In short, “there’s not a single image of AUD,” points out Sabrina Spotorno, a clinical social worker and alcoholism and substance abuse counselor at Monument. A doctor can check a person’s drinking levels and recommend further treatment options. The more a person drinks, the more at risk they are of developing severe alcohol use disorder. For the functional what foods have alcohol in them alcoholic, the denial runs deep, because they have yet to encounter significant negative consequences. One of the main reasons that people who misuse alcohol seek help is the eventual negative consequences of their alcohol consumption. When the pain or embarrassment gets bad enough, they can no longer deny that their drinking needs to be addressed.
Private outpatient treatment
Organizations such as the American Society of Addiction Medicine can guide you to help, too. A doctor may also diagnose AUD by asking about your health history and drinking patterns. If you give permission, they may speak to your family or loved ones regarding how much you drink. There is research showing that about 19.5 percent of people with AUD are middle-aged, well-educated, and have stable jobs, homes, and families. This could include people with high-functioning AUD, but these criteria are not definitive characteristics.
How to Know if I’m a High-Functioning Alcoholic?
My understanding of HFAs is also from a personal perspective—I have been in recovery from alcoholism for almost five years. I, too, struggled to see that I could be accomplished academically and then professionally while drinking alcoholically. My image of the alcoholic was always an individual who could not hold his or her life together, and I certainly did not fit that description. My denial was deeply rooted and was reinforced not only by my loved ones but by society as a whole.
Drinking in Dangerous or Inappropriate Situations
It also might mean admitting that they don’t have it all together, and their exterior (and interior) world is crumbling. “In some families, drinking too much is seen as comical, not a big deal, or a must during celebrations,” she adds. Consequently, many people may not realize their drinking has become a genuine problem. “For starters, the media, our workplaces, and many social circles normalize drinking to excess,” says Ruby Mehta, a clinical social worker and director of clinical operations at Tempest. “For example, you may notice your spouse drinking more beers at dinner, sleeping less and less, and increasingly on edge well before they start missing workdays,” Grawert adds. But maybe they drinka few glasses of wine each night to help them fall asleep.
They Hide Their Alcohol
If it’s time to seek help, contact us to learn about our treatment approach and facilities. We have a long history of providing successful substance abuse treatment at our Palmer Lake, Colorado facilities. Genetic or environmental factors can cause high-functioning alcoholism. For example, a family history of alcoholism or a stressful environment.
- They may perform well at work, have a pristine appearance and enjoy an active social life.
- If any of the factors below are familiar with you or someone you love, you might be at higher risk of becoming a functioning alcoholic.
- As with anyone who’s struggling with an alcohol dependency, acceptance is an initial but significant step.
- Often, people who suffer from alcohol use problems are self-treating a mental health condition.
These therapies are available one-on-one or in small groups in an inpatient or outpatient setting. Some people with AUD may attend an inpatient recovery program, in which they stay at a facility for at least 28 days to receive concentrated treatment in a controlled environment. People with alcohol use disorder are dependent on alcohol, but that does not mean that they drink every day. In addition to supporting your own mental health, this serves as a role model to your loved one. Consider not drinking yourself (at least temporarily), says Kennedy.
Usually, it is only when their continued drinking becomes more painful than the prospect of going through the pain of alcohol withdrawal, will they finally reach out for help. They may try to quit independently, but the withdrawals are too unpleasant or drinking out of boredom severe. Therefore, they continue to drink to keep the withdrawals at bay, and the cycle continues. In addition, since the impact of AUD may not be as obvious, the person may be unable to recognize the severity of their condition in these early stages.
This includes times when many people give up alcohol, such as “dry January” or the period of fasting and penitence in the Christian calendar leading up to Easter known as Lent. It may also cause an individual to refuse to travel to areas where alcohol access may be limited. There may be many reasons why someone is hesitant to seek help — from lack of awareness to stigma and shame. There are empathetic, actionable ways to support someone with an alcohol use disorder (AUD) who may be stuck in denial.
A detox may take place at a hospital or inpatient facility, such as rehab. The NIAAA offers a range of assessment tools and strategies to help people understand their drinking patterns, reduce their drinking, or quit completely. It is important to note that these signs may not be obvious to a loved one or friend. This is because people can be skillful at hiding the signs of an issue with alcohol. Due to some people’s ability to mask their AUD, it is difficult to find research on those that are high functioning. By Buddy TBuddy T is a writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism.
According to 2020 data by the CDC, nearly 30,000 people died that year from alcoholic liver disease (cirrhosis). Your doctor can give you medication to help manage withdrawal symptoms and help you lessen alcohol cravings to reduce the risk of drinking again. Your doctor may also conduct imaging tests if other laboratory studies come back abnormal. For example, a computed tomography (CT) scan tests for liver enlargement, which can occur after years of chronic drinking. Your doctor may order this test if your blood tests indicate abnormal liver functioning. Instead, the DSM-5 has established AUD as the term to replace previous stigmatizing terms such as alcohol dependence, alcohol abuse, and alcoholism.
There are many treatment services available to those battling alcohol abuse. Afterward, inpatient or outpatient treatment options are available. After more intensive programs at our treatment centers, ongoing support is crucial. America’s National Institutes of Health estimate that as many as 20% of all people suffering from alcohol addiction are high functioning.
Although you may still hear people talking about “alcoholism” or “alcohol abuse,” the official term is alcohol use disorder (AUD). And it’s all still problem drinking, even if you think it’s “mild.” If AUD goes unrecognized and untreated, it’s how to get someone fired linked to risks in many aspects of your health and life. A high functioning alcoholic is an informal term that refers to someone who appears to maintain a successful professional and personal life while drinking excessive amounts of alcohol.
However, I was ready to hear their concerns and fears genuinely, and after four years of trying to control my drinking, had finally accepted that I was an alcoholic. Someone with alcohol use disorder may struggle to cut back on drinking or quit, either when trying to do so themselves or when asked by others to try. These criteria are often internal struggles, not observable to others. Someone can live with alcohol use disorder without anyone else noticing. Sometimes, a person’s personality can influence their tendency for denial. Certain traits, such as independence and perfectionism, can add to a person’s hesitancy or reticence to seek help, says Grawert.