A high-functioning alcoholic can live a normal life from the outside, with a few visible signs showing something is wrong with him. According to experts, this condition can be quite challenging to spot on.
A functioning alcoholic is defined in a Mirror report as an individual suffering from alcoholism. However, he can keep with his everyday work and social commitments.
Alcohol addiction may be considered a chronic condition without any particular cure, but identifying indications early enough can help a functioning alcoholic the treatment he needs.
A person experiencing lesser external consequences due to their alcohol drinking can still benefit from seeking professional help for their so-called "compulsive alcohol use," the American Addiction Centers report specified.
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Friends toast before drinking a shot of whiskey on St. Patrick's Day at Fergie's Pub.
8 Warning Signs to Watch Out For
People identified as functioning alcoholics more often than not guarantee their constant access to alcohol. It can be quite a challenge to identify during the festive period when nearly all people are enjoying an alcoholic drink.
Nonetheless, functioning alcoholics are inclined to hide their supply of alcoholic beverages in strange places such as offices, garages, cars, or even in the bushes.
Here are eight signs, based on the Mirror report, that one is already a high-functioning alcoholic:
1. Behavioral Change
Sufferers tend to be irritable, restless, anxious, and have insomnia when they cannot drink alcoholic beverages.
Essentially, their behavior changes when intoxicated as they frequently turn spontaneous, erratic, angry, or a different person.
2. Constantly Denying and Defending
When a person tends to be defensive when questioned over his drinking habits, it could be another sign.
Similarly, making excuses or justifications for why these people are drinking, like unwinding from tiring work or rewarding themselves after a busy day, could also be an indicator of denial.
Someone who argues that they can get through their daily activities despite frequently drinking may also be in denial about their booze intake.
3. Binge drinking
Binge drinking, as explained in a report from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, for one weekend as a treat is not the same as the tendency of a functioning alcoholic to often drink large amounts of booze after they have attended to their day-to-day activities.
If one begins to notice a pattern in the evenings, it may be concealing a large problem instead of a stressful day.
4. Avoiding Social Gatherings
People who struggle with alcoholism might avoid social gatherings or events, or cancel plants to avoid being questioned by other people about their drinking habits.
Some individuals also get rid of social events or activities that do not have alcoholic drinks and rather opt to stay home alone and drink.
5. Problems in the Workplace or at Home
A person who's drinking too much alone at home or regularly heading off to a pub straight from work could be an essential sign that alcohol has turned into a problem for him.
The fundamental key is finding out if it is because of a necessity to go to the pub and drink alcohol, or a want to have the occasional drink with co-workers or to unwind.
6. Smelling of booze
Since functioning alcoholics drink alcohol often throughout the day, they can at times smell the booze. There will be the scent of alcohol on their breath, and their urine frequently smells strong, too. The urine of alcoholics is typically dark because of them being severely dehydrated.
7. Being Forgetful
Experiencing difficulty recalling events that happen while heavily intoxicated or suffering from a blackout are key indicators of a functioning alcoholic.
8. Drinking at strange times
A morning beverage once in a while, specifically on Christmas day, does not mean one has an alcohol addiction. However, regular drinking in the morning, before starting the day, or at other odd times, including in-between working hours or at lunchtime, can indicate their alcohol reliance.
Information about high-functioning alcoholics is shown on Howcast's YouTube video below:
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