What Is High-Functioning Alcoholism?
High-functioning alcoholism is a subtype of the disease accounting for 19% of alcoholics in America. This demographic tends to be middle-aged, working-class adults with stable relationships. As a group, they tend to have more education and higher incomes than other alcoholics. High-functioning alcoholics tend to consume about five drinks or more, usually every other day. Some of the signs someone may be a functional alcoholic are:
- Needs alcohol to relax or feel confident
- Gets drunk even when they don’t intend to
- Usually ends up drinking more than they plan on
- Plans their day around the drinking
- Prefers to go places where drinking will be present
- Not drinking makes them irritable or anxious
- Drinking during the daytime
Functional alcoholics are often responsible, productive, and high achieving. Justifications for their drinking often are having many friends or an active social life. They could be in denial of the mistaken belief they don’t fit the stereotypical mold of an alcoholic. They believe they have everything under control. The reality is heavy consumption of alcohol is essentially counter-intuitive to maintaining a stable life with managed responsibilities. Eventually, the habit will catch up to them, perhaps resulting in embarrassing, frustrating, or dangerous disruptions of their life and the lives of their loved ones.
For more information on how our addiction treatment programs can help heal drug or alcohol dependence, please give The River Source a call at 866-294-9331.
Signs of Functional Alcoholism
If someone is a heavy drinker—usually defined as having more than three drinks a day or seven a week if they’re a woman, four drinks a day or 14 a week if they’re a man—they could be an at-risk drinker, close to or already have an alcohol addiction. Some of the most common signs of functional alcoholism are:
- Needs alcohol to relax or feel confident
- Gets drunk even when they don’t intend to
- Usually ends up drinking more than they plan on
- Plans their day around the drinking
- Prefers to go places where drinking will be present
- Not drinking