Tell Tale Indications Of A HFA Or High Functioning Alcoholic
While alcoholism is a disastrous illness that can destroy lives, some people who battle with it manage to hold down stressful jobs and big responsibilities. From the outside, these so-called high-functioning problem drinkers seem to have it all together. They can drive great cars, live in great communities, and make a significant income.
Just because they're high-functioning doesn't mean that they're immune to the effects of alcohol. They're still at risk of hurting themselves and others around them. A pilot nursing a hangover, a surgeon with trembling hands, or a financier handling large sums of money are each at-risk of triggering horrendous disasters if they stay on their dysfunctional path.
Here are a number of clues that can really help in identifying these time bombs:
1. They consume alcohol rather than eating.
Alcoholics will often remove and replace meals with a couple of drinks, lose interest in food completely, or use mealtime as an excuse to begin consuming alcohol.
2. They can wake up without a hangover, even after several drinks.
Consuming alcohol routinely over an extended period of time can cause the body to become addicted to alcohol. Often high-functioning alcoholics manage to drink a great deal without having the same hangover that torments the occasional drinker.
3. Abstaining makes them cranky, jittery, or uncomfortable.
If an alcoholic is required to abstain from drinking , his or her physical body often reciprocates adversely, as they are dependent on the tranquillizing effects of alcohol. Sudden quitting can induce anxiety, uneasiness, sweating, a rapid heart rate, and even seizures.
4. Their behavior patterns change noticeably while under the influence of booze.
When they drink, problem drinkers may alter significantly. A generally mild-mannered person may become aggressive, or make impetuous decisions.
5. They cannot have just two drinks.
An alcoholic has a problem stopping, and may even finish others' drinks. Alcohol 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 typical.
Many alcoholics will take part in activities that they have no memory of the following day. They may not appear extremely drunk at the time, but they're unable to recall events that took place.
7. Efforts to discuss drinking behavior are met with hostility and denial.
When confronted with problems surrounding their alcohol consumption, alcohol abusers will typically regress to denial or aggression, making conversation difficult.
8. They typically have a good reason for why they drink.
If flat denial or hostility is not the chosen method of evasion, most problem drinkers will have a seemingly reasonable explanation for their actions. Stress and anxiety at work, troubles at home, or an abundance of social activities are common 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 sort of covert alcohol consumption is a significant warning and there is no other explanation for this behavior other than alcohol addict ion.
Let's try to keep our society productive, safe, and sober by always keeping our eyes open for problematic behavior in order to get these struggling coworkers, family, and friends the help they need.
Symptoms of a High Functioning Alcoholic
From the outside, these so-called high-functioning alcoholics appear 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 immune to the effects of alcohol. A pilot nursing a hangover, a surgeon with unsteady hands, or a banker managing large sums of money are each at-risk of inducing terrible disasters if they stay on their destructive path.
Just because they're high-functioning doesn't mean that they're immune to the effects of alcohol. They're still at risk of hurting themselves and others around them. A pilot nursing a hangover, a surgeon with trembling hands, or a financier handling large sums of money are each at-risk of triggering horrendous disasters if they stay on their dysfunctional path.
Here are a number of clues that can really help in identifying these time bombs:
1. They consume alcohol rather than eating.
Alcoholics will often remove and replace meals with a couple of drinks, lose interest in food completely, or use mealtime as an excuse to begin consuming alcohol.
2. They can wake up without a hangover, even after several drinks.
Consuming alcohol routinely over an extended period of time can cause the body to become addicted to alcohol. Often high-functioning alcoholics manage to drink a great deal without having the same hangover that torments the occasional drinker.
3. Abstaining makes them cranky, jittery, or uncomfortable.
If an alcoholic is required to abstain from drinking , his or her physical body often reciprocates adversely, as they are dependent on the tranquillizing effects of alcohol. Sudden quitting can induce anxiety, uneasiness, sweating, a rapid heart rate, and even seizures.
4. Their behavior patterns change noticeably while under the influence of booze.
When they drink, problem drinkers may alter significantly. A generally mild-mannered person may become aggressive, or make impetuous decisions.
5. They cannot have just two drinks.
An alcoholic has a problem stopping, and may even finish others' drinks. Alcohol 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 typical.
Many alcoholics will take part in activities that they have no memory of the following day. They may not appear extremely drunk at the time, but they're unable to recall events that took place.
7. Efforts to discuss drinking behavior are met with hostility and denial.
When confronted with problems surrounding their alcohol consumption, alcohol abusers will typically regress to denial or aggression, making conversation difficult.
8. They typically have a good reason for why they drink.
If flat denial or hostility is not the chosen method of evasion, most problem drinkers will have a seemingly reasonable explanation for their actions. Stress and anxiety at work, troubles at home, or an abundance of social activities are common 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 sort of covert alcohol consumption is a significant warning and there is no other explanation for this behavior other than alcohol addict ion.
Let's try to keep our society productive, safe, and sober by always keeping our eyes open for problematic behavior in order to get these struggling coworkers, family, and friends the help they need.
Symptoms of a High Functioning Alcoholic
From the outside, these so-called high-functioning alcoholics appear 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 immune to the effects of alcohol. A pilot nursing a hangover, a surgeon with unsteady hands, or a banker managing large sums of money are each at-risk of inducing terrible disasters if they stay on their destructive path.
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