What is a Functional Alcoholic? Meaning, Signs and Effects

Many of us overlook that fact because it’s on the shelves of our local supermarket, but its withdrawals are more dangerous than most illicit drugs. If you consume large amounts of alcohol for a prolonged period, you will experience both mental and physical problems upon stopping use. If the high-functional alcoholic you know is ready to stop drinking, they must go about it the right way by seeking professional addiction treatment. A functioning alcoholic, for example, can mask his chemical dependency from the outside world while holding down jobs, maintaining relationships, and handling their daily responsibilities despite their substance abuse issues. The question many of these professionals have been asking for the last few decades has been, “Are there different types of alcoholics? ”This article provides some of the historical attempts about the classification of alcoholics and explains the five different types of alcoholics as they are currently understood.

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Too often, the loved ones of a so-called high-functioning alcoholic end up as collateral damage, and that was the case with Diane Shuler. In this sad incident, her son and three nieces also lost their lives, casualties of a disorder that selects its victims mercilessly and without discrimination. Type two alcoholics often develop AUD in their teens or young adulthood.

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1. If your pattern of drinking results in repeated significant distress and problems functioning in your daily life, you likely have alcohol use disorder.
2. In fact, many with alcohol use disorders go to great lengths to keep their drinking habits private and will deny, both to others and themselves, that they have a drinking problem at all.
3. One such lesser-known yet widely prevalent form is functional alcoholism, a term that conjures images of individuals maintaining a seemingly normal life while struggling with alcohol dependence.
4. Therefore, they continue to drink to keep the withdrawals at bay, and the cycle continues.
5. Even if your drinking seems under control, you could be a functional alcoholic and potentially put your loved ones and yourself at risk for serious physical, mental, and behavioral consequences.

Just because someone with an alcohol use disorder (the medical term for an alcoholic) is functioning doesn’t mean they’re functioning well or functioning in each aspect of their lives. Keep that idea in mind while you approach the topic of alcohol abuse and addiction. The terms “high-functioning alcoholic” or “functional alcoholic” have been previously used to describe someone struggling with alcohol use disorder (AUD) while still being able to maintain a job, friendships, and family life.

Unfortunately, most functional alcoholics live in denial, too ashamed or too proud to admit the truth to themselves or others. In addition to the health effects of having an alcohol use disorder, it can also take a toll on relationships. Drinking doesn’t just affect the individual; it affects the entire family unit. One of the main reasons that people who misuse alcohol seek help is the eventual negative consequences of their alcohol consumption.

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The condition causes changes in the brain that decrease the ability to quit on your own. This makes it important to seek medical treatment and peer support in your recovery process. For people with functioning AUD, seeking treatment as an outpatient may help them reduce disruptions to their work or family life. One sign that someone may have alcohol use disorder is that they consume excessive amounts of alcohol.

They may also withdraw from social situations and find excuses to miss events or optional commitments where drinking is not available or possible. There may also be new legal issues arising for them, like driving under the influence or making other poor decisions. You may begin to notice that a couple of beers after helpstay reviews work has turned into a six-pack or even a case.

Calls to numbers marked with (I) symbols will be answered or returned by one of the treatment providers listed in our Terms and Conditions, each of which is a paid advertiser. A detox may take place at a hospital or inpatient facility, such as rehab. As the condition progresses, cognitive effects such as memory loss, impaired decision-making, and reduced mental clarity become more pronounced. These cognitive impairments can lead to feelings of frustration, decreased self-esteem, and a sense of isolation.