse, including mental and physical health problems.
- An addiction interventionist can help a family identify things they are doing that may be holding the alcoholic in a precontemplation state.
- Unfortunately, high-functioning alcoholism, as a secret or undiagnosed disorder, can be more dangerous than obvious, debilitating alcoholism.
What it’s like to live with someone with alcohol use disorder
Sometimes an HFA many become defensive and express that they are unwilling to seek help for their drinking. He or she may not believe that they are alcoholic and believe that they require more concrete evidence of being alcoholic in order to even consider getting sober. You may also suggest that they visit the “Rethinking Drinking” online assessment by the NIAAA and if necessary, try to set low-risk drinking limits for themselves through this online program. A functional alcoholic often consumes as much alcohol as someone with an alcohol use disorder. You, too, might realize that your relationship with alcohol is negatively affecting your life.
Impact on children
