Should Functioning Alcoholics Stop Drinking?
If you’re a functioning alcoholic, you’re likely able to hide the signs of the effects of your drinking – which can lead to you questioning whether you have a problem or not.
You may think that it’s okay to continue drinking excessively, as you haven’t encountered many negative consequences (yet).
This begs the question – should you stop drinking if you’re a functioning alcoholic, or is it okay to keep abusing alcohol?
The answer is no – it is not healthy to keep abusing alcohol. If you haven’t experienced the negative effects of alcoholism yet, this doesn’t mean that you won’t. It’s important to get your drinking habits under control before the problem escalates.
Alcohol Use Disorder Explained
Alcohol use disorder is characterised by a lack of control over alcohol use and can include alcohol addiction, alcohol dependency, and alcohol abuse disorder.
Frequently shortened to AUD, alcohol use disorders can vary in severity – ranging from mild to moderate to severe. Alcohol dependence is the more severe form of AUD.
AUD is recognised as a mental illness and a physical illness and can be both chronic and relapsing. The more you consume alcohol, the higher the risk of developing an addiction.
People with AUD will typically continue drinking despite the negative effects it can have on their lives. It can impact all aspects of your life, including your mental and physical health. Alcohol is a causal factor in over 60 medical conditions.
It affects millions of people around the world, with over 700,000 dependent drinkers in England alone. This figure includes one in 30 women and one in 12 men.
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Understanding Alcohol Abuse
Alcohol abuse and alcohol use disorder are not the same conditions – although alcohol abuse can be a form of AUD. Alcohol misuse is classed as a dangerous drinking pattern that can include heavy drinking/ binge drinking.
Binge drinking is when you drink an excessive amount of alcohol in a single drinking period, to the extent that it causes physical damage. Abusing alcohol can lead to alcohol poisoning, also known as an alcohol overdose.
Alcohol poisoning can lead to seizures, confusion, loss of consciousness, vomiting, slowed-down breathing, and more. It can be fatal – especially if you vomit while unconscious.
In regards to alcohol use, the NHS recommends that you drink no more than 14 units per week over three or more days. This is the same as six pints of 4% beer and six medium glasses of wine.
There is no level of drinking that is considered 100% safe, but drinking mindfully and sticking within the recommended limits may lower the risk of developing an alcohol problem and other health effects.
What is a Functioning Alcoholic?
Many people have an image of alcoholism as somebody who struggles to live their lives ‘normally’ whilst they have an addiction to alcohol. Although this may be true for many people, it isn’t always the case.
Medical professionals steer clear of the term ‘functional alcoholic’ – it is not a medical diagnosis, but an informal term that describes somebody with mild alcohol use issues or dependence who still functions in society.
A more appropriate term is ‘currently functional’ – because often, the problem will become more severe. The term ‘functional alcoholic’ can be harmful because of the potential stigma that can prevent somebody from seeking help for their addiction.
When it comes to high-functioning alcoholics, drinking doesn’t typically cause them to miss out on certain obligations such as attending work, and they’ll often be able to prioritise the important things in life.
They may not also experience alcohol-related physical health issues or mental health issues – however, alcoholism often progresses in severity, so this will not always remain the case.
If you are concerned about your alcohol use, we recommend considering rehab. At Help4Addiction, we can find the best treatment facility for you and your needs.
Signs You May Be A High-Functioning Alcoholic
If you have an alcohol problem, whether you describe yourself as functional or not, it’s important to seek help.
However, it’s hard to seek help if you don’t know or don’t think you have a problem, or you regularly justify your drinking as you feel like you’re maintaining a successful or functional life.
You can still be an alcoholic if your life remains or appears somewhat unaffected by your drinking – it may just be harder to see the signs. Here are the key signs of high-functioning alcoholism to look out for:
You Can’t Quit or Don’t Want To Quit Drinking
One of the main signs of alcohol addiction is the failure or difficulty to stop drinking. Alcoholism is a brain disease – if you’re an alcoholic, you’ll struggle to quit drinking as your brain now associates alcohol with a survival tool such as food or water.
However, if you’re a functional alcoholic, you may not see that you have a problem. Many functional alcoholics only realise they have a problem when the disease progresses, or when they try to stop and can’t.
There is help out there for you if you wish to stop drinking and gain control of your drinking habits. Quitting cold turkey isn’t recommended, and can be dangerous – especially when it comes to severe addictions.
You Make Excuses or Lie About Your Drinking
If others have noticed that you have a drinking problem, how did you react? Did you lie, or make excuses? Or could you be in denial about the extent of your problem?
