Common Indications Of A High Functioning Alcoholic (HFA)
While alcoholism is a disastrous disease that can destroy lives, a number of people who struggle with it manage to keep stressful jobs and big responsibilities. From the outside, these so-called high-functioning alcoholics seem to have it all together. They can drive great cars, live in great communities, and make a significant income.
However, just because they're high-functioning doesn't mean that they are immune to the effects of alcohol. They are still in danger of hurting themselves and others around them. For instance, a pilot nursing a hangover, a surgeon with unsteady hands, or a banker handling large sums of money are each at-risk of causing horrible disasters if they stay on their dysfunctional path.
Below are a number of clues that can help in identifying these time bombs:
1. They consume alcohol instead of eating food.
Problem drinkers will often remove and replace meals with a couple of drinks, lose interest in food altogether, or use mealtime as justification to start drinking.
2. They can wake up without a hangover, even after numerous drinks.
Consuming alcohol routinely over a substantial period of time can induce the physical body to become dependent on alcohol. Regularly high-functioning alcoholics manage to drink a lot without the same hangover that plagues the random drinker.
3. Abstaining makes them grouchy, anxious, or uncomfortable.
If an alcoholic is required to abstain from drinking, his or her physical body regularly responds negatively, as they are dependent on the tranquillizing effects of alcohol. Abrupt quitting can trigger tension and anxiety, nervousness, sweating, a rapid heart rate, as well as seizures.
4. Their behavior patterns transform significantly while under the influence of alcohol.
When they drink, alcoholics may transform significantly. For instance, a generally mild-mannered individual may become belligerent, or make impetuous choices.
5. They cannot have just two drinks.
An alcoholic has a problem stopping, and may even finish others' drinks. Booze will never be left on the table, and there is always a pretext for one more round.
6. Time spans of memory loss or "blacking out" are typical.
Many alcoholics will take part in activities that they have no memory of the next day. They may not appear extremely intoxicated at the moment, but they're not able to remember activities that took place.
7. Attempts to talk about drinking habits are met with hostility and denial.
When faced with matters involving their alcohol consumption, alcohol abusers will generally regress to denial or aggression, making a dialogue difficult.
8. They always have a good reason for why they drink.
If flat denial or hostility is not the opted for method of avoidance, most problem drinkers will have a seemingly reasonable explanation for their behavior. Stress at work, problems at home, or an abundance of social events are typical reasons to explain their destructive behavior.
9. They conceal their alcohol.
Many problem drinkers will drink alone, or sneak drinks from a bottle in a desk or in their car. This type of covert alcohol consumption is a significant red flag and there is no other explanation for their actions apart from alcohol addiction.
Let's keep our world productive, safe, and sober by keeping our eyes open for dubious behavior to get these struggling colleagues, family members, and neighbors the help they need.
Indications of a High Functioning Alcoholic
From the outside, these so-called high-functioning alcoholics seem to have it all together. They can drive nice cars, live in great neighborhoods, and make a significant income.
Simply because they're high-functioning doesn't 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 sums of money are each at-risk of inducing horrendous disasters if they stay on their destructive path.
need to answer a troublesome question: . . .
what does alcohol do to you ?
However, just because they're high-functioning doesn't mean that they are immune to the effects of alcohol. They are still in danger of hurting themselves and others around them. For instance, a pilot nursing a hangover, a surgeon with unsteady hands, or a banker handling large sums of money are each at-risk of causing horrible disasters if they stay on their dysfunctional path.
Below are a number of clues that can help in identifying these time bombs:
1. They consume alcohol instead of eating food.
Problem drinkers will often remove and replace meals with a couple of drinks, lose interest in food altogether, or use mealtime as justification to start drinking.
2. They can wake up without a hangover, even after numerous drinks.
Consuming alcohol routinely over a substantial period of time can induce the physical body to become dependent on alcohol. Regularly high-functioning alcoholics manage to drink a lot without the same hangover that plagues the random drinker.
3. Abstaining makes them grouchy, anxious, or uncomfortable.
If an alcoholic is required to abstain from drinking, his or her physical body regularly responds negatively, as they are dependent on the tranquillizing effects of alcohol. Abrupt quitting can trigger tension and anxiety, nervousness, sweating, a rapid heart rate, as well as seizures.
4. Their behavior patterns transform significantly while under the influence of alcohol.
When they drink, alcoholics may transform significantly. For instance, a generally mild-mannered individual may become belligerent, or make impetuous choices.
5. They cannot have just two drinks.
An alcoholic has a problem stopping, and may even finish others' drinks. Booze will never be left on the table, and there is always a pretext for one more round.
6. Time spans of memory loss or "blacking out" are typical.
Many alcoholics will take part in activities that they have no memory of the next day. They may not appear extremely intoxicated at the moment, but they're not able to remember activities that took place.
7. Attempts to talk about drinking habits are met with hostility and denial.
When faced with matters involving their alcohol consumption, alcohol abusers will generally regress to denial or aggression, making a dialogue difficult.
8. They always have a good reason for why they drink.
If flat denial or hostility is not the opted for method of avoidance, most problem drinkers will have a seemingly reasonable explanation for their behavior. Stress at work, problems at home, or an abundance of social events are typical reasons to explain their destructive behavior.
9. They conceal their alcohol.
Many problem drinkers will drink alone, or sneak drinks from a bottle in a desk or in their car. This type of covert alcohol consumption is a significant red flag and there is no other explanation for their actions apart from alcohol addiction.
Let's keep our world productive, safe, and sober by keeping our eyes open for dubious behavior to get these struggling colleagues, family members, and neighbors the help they need.
Indications of a High Functioning Alcoholic
From the outside, these so-called high-functioning alcoholics seem to have it all together. They can drive nice cars, live in great neighborhoods, and make a significant income.
Simply because they're high-functioning doesn't 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 sums of money are each at-risk of inducing horrendous disasters if they stay on their destructive path.
need to answer a troublesome question: . . .
what does alcohol do to you ?
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