Tell Tale Clues Of A High Functioning Alcoholic (HFA)
While alcohol dependence is a devastating disease that can destroy lives, a few people who battle with it manage to hold down big responsibilities and stressful jobs. 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.
However, simply because they are high-functioning does not mean that they're immune to the effects of alcohol. They are still in danger of harming themselves and others around them. As an example, a pilot nursing a hangover, a surgeon with unsteady hands, or a financier managing large amounts of money are each at-risk of triggering terrible disasters if they stay on their dysfunctional path.
Here are some clues that can help in identifying these time bombs:
1. They consume alcohol instead of eating food.
Problem drinkers will regularly remove and replace meals with a couple of drinks, lose interest in food completely, or use mealtime as an excuse to begin drinking.
2. They can wake up without a hangover, even after a number of drinks.
Consuming alcohol regularly over a long period of time can induce the physical body to become addicted to alcohol. Commonly high-functioning alcoholics manage to drink a lot without having the same hangover that plagues the random drinker.
3. Not drinking makes them irritable, anxious, or uncomfortable.
If an alcoholic is required to abstain from consuming alcohol, his or her body often reacts negatively, as they depend on the sedative effects of alcohol. Sudden quitting can cause anxiety, nervousness, sweating, a rapid heart rate, as well as seizures.
4. Their behavior patterns change dramatically while under the influence of alcohol.
When they drink, problem drinkers may change significantly. For instance, a generally pleasant person may become aggressive, or make careless decisions.
5. They cannot have just two drinks.
An alcoholic has a problem stopping, and may even finish others' drinks. Booze 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 common.
Many problem drinkers will participate in activities that they have no memory of the following day. They may not appear significantly drunk at the time, but they're not able to recall activities that occurred.
7. Efforts to discuss drinking habits are met with aggression and denial.
When confronted with matters surrounding their drinking, heavy users will generally regress to denial or aggression, making discussion hard.
8. They never fail to have a good explanation for why they drink.
If flat denial or aggression is not the chosen method of evasion, most alcoholics will have a somewhat rational explanation for their actions. Stress and anxiety at the workplace, problems in the home, or an abundance of social functions are common excuses to explain their damaging behavior.
9. need to answer a troubling question: . . .
are you an alcoholic ?
They conceal their alcohol.
Many alcoholics will drink alone, or sneak drinks from a bottle in a workspace or in their car. This sort of covert alcohol consumption is a significant red flag and there is no other explanation for this behavior apart from alcohol dependence.
Let's try to keep our community productive, safe, and sober by keeping our eyes open for dubious behavior to get these troubled colleagues, family members, and friends the help 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 communities, and make a significant income.
Simply 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 trembling hands, or a banker managing considerable sums of money are each at-risk of inducing horrendous disasters if they stay on their destructive path.
However, simply because they are high-functioning does not mean that they're immune to the effects of alcohol. They are still in danger of harming themselves and others around them. As an example, a pilot nursing a hangover, a surgeon with unsteady hands, or a financier managing large amounts of money are each at-risk of triggering terrible disasters if they stay on their dysfunctional path.
Here are some clues that can help in identifying these time bombs:
1. They consume alcohol instead of eating food.
Problem drinkers will regularly remove and replace meals with a couple of drinks, lose interest in food completely, or use mealtime as an excuse to begin drinking.
2. They can wake up without a hangover, even after a number of drinks.
Consuming alcohol regularly over a long period of time can induce the physical body to become addicted to alcohol. Commonly high-functioning alcoholics manage to drink a lot without having the same hangover that plagues the random drinker.
3. Not drinking makes them irritable, anxious, or uncomfortable.
If an alcoholic is required to abstain from consuming alcohol, his or her body often reacts negatively, as they depend on the sedative effects of alcohol. Sudden quitting can cause anxiety, nervousness, sweating, a rapid heart rate, as well as seizures.
4. Their behavior patterns change dramatically while under the influence of alcohol.
When they drink, problem drinkers may change significantly. For instance, a generally pleasant person may become aggressive, or make careless decisions.
5. They cannot have just two drinks.
An alcoholic has a problem stopping, and may even finish others' drinks. Booze 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 common.
Many problem drinkers will participate in activities that they have no memory of the following day. They may not appear significantly drunk at the time, but they're not able to recall activities that occurred.
7. Efforts to discuss drinking habits are met with aggression and denial.
When confronted with matters surrounding their drinking, heavy users will generally regress to denial or aggression, making discussion hard.
8. They never fail to have a good explanation for why they drink.
If flat denial or aggression is not the chosen method of evasion, most alcoholics will have a somewhat rational explanation for their actions. Stress and anxiety at the workplace, problems in the home, or an abundance of social functions are common excuses to explain their damaging behavior.
9. need to answer a troubling question: . . .
are you an alcoholic ?
They conceal their alcohol.
Many alcoholics will drink alone, or sneak drinks from a bottle in a workspace or in their car. This sort of covert alcohol consumption is a significant red flag and there is no other explanation for this behavior apart from alcohol dependence.
Let's try to keep our community productive, safe, and sober by keeping our eyes open for dubious behavior to get these troubled colleagues, family members, and friends the help 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 communities, and make a significant income.
Simply 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 trembling hands, or a banker managing considerable sums of money are each at-risk of inducing horrendous disasters if they stay on their destructive path.
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