Many functional alcoholics will lie about their drinking to others, or become defensive when they are questioned or confronted about their drinking.
Some functional alcoholics will drink in private to hide their drinking from others – or drink a few in public but then continue drinking in secrecy.
Even if you feel able to function successfully with alcohol, your alcoholism may affect your family members and loved ones. Likewise, although you may not experience any severe short-term effects, you’ll likely experience long-term physical and psychological effects.
You Have An Increased Tolerance
Another sign that you may be a functioning alcoholic is that you have developed a functional tolerance to alcohol. You may appear sober after drinking the same amount as others or appear to feel the effects of alcohol slower than others.
You may also need to drink more and more alcohol to feel the same effects. When this happens, it’s a sign that you’ve developed a high tolerance. This is an indication that your drinking has become problematic.
You Continue Drinking In The Morning
A key sign of alcohol use disorder is the lack of control over your drinking patterns. Many people with an alcohol problem will continue drinking in the morning to ease the alcohol withdrawal symptoms or the hangover, as an attempt to help their body regulate.
If you find yourself drinking at inappropriate times, then you may want to evaluate your alcohol consumption and seek help for your alcohol problem.
Your Drinking is Problematic
Although, if you’re a functioning alcoholic, you may feel as though you’re able to cope with your addiction and still live a functional life, there are still many problems that can arise as a result of you’re drinking.
A key example of this is memory issues. If you drink a lot, you may experience blackouts and memory problems. If people reference certain things you said or did in conversation that you don’t recall, then take this as a sign that your drinking is problematic.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism suggests that the severity of your blackouts can vary depending on your individual makeup – and that memory lapses caused by alcohol can lead to long-term psychiatric symptoms and neurobiological abnormalities.
If these functioning alcoholic signs and symptoms resonate and you’re struggling with alcohol use, it’s time to seek professional help.
Is It Safe To Drink If You’re A High Functioning Alcoholic?
In short, no – it is not safe to drink if you are a high-functioning alcoholic. Although you may be able to hide the effects of your drinking from yourself and others, your alcoholism will progress if you don’t seek help – and you will not be able to do this in the long term.
It can be difficult (and draining) to hide your alcohol use from others, and the longer you do it, the harder it will be to keep the illusion under wraps. If you don’t accept that you have a problem and seek addiction treatment, you may end up hitting rock bottom.
As well as the damage you’re doing to yourself, you may also be harming other people. Addiction can be difficult for families, friendships and romantic relationships. Even if people around you aren’t aware that you have an addiction, they likely sense that something is wrong. This can cause relationship problems.
Regardless of whether you’re able to maintain a relatively functional life, drinking can still impact all aspects of your daily life. It can also take its toll on your personal life and mental health, putting you more at risk for depression and other mental disorders.
High-functioning alcoholics are often in denial about their problem – and because of this, they may not choose to receive treatment. Getting sober is the only way to make the most out of your life, and prevent alcohol-related health problems. Seek treatment for high-functioning alcoholism today with Help4Addiction.
Seek Professional Support to Stop Drinking
At Help4Addiction, we can find the best alcohol rehab for you. Likewise, if you have a drug addiction, trust us to select the most suitable rehab providers and treatment facilities for you.
The first stage of recovery is detoxification. During an alcohol detox, you may be given addiction medicine/ detox medication. This can help to streamline the withdrawal process. We can find a tailored detox programme for you.
The next stage is rehab. During rehab, you will undergo therapy to address your addiction triggers and the root causes of your alcohol abuse and alcoholism. Holistic and evidence-based therapies can teach you effective coping strategies, and build the foundation for lasting recovery.
Whether you choose inpatient or outpatient treatment, rehab can give you the best chance of overcoming addiction for good. You may prefer online rehab, which offers a higher level of flexibility.
Treatment for high-functioning alcoholism doesn’t have to end there – you may also attend support groups. Support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous can help you to sustain sobriety, and connect you with others in recovery.
Discuss your treatment options with our team today, and begin your recovery journey.
About Author
Nicholas Conn
Nicholas Conn is a leading industry addiction expert who runs the UK’s largest addiction advisory service and is regularly featured in the national press, radio and TV. He is the founder and CEO of a drug and alcohol rehab center called Help4addiction, which was founded in 2015. He has been clean himself since 2009 and has worked in the Addiction and Rehab Industry for over a decade. Nick is dedicated to helping others recover and get treatment for drug and alcohol abuse. In 2013, he released a book ‘The Thin White’ line that is available on Amazon.
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