Spotting the Signs of a High Functioning Alcoholic FHE Health

He comes home from work each night and gets a beer or a glass of whiskey before doing anything else. Even worse, when your husband isn’t drinking, your home life is filled with emotional unpredictability—you don’t know what moods he will be cycling through so you often feel on edge. If this sounds like the scenario in your marriage, your spouse may be struggling with an alcohol use disorder (AUD). While the appearance of their drinking may seem functional, there might be hidden consequences as a result of their alcohol use disorder. Although some well-known signs of addiction may not be present, for example a DUI or a lost job, those outcomes may yet what is Oxford House happen. And there are other less obvious warning signals you can look for that indicate an alcohol use disorder.

‍5 Signs of High-Functioning Alcoholism

This can make it challenging for them – and those around them – to acknowledge the existence of a problem. In this post, we shed light on subtle yet significant indicators that may point towards this hidden struggle. UKAT aspires to deliver the highest quality care across all https://ecosoberhouse.com/ our centres and clinics.

Take the First Step Today

They also administer alcohol withdrawal medications like benzodiazepines to alleviate symptoms and reduce the risk of complications. Functioning alcoholics are adept at hiding alcohol and their drinking problem from others, including family members and friends, often using denial or minimisation to justify their behaviour. This ability to mask their alcohol use can make it challenging for others to recognise the severity of their drinking problem, allowing the addiction to persist and potentially worsen over time. Alcoholism often carries a stigma, but one of its most insidious forms is high functioning alcoholism.

About Medical News Today

Add to that the many family or social gatherings that are centered around drinking. People with high-functioning alcoholism may experience significant personality changes when they consume alcohol. These changes can range from becoming more outgoing and sociable to exhibiting aggressive or depressive behavior.

What are common warning signs of high-functioning alcoholism?

High-functioning alcoholics (HFAs) defy these stereotypes and often go undetected because they do not fit the image of the “typical” alcoholic. You may hear them called “functional” or “high-functioning” alcoholics. But those aren’t official medical terms. Ultimately, “high-functioning” is a deceptive descriptor because the condition is still alcoholism — and it is still damaging. The outward stability only postpones the point at which the person recognizes their need for professional intervention. High-functioning alcoholics will high functioning alcoholic do what they can to drink while appearing sober.