A Few Clues Of A High Functioning Alcoholic (HFA)
While alcoholism is a devastating disease that can ruin lives, a number of people who battle with it manage to keep big responsibilities and stressful jobs. From the outside, these so-called high-functioning problem drinkers seem to have it all together. They can drive great cars, live in good neighborhoods, and make a substantial income.
Simply because they're high-functioning doesn't mean that they're immune to the repercussions of alcohol. They're still in danger of harming themselves and others around them. A pilot nursing a hangover, a surgeon with shaky hands, or a financier handling large sums of money are each at-risk of inducing horrendous disasters if they stay on their dysfunctional course.
Below are a number of signs that can really help in identifying these time bombs:
1. They drink instead of eating.
Alcoholics will often remove and replace meals with a few drinks, lose interest in food altogether, or use mealtime as a reason to start consuming alcohol.
2. They can get out of bed without a hangover, even after numerous drinks.
Drinking alcohol regularly over a long period of time can induce the body to become dependent on alcohol. Commonly high-functioning alcoholics manage to drink a good deal without the same hangover that tortures the random drinker.
3. Abstaining makes them irritable, jittery, or uncomfortable.
If an alcoholic is required to abstain from consuming alcohol, his or her physical body regularly reciprocates negatively, as they depend on the sedative effects of alcohol. Abrupt quitting can trigger tension and anxiety, uneasiness, perspiration, a rapid heart rate, as well as seizures.
4. Their behavior patterns transform dramatically while under the influence of alcohol.
Problem drinkers may change noticeably when they drink. For example, a generally mild-mannered person may become belligerent, or make impulsive decisions.
5. They cannot have just two drinks.
A problem drinker has difficulties quiting, and may even finish others' drinks. Alcohol will never be left on the table, and there is always a pretext for one more round.
6. Time spans of amnesia or "blacking out" are prevalent.
Many alcoholics will take part in activities that they have no recollection of the following day. They may not appear significantly intoxicated at the time, but they're not able to recall activities that took place.
7. Efforts to discuss drinking behavior are met with aggression and denial.
When faced with matters surrounding their alcohol consumption, heavy users will typically retreat to denial or aggression, making conversation difficult.
8. They always have a good explanation for why they drink.
If flat denial or aggression is not the opted for mode of evasion, most problem drinkers will have a seemingly rational explanation for their behavior. Anxiety and stress at the workplace, troubles at home, or an abundance of social events are prevalent excuses to explain their destructive behavior.
9. They conceal their alcohol.
Many alcoholics will drink alone, or sneak drinks from a bottle in a desk or in their car. This type of covert drinking is an enormous warning and there is no other explanation for this behavior other than alcohol addict ion.
Let's try to keep our world productive, safe, and sober by keeping our eyes open for questionable behavior in order to get these struggling colleagues, family members, and neighbors the help they need.
Symptoms of a High Functioning Alcoholic
From the outside, these so-called high-functioning alcoholics seem to have it all together. They can drive cool cars, live in great communities, and make a significant income.
Just because they're high-functioning does not mean that they're immune to the repercussions of alcohol. A pilot nursing a hangover, a surgeon with shaky hands, or a financier managing substantial amounts of money are each at-risk of causing horrible disasters if they stay on their destructive path.
Simply because they're high-functioning doesn't mean that they're immune to the repercussions of alcohol. They're still in danger of harming themselves and others around them. A pilot nursing a hangover, a surgeon with shaky hands, or a financier handling large sums of money are each at-risk of inducing horrendous disasters if they stay on their dysfunctional course.
Below are a number of signs that can really help in identifying these time bombs:
1. They drink instead of eating.
Alcoholics will often remove and replace meals with a few drinks, lose interest in food altogether, or use mealtime as a reason to start consuming alcohol.
2. They can get out of bed without a hangover, even after numerous drinks.
Drinking alcohol regularly over a long period of time can induce the body to become dependent on alcohol. Commonly high-functioning alcoholics manage to drink a good deal without the same hangover that tortures the random drinker.
3. Abstaining makes them irritable, jittery, or uncomfortable.
If an alcoholic is required to abstain from consuming alcohol, his or her physical body regularly reciprocates negatively, as they depend on the sedative effects of alcohol. Abrupt quitting can trigger tension and anxiety, uneasiness, perspiration, a rapid heart rate, as well as seizures.
4. Their behavior patterns transform dramatically while under the influence of alcohol.
Problem drinkers may change noticeably when they drink. For example, a generally mild-mannered person may become belligerent, or make impulsive decisions.
5. They cannot have just two drinks.
A problem drinker has difficulties quiting, and may even finish others' drinks. Alcohol will never be left on the table, and there is always a pretext for one more round.
6. Time spans of amnesia or "blacking out" are prevalent.
Many alcoholics will take part in activities that they have no recollection of the following day. They may not appear significantly intoxicated at the time, but they're not able to recall activities that took place.
7. Efforts to discuss drinking behavior are met with aggression and denial.
When faced with matters surrounding their alcohol consumption, heavy users will typically retreat to denial or aggression, making conversation difficult.
8. They always have a good explanation for why they drink.
If flat denial or aggression is not the opted for mode of evasion, most problem drinkers will have a seemingly rational explanation for their behavior. Anxiety and stress at the workplace, troubles at home, or an abundance of social events are prevalent excuses to explain their destructive behavior.
9. They conceal their alcohol.
Many alcoholics will drink alone, or sneak drinks from a bottle in a desk or in their car. This type of covert drinking is an enormous warning and there is no other explanation for this behavior other than alcohol addict ion.
Let's try to keep our world productive, safe, and sober by keeping our eyes open for questionable behavior in order to get these struggling colleagues, family members, and neighbors the help they need.
Symptoms of a High Functioning Alcoholic
From the outside, these so-called high-functioning alcoholics seem to have it all together. They can drive cool cars, live in great communities, and make a significant income.
Just because they're high-functioning does not mean that they're immune to the repercussions of alcohol. A pilot nursing a hangover, a surgeon with shaky hands, or a financier managing substantial amounts of money are each at-risk of causing horrible disasters if they stay on their destructive path.
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