What is a High Functioning Alcoholic?

“As the writer Pete Hamill a high functioning alcoholic said in his memoir, “A Drinking Life.” “If I was able to function, to get the work done, there was no reason to worry about drinking. It was part of living, one of the rewards.” (nytimes.com).

A high functioning alcoholic is a person that is capable of sustaining their often high profile jobs, relationships, academics and hobbies whilst drinking alcoholically. They are able to pay the bills and carry out their responsibilities and so their lives seem good and manageable. Because of this, outsiders, family members, co-workers and mostly high functioning alcoholics themselves do not realise that dependency on alcohol exists. A high functioning alcoholic is often in denial. As their drinking patterns and life style do not match a stereotype that society holds for an alcoholic.

How to Recognise a High Functioning Alcoholic

People with alcohol dependency often plan to have just one drink. However, having had one drink, an alcoholic experiences further cravings. Has more to drink and cannot predict the amount of alcohol they will intake. They preoccupy, plan or find suddenly an opportunity to have the next drink. Once a High Functioning Alcoholic has had a drink their behaviour is out of character.

However they keep repeating these behaviours and patterns. They surround themselves with heavy social drinkers and tend to have a drink before they have even arrived at a social engagement. High Functioning Alcoholics often attempt to control their drinking by setting limits. Such as two or three drinks a week or drinking only at the weekends or after work. However they are not able to stick to their plans, often coming up with an excuse to drink or to use alcohol as a reward.

High Functioning Alcoholics are often in denial about their alcohol dependency as they perceive their lives as manageable. In order to prove to themselves and those around them that they do not have drinking issue. Often High Functioning Alcoholics attempt to stop drinking for a period of time. Only for the drinking to increase progressively once they go back to imbibing.

Like any other type of alcohol dependent person, High Functioning Alcoholics cannot imagine their life without alcohol. They often refuse any recovery help or advice making it extremely difficult for themselves to see their drinking problem clearly and to get the help they need.

High Functioning Alcoholics need to see that they are not alone:

“there are millions of others – including dentists and doctors, professors and teachers, lawyers and judges, journalists and authors, firemen and C.E.O.’s of major companies. Who work for years while abusing alcohol, sometimes putting their lives, and the lives of others, at great risk. Surgeons have been known to operate with shaking hands, yet colleagues who knew or suspected that alcohol abuse was the cause failed to confront the doctor”, (nytimes.com).

It is important that those around the High Functioning Alcoholic do not give up seeking help. Attending a treatment programme or residential treatment for alcohol dependency available to them. Also, since High Functioning Alcoholics can be in a great denial. Intervention is often helpful as it helps dependency on alcohol to be clearly seen and confronted.

Call the Haynes Clinic on 01462 851414 for advice regarding your harmful drinking habits.