Common Signs Of A HFA Or High Functioning Alcoholic
While alcoholism is a devastating disease that can destroy lives, a few 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 good communities, and make a significant income.
Just because they're high-functioning does not mean that they're immune to the effects of alcohol. They're still in danger of hurting themselves and others around them. A pilot nursing a hangover, a surgeon with shaky hands, or a banker handling large sums of money are each at-risk of causing horrible disasters if they stay on their dysfunctional course.
Below are a few clues that can help in recognizing these time bombs:
1. They drink instead of eating food.
Alcoholics will regularly replace meals with a couple of drinks, lose interest in food altogether, or use mealtime as justification to begin consuming alcohol.
2. They can get out of bed without a hangover, even after a number of drinks.
Drinking alcohol regularly over a substantial period of time can trigger the physical body to become addicted to alcohol. Regularly high-functioning alcoholics successfully drink a good deal without having the same hangover that plagues the random drinker.
3. Not drinking makes them irritable, nervous, or uncomfortable.
If an alcoholic is forced to avoid consuming alcohol, his or her physical body often reacts negatively, as they depend on the sedative effects of alcohol. Abrupt quitting can cause anxiety, nervousness, sweating, a rapid heart rate, and even seizures.
4. Their behavior patterns change significantly while under the influence of alcohol.
Problem drinkers may transform dramatically when they drink. For instance, a typically mild-mannered individual may become aggressive, or make impetuous decisions.
5. They cannot have just two drinks.
A problem drinker has a problem quiting, and may even finish others' drinks. Alcohol will certainly never be left on the table, and there is always an excuse for one more round.
6. Periods of memory loss or "blacking out" are typical.
Many problem drinkers will participate in activities that they have no recollection of the next day. They may not appear significantly intoxicated at the moment, but they're not able to remember activities that happened.
7. Efforts to discuss drinking behavior are met with hostility and denial.
When faced with matters surrounding their drinking, alcoholics will typically retreat to denial or aggression, making a dialogue hard.
8. They typically have a good reason for why they drink.
If flat denial or aggression is not the chosen mode of evasion, most alcoholics will have a seemingly reasonable explanation for their actions. Stress and anxiety at work, problems at home, or an abundance of social events are prevalent excuses to explain their damaging behavior.
9. They hide their alcohol.
Many problem drinkers will drink alone, or sneak drinks from a bottle in a workspace or in their vehicle. This sort of hidden drinking is an enormous red flag and there is no other explanation for their actions apart from alcohol addiction.
Let's try to keep our world productive, safe, and sober by always keeping our eyes open for dubious behavior to get these troubled colleagues, family, and friends the assistance they need.
Symptoms of a High Functioning Alcoholic
From the outside, these supposed high-functioning alcoholics seem to have it all together. They can drive cool cars, live in great neighborhoods, and make a significant income.
Just because they're high-functioning does not mean that they're invulnerable to the repercussions of alcohol. A pilot nursing a hangover, a surgeon with shaky hands, or a banker handling substantial amounts of money are each at-risk of triggering terrible disasters if they stay on their destructive path.
Just because they're high-functioning does not mean that they're immune to the effects of alcohol. They're still in danger of hurting themselves and others around them. A pilot nursing a hangover, a surgeon with shaky hands, or a banker handling large sums of money are each at-risk of causing horrible disasters if they stay on their dysfunctional course.
Below are a few clues that can help in recognizing these time bombs:
1. They drink instead of eating food.
Alcoholics will regularly replace meals with a couple of drinks, lose interest in food altogether, or use mealtime as justification to begin consuming alcohol.
2. They can get out of bed without a hangover, even after a number of drinks.
Drinking alcohol regularly over a substantial period of time can trigger the physical body to become addicted to alcohol. Regularly high-functioning alcoholics successfully drink a good deal without having the same hangover that plagues the random drinker.
3. Not drinking makes them irritable, nervous, or uncomfortable.
If an alcoholic is forced to avoid consuming alcohol, his or her physical body often reacts negatively, as they depend on the sedative effects of alcohol. Abrupt quitting can cause anxiety, nervousness, sweating, a rapid heart rate, and even seizures.
4. Their behavior patterns change significantly while under the influence of alcohol.
Problem drinkers may transform dramatically when they drink. For instance, a typically mild-mannered individual may become aggressive, or make impetuous decisions.
5. They cannot have just two drinks.
A problem drinker has a problem quiting, and may even finish others' drinks. Alcohol will certainly never be left on the table, and there is always an excuse for one more round.
6. Periods of memory loss or "blacking out" are typical.
Many problem drinkers will participate in activities that they have no recollection of the next day. They may not appear significantly intoxicated at the moment, but they're not able to remember activities that happened.
7. Efforts to discuss drinking behavior are met with hostility and denial.
When faced with matters surrounding their drinking, alcoholics will typically retreat to denial or aggression, making a dialogue hard.
8. They typically have a good reason for why they drink.
If flat denial or aggression is not the chosen mode of evasion, most alcoholics will have a seemingly reasonable explanation for their actions. Stress and anxiety at work, problems at home, or an abundance of social events are prevalent excuses to explain their damaging behavior.
9. They hide their alcohol.
Many problem drinkers will drink alone, or sneak drinks from a bottle in a workspace or in their vehicle. This sort of hidden drinking is an enormous red flag and there is no other explanation for their actions apart from alcohol addiction.
Let's try to keep our world productive, safe, and sober by always keeping our eyes open for dubious behavior to get these troubled colleagues, family, and friends the assistance they need.
Symptoms of a High Functioning Alcoholic
From the outside, these supposed high-functioning alcoholics seem to have it all together. They can drive cool cars, live in great neighborhoods, and make a significant income.
Just because they're high-functioning does not mean that they're invulnerable to the repercussions of alcohol. A pilot nursing a hangover, a surgeon with shaky hands, or a banker handling substantial amounts of money are each at-risk of triggering terrible disasters if they stay on their destructive path.
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