Common Clues Of A High Functioning Alcoholic (HFA)
While alcoholism -a-disease/">alcoholism is a disastrous condition that can destroy lives, a few people who struggle with it manage to keep big responsibilities and stressful jobs. From the outside, these so-called high-functioning alcoholics seem to have it all together. They can drive great cars, live in great neighborhoods, and make a significant income.
Simply because they're high-functioning does not mean that they're immune to the effects of alcohol. They are still at risk of harming themselves and others around them. For instance, a pilot nursing a hangover, a surgeon with shaky hands, or a financier handling large sums of money are each at-risk of causing terrible disasters if they continue on their dysfunctional course.
Below are some clues that can really help in recognizing these time bombs:
1. They drink instead of eating.
Problem drinkers will often replace meals with a couple of drinks, lose interest in food altogether, or use mealtime as a reason to start drinking.
2. They can get out of bed without a hangover, even after several drinks.
Consuming alcohol routinely over a substantial period of time can induce the physical body to become dependent on alcohol. Often high-functioning alcoholics manage to drink a good deal without having the same hangover that afflicts the occasional drinker.
3. Abstaining makes them irritable, nervous, or uncomfortable.
If an alcoholic is required to avoid drinking, his or her physical body regularly reciprocates adversely, as they are dependent on the tranquillizing effects of alcohol. Abrupt quitting can cause tension and anxiety, uneasiness, perspiration, a rapid heart rate, as well as seizures.
4. Their behavior patterns transform noticeably while under the influence of alcohol.
When they drink, problem drinkers may change noticeably. A generally mild-mannered individual may become aggressive, or make impulsive decisions.
5. They cannot have just two drinks.
A problem drinker has a problem quiting, and may even finish others' drinks. Booze will certainly 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 common.
Many alcoholics will participate in activities that they have no recollection of the following day. They may not appear extremely drunk at the moment, but they're unable to recall events that happened.
7. Attempts to discuss drinking habits are met with hostility and denial.
When faced with issues involving their alcohol consumption, alcoholics will generally retreat to denial or hostility, making a dialogue hard.
8. They always have a good explanation for why they drink.
If flat denial or hostility is not the chosen mode of evasion, most alcoholics will have a somewhat rational explanation for their behavior. Stress at work, troubles at home, or an abundance of social functions are prevalent excuses to explain their damaging behavior.
9. They conceal their alcohol.
Many problem drinkers will drink alone, or sneak drinks from a bottle in a workspace or in their car. This type of covert drinking is an enormous red flag and there is no other explanation for their actions other than alcohol addiction .
Let's keep our community productive, safe, and sober by keeping our eyes open for problematic actions in order to get these struggling colleagues, family, and neighbors the help they need.
Signs of a High Functioning Alcoholic
From the outside, these supposed high-functioning alcoholics appear to have it all together. They can drive cool cars, live in great neighborhoods, and make a significant income.
Simply because they're high-functioning does not mean that they're immune to the effects of alcohol. A pilot nursing a hangover, a surgeon with trembling hands, or a banker managing considerable amounts of money are each at-risk of inducing horrendous disasters if they stay on their destructive course.
Simply because they're high-functioning does not mean that they're immune to the effects of alcohol. They are still at risk of harming themselves and others around them. For instance, a pilot nursing a hangover, a surgeon with shaky hands, or a financier handling large sums of money are each at-risk of causing terrible disasters if they continue on their dysfunctional course.
Below are some clues that can really help in recognizing these time bombs:
1. They drink instead of eating.
Problem drinkers will often replace meals with a couple of drinks, lose interest in food altogether, or use mealtime as a reason to start drinking.
2. They can get out of bed without a hangover, even after several drinks.
Consuming alcohol routinely over a substantial period of time can induce the physical body to become dependent on alcohol. Often high-functioning alcoholics manage to drink a good deal without having the same hangover that afflicts the occasional drinker.
3. Abstaining makes them irritable, nervous, or uncomfortable.
If an alcoholic is required to avoid drinking, his or her physical body regularly reciprocates adversely, as they are dependent on the tranquillizing effects of alcohol. Abrupt quitting can cause tension and anxiety, uneasiness, perspiration, a rapid heart rate, as well as seizures.
4. Their behavior patterns transform noticeably while under the influence of alcohol.
When they drink, problem drinkers may change noticeably. A generally mild-mannered individual may become aggressive, or make impulsive decisions.
5. They cannot have just two drinks.
A problem drinker has a problem quiting, and may even finish others' drinks. Booze will certainly 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 common.
Many alcoholics will participate in activities that they have no recollection of the following day. They may not appear extremely drunk at the moment, but they're unable to recall events that happened.
7. Attempts to discuss drinking habits are met with hostility and denial.
When faced with issues involving their alcohol consumption, alcoholics will generally retreat to denial or hostility, making a dialogue hard.
8. They always have a good explanation for why they drink.
If flat denial or hostility is not the chosen mode of evasion, most alcoholics will have a somewhat rational explanation for their behavior. Stress at work, troubles at home, or an abundance of social functions are prevalent excuses to explain their damaging behavior.
9. They conceal their alcohol.
Many problem drinkers will drink alone, or sneak drinks from a bottle in a workspace or in their car. This type of covert drinking is an enormous red flag and there is no other explanation for their actions other than alcohol addiction .
Let's keep our community productive, safe, and sober by keeping our eyes open for problematic actions in order to get these struggling colleagues, family, and neighbors the help they need.
Signs of a High Functioning Alcoholic
From the outside, these supposed high-functioning alcoholics appear to have it all together. They can drive cool cars, live in great neighborhoods, and make a significant income.
Simply because they're high-functioning does not mean that they're immune to the effects of alcohol. A pilot nursing a hangover, a surgeon with trembling hands, or a banker managing considerable amounts of money are each at-risk of inducing horrendous disasters if they stay on their destructive course.
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