What is a High-Functioning Alcoholic
A high functioning alcoholic is someone who holds steady relationships and jobs despite having a dependence on alcohol. However, being functioning does not mean that an alcoholic is free from addiction. An alcoholic may have a drinking problem and show signs of addiction but still manage to keep a job. Working is not the same for every alcoholic. It depends on the extent of their dependence. Some people can function well in spite of consuming alcohol. They may have a job or family obligations but they still manage to lead normal lives. Others may show symptoms of addiction at work or at home.
Am I a High Functioning Alcoholic?
Are you someone that feels like you need to be told you are a high functioning alcoholic? Or do you believe you are an alcoholic that cannot function normally in their daily life? If you think you are an alcoholic but are not quite sure, then you need to read on.
An alcoholic can be hard to deal with. It’s easy to drink when you know you’re drinking and you don’t care if you get drunk or not. Unfortunately, not every alcoholic knows where they stand as an alcoholic and it affects them every day. A high-functioning alcoholic is someone who keeps a job and relationships while showing addiction.
If you’re an alcoholic that doesn’t care whether they get drunk or not, then you might want to try the following. First, figure out how you got this way. Is it your environment? Did you grow up with alcohol at home? Did you grow up around alcohol in your family?
Look at Your Drinking History
The best way to find out is to go back through your past years and see if there is anything that happened that might have been contributing to your current problem. If you do see anything that you don’t want to think about in your future, make a list of it. This list might include any kind of abuse that you have suffered as a child, or any negative relationship. You might even find it helpful to speak with others that are also experiencing the same problem and ask them for advice.
If you do suffer from abuse in the past, then talk to family members who you believe might have helped you in some way. Ask them about their experiences with alcohol and what made them stop drinking. If they feel uncomfortable sharing their experiences, then it might be time to take a look at yourself in a different light.
If you feel like you are a high functioning alcoholic, then you probably have a job and a family that you love. If you don’t know what kind of abuse you might have suffered as a child, you might be able to pinpoint the signs and tell them about the things that you remember. This is very important information for your treatment.
Getting Help for Alcoholism
Find a group that can help you. Meet with them regularly so that you can get the kind of help that you need. Also, try to find somebody that can really relate to you. This may mean looking for someone who is going through similar issues or someone that has been through a similar situation.
There are several treatment options for people with this disorder. Some of the most common include psychotherapy, medication, and even talking therapies. Each person is unique in their own way, but these are the most common options that you can consider. In order for you to get the best treatment, you will need to do research into all of them and see which ones are right for you.
Once you have come to terms with the fact that you have been diagnosed with a high functioning alcoholic, then it is time to find a way to get the help you need. There are many resources available and many people that can help you in the recovery process. Just keep looking and you may be surprised by how much help there really is.
Signs of High-Functioning Alcoholism
There are several signs that you may be an alcoholic. You should not feel guilty about yourself for having these problems. These symptoms will only become a bigger problem if you continue to drink. If you are still in a relationship with a person who is a high-functioning alcoholic, then you may have some alcohol dependency issues. The relationship can become quite unstable as time goes by.
Many of the physical symptoms of alcohol dependency occur without the alcoholic even realizing that he or she has a problem. You may not realize how much you drank the last time you had a drink. This can be a huge problem and you should not get caught by your partner and do something. This is a good way to end up in jail.
Overly Aggressive Behavior
You may notice that you become overly aggressive when you are around someone who is also a high-functioning alcoholic. It’s normal to become aggressive when you are with someone you have trouble getting along with. If you want to find true happiness, then you need to realize this and work through it.
Mental Clarity
Mental clarity can also be lacking for a person who is addicted to alcohol. This person may not know what they are thinking. They can’t seem to make up their minds and they lose it when they are around someone who is sober.
Depression
It’s possible that this person may actually be depressed. Depression can often lead to alcoholism. Once they get into an addiction, they can no longer handle the depression and they just feel sad about themselves.
Physical Symptoms
A person may experience some emotional and/or physical symptoms. If you are one of these people, you should seek help from your doctor, because you may have an alcohol addiction. Remember, if you are experiencing any of the signs you may be a high-functioning alcoholic. Your body needs to be treated first before it will deal with your mind. If you want to fix your life, then it will take some serious effort on your part.
You may also experience physical symptoms like the shaking of your body or nausea. This comes from the withdrawal of alcohol. You may find that you have headaches or a headache may appear in various parts of your body.
Physical symptoms can also include pain that seems to occur in one or more parts of your body. You may feel very heavy, weak or depressed.
Loss of Control
You may feel that you are not able to control your drinking and you need help. and support from other addicts. If you suffer from alcoholism, then you need to look for others who can help you get through this difficult period.
Cravings
The most obvious sign you may be a high-functioning alcoholic is when you feel that you need to drink in order to survive in life. This is called cravings. These cravings can occur at any time of the day or night and there may not even be an occasion. These cravings can come from any situation that you are going through. These may come as a result of stress, a stressful situation or even loneliness. The problem is that if you drink too much, then this craving will always surface.
Feeling Overwhelmed
You should also be concerned about your mental and emotional signs. When you are feeling overwhelmed, you may want to drink. This may come from depression. You may also feel depressed if you have trouble making decisions, feel like you have lost control, feel lonely and have a problem with anger.
Ability to Keep a Job
A high functional alcoholic may find it hard to function at work. He or she may show signs of withdrawal when they first take a break from alcohol. They might not remember to do work in some areas, such as answering telephone calls or performing clerical tasks.
Concentration Issues
They may have trouble concentrating or performing simple jobs. Some functional alcoholics feel that their lives are over. They feel worthless because they are dependent on alcohol. Some may even be depressed. This is why they often hide their alcoholism. They try to keep their employers from discovering their addiction by pretending to be well. The fact that they hide their alcohol consumption also creates further problems.
Can’t Get Through the Day at Work Without Alcohol
An individual with a working relationship with alcohol cannot get to work without the help of alcohol. Even though the person may work hard, he or she needs alcohol to function. In a family environment, an alcoholic can affect the lives of others. Some family members may not know that an alcoholic works in the house or at the office.
Inability to Perform Responsibilities at Home
A functional alcoholic may be able to function in the workplace because of his or her job. However, some alcoholic still cannot perform their responsibilities at home. They may not take care of their children and family responsibilities. They may have problems with personal hygiene and other basic chores at home.
Slower Alcoholism Symptoms
The symptoms of alcoholism in a functional alcoholic usually show up gradually. They may not show any symptoms at first. They may not have alcohol cravings or withdrawal symptoms. They may appear to be in good health. They may just feel dull or inactive.
Drugs and Alcoholism
Sometimes, an alcoholic will start taking drugs to cope with the symptoms of his or her condition. Alcoholism is not a disease. It can be treated and the person can lead a normal life if it is treated.
These signs should not surprise you because alcohol can do so many things to a person’s life. This can cause many problems and it will also make the person seem out of control to their friends and family. that they are just trying to get high.
Is it Time to Get Help for My Alcoholism?
The family member who does not understand the difference between alcohol dependency and functional alcoholism should find support in a local support group. The person who has a working relationship with alcohol can share his experiences with others. Other people can give support to a functional alcoholic so that they can deal with the problems of alcoholism and get through them more easily.
The alcoholic who is not receiving the treatment he or she needs can cause more problems to those around him or her. Alcoholics who are not getting proper care can do harm to themselves and others. The effects of alcohol use on an individual’s life are determined by how it is treated.
Alcoholics with no family support may act out of revenge, anger, or fear of others who know about their alcohol dependency. and a drinking habits. Some addicts can be violent toward family members and others.
The alcoholic should have support around him or her. Family members and friends should encourage the alcoholic to talk about his or her problems and ask for help. It can sometimes be difficult to communicate with others about the problems an alcoholic is experiencing, but people around him or she should be willing to listen to what the alcoholic says.
An alcoholic who is having trouble with alcoholism needs to receive support from his or her peers. It is common for functional drinkers to blame themselves for their alcohol problems and not realize that the problem can be helped. In fact, their addiction to alcohol may be causing them stress that causes them to act in ways that make things worse. If this is the case, the addict needs to seek professional help.