Tell Tale Signs Of A High-Functioning-Alcoholic

While alcohol dependence is a disastrous disease that can ruin lives, a number of people who struggle with it manage to keep big responsibilities and stressful jobs. 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.

Simply because they're high-functioning does not mean that they're immune to the repercussions of alcohol. They are still at risk of hurting themselves and others around them. For instance, a pilot nursing a hangover, a surgeon with shaky hands, or a financier handling large amounts of money are each at-risk of inducing terrible disasters if they continue on their dysfunctional course.

Here are a few clues that can really help in identifying these time bombs:

1. They consume alcohol in place of eating.

Alcoholics will commonly replace meals with a few drinks, lose interest in food completely, or use mealtime as a reason to begin drinking.

2. They can wake up without having a hangover, even after several drinks.

Drinking alcohol routinely over a long period of time can induce the body to become dependent on alcohol. Regularly high-functioning alcoholics manage to drink a lot without having the same hangover that afflicts the not habitual drinker.

3. Not drinking makes them irritable, jittery, or uncomfortable.

If an alcoholic is required to avoid consuming alcohol, his or her physical body commonly reciprocates adversely, as they are dependent on the sedative effects of alcohol. Sudden quitting can trigger anxiety, uneasiness, sweating, a rapid heart rate, and even seizures.

4. alcohol addiction change noticeably while under the influence of booze.

When they drink, alcoholics may alter significantly. A generally mild-mannered individual may become aggressive, or make careless decisions.

5. They cannot have just two drinks.

An alcoholic has difficulties 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. Periods of memory loss or "blacking out" are common.

Problem with Alcohol
Stop on your own


Many alcoholic s will participate in activities that they have no memory of the following day. They may not seem extremely intoxicated at the moment, but they're unable to remember activities that took place.

7. Efforts to talk about drinking behavior are met with hostility and denial.

When faced with matters involving their drinking, heavy users will typically regress to denial or hostility, making conversation difficult.
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8. They never fail to have a good explanation for why they drink.

If flat denial or hostility is not the opted for mode of avoidance, most alcoholic s will have a seemingly reasonable explanation for their behavior. Stress at the workplace, troubles at home, or an abundance of social events are typical reasons to explain their destructive behavior.

9. They hide their alcohol.

Many alcoholics will drink alone, or sneak drinks from a bottle in a desk or in their car. This kind of hidden alcohol consumption is a tremendous red flag and there is no other explanation for this behavior other than alcohol dependence.

Let's keep our world productive, safe, and sober by always keeping our eyes open for questionable behavior to get these struggling coworkers, family, and neighbors the assistance they need.

Signs of a High Functioning Alcoholic

From the outside, these supposed high-functioning alcoholic s seem to have it all together. They can drive cool cars, live in great neighborhoods, and make a substantial 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 financier handling substantial sums of money are each at-risk of inducing horrible disasters if they stay on their destructive path.