Am I a functioning alcoholic?

When painting a mental picture of the “typical” alcoholic, it’s natural to envision someone slurring their speech, losing complete physical control and falling down. Yet many professional men and women with successful careers and vibrant social lives are functioning day-to-day while having a dangerous, unseen relationship with alcohol.

Functioning alcoholics exist in great numbers, living a life that is, on the surface, the envy of those around them. Yet the realities of alcoholism eventually strike, often made worse as warning signs were so long ignored.

What does it mean to be a “functioning alcoholic”?

Over centuries of research, academics have broken down the concept of the “typical alcoholic” to better our understanding of how alcohol fits into our lives.

The National Institute of Health (NIH) recognises “functioning alcoholics” as one subtype of people with alcohol dependence (or alcoholism). Their research shows that almost 20% of alcoholics in the U.S. fit into the “functional subtype.” People in this group are generally middle-aged and well-educated, with stable jobs and healthy family lives. Many of them have a multigenerational family history of alcoholism. One-quarter also suffer from a major depressive illness at some point in their lives.

Recognising that something is “functioning” from outside observation only paints part of a picture. Someone who appears to be in full control of their professional and personal life may have alcohol-related instability lurking under the surface.

People with an alcohol use disorder (AUD) can appear to have a great “outside life.” Unlike more visibly obvious alcohol misuse, a functioning alcoholic can go unnoticed by others and even by the person themselves.

What are the signs to look for in a functioning alcoholic?

Identifying if someone you know is a functioning alcoholic is difficult because the signs usually hide behind a facade of what we consider as “normal.” If we believe someone can carry out all of their personal tasks while under the effects of alcohol, we can wrongfully decide they are in control and dismiss the risks of alcohol addiction.

Certain patterns in behaviour may suggest that someone is growing dangerously reliant on alcohol to manage daily responsibilities. These may include:

• Drinking to “cope”: A high-functioning alcoholic often uses alcohol as a way to cope with or manage personal problems. Despite outward successes, they may be processing anxiety, stress, or any kind of inner turmoil.
• Increased tolerance to alcohol’s effects: Like any substance, increasing the frequency and volume of consumption means you’ll need more of it next time to reach the same effects. When drinking with a high-functioning alcoholic, you may be surprised by their “alcohol tolerance.”
• Drinking a lot without appearing drunk: As well as having a higher tolerance to alcohol, a high-functioning alcoholic may drink heavily and yet still appear relatively sober. The way you expect a person to appear or behave after drinking an excessive amount can appear differently in a high-functioning alcoholic.
• Denial and defensiveness about drinking: Asking a high-functioning alcoholic questions about their relationship with alcohol is often met with uncomfortable denial. They may reply with a line like: “I’m able to do everything I need to while drunk, so what’s the problem?” This does not consider the future consequences of drinking too much.
• Concealed levels of alcohol consumption: A person’s alcohol addiction is sometimes concealed, dismissed, or downplayed. Many people with an alcohol use disorder (AUD) hide their drinking habits because they feel ashamed or concerned about how others perceive them. They might transfer alcohol into innocuous-looking containers like soda bottles because they consciously or subconsciously recognise there is a problem, but they aren’t ready to face it.
• Using alcohol in strange situations: Consistent drinking leads to impaired decision-making and damages your ability to judge risks in a situation. You might observe that a high-functioning alcoholic decides to drink at a time or place that disturbs you. This might be before driving while operating heavy machinery or first thing in the morning. They might also have specific and regular times dedicated to drinking that might appear meaningless to you but are of high importance to them.

When searching for signs of a high-functioning alcoholic, you will likely have to dig a little deeper to find these symptoms. While the signs above may be apparent for anyone with an alcohol use disorder,  a high-functioning alcoholic is especially skilled at downplaying a problem and maintaining an appearance of control.

What risks does functional alcoholism carry?

Functional alcoholism almost always appears manageable on the surface. The undercurrent of this habit is likely to lead a person to severe physical and mental consequences. Like when we bottle up our emotions, risks are likely to ferment and intensify when ignored or come out too strongly after denying them for so long.

The inevitable impact will build over time, with serious consequences for your well-being. Here are some areas where functioning alcoholism can gradually take its toll:

Physical health risks of functional alcoholism

Frequent heavy drinking will lead to a multitude of health issues, including liver damage, heart problems, digestive disorders and a weakened immune system. The damage can be gradual and silent, culminating in devastating ways further down the line. High-functioning alcoholics generally don’t exercise enough, compounding the risks when they finally do surface.

Mental health risks of functional alcoholism

Aside from the consequences on the body, functional alcoholism can have dire consequences on a person’s mental health. Functional alcoholics use alcohol to nullify or numb feelings of anxiety, depression and stress. Over time, these feelings intensify to the point of becoming unmanageable and often lead to developing mental health disorders.

How can I tell if I am a functional alcoholic?

After describing how well-hidden functional alcoholism can be, you may be wondering how you could recognise it in yourself. Reflecting on your relationship with alcohol demands a degree of honest self-reflection. Pausing to evaluate the way you see and use alcohol is the starting point for recognising functional alcoholism.

To carry out this reflection, there may be questions you can ask yourself, such as:

• When life presents problems to me, how often do I turn to alcohol to cope?
• Is alcohol a prerequisite to having fun, relaxing or feeling confident for me?
• Do I often drink more than I plan to on a night out? Do I create limits that I can’t seem to stay within?
• After a stressful day or event, do I feel that alcohol is not just desirable, but needed?
• Do I feel nervous or uneasy when alcohol is in my house?
• Does it bother me when other people ask about how often or how much I drink?
• Is alcohol impacting the strength of my relationships?
• Would my financial situation be a lot healthier if I didn’t drink? Am I able to do something about it?

Answering yes to more than one of these questions may indicate that your relationship with alcohol could be improved. A good hard look in the mirror is usually easier said than done. Yet recognising those aspects within yourself that you don’t like may create a foundation for positive change. Even if you feel like you can drink and function, and you can carry out all life’s responsibilities while drinking, visualise how much better your life could be without the unquestioning need for alcohol. Your finances, career, relationships and fitness levels are all likely to increase once you stop drinking.

I need help removing alcohol from my life

Functioning alcoholism is not easy to recognise, either in yourself or others. Choosing to neglect a problem and continue life as normal increases the severity of inevitable consequences. Not everyone has loved ones around to support them, but if you are affected by today’s points, we want to reach out to you.

Here at UKAT, we speacialise in alcohol detox and recovery programmes that lead you to healthier living. Our trained staff support you with the physical and mental challenges when working your way out of addiction. Holistic well-being and aftercare support can help you remove alcohol from your life for good.

The help you need is only one phone call away. Reach out to us today to find out more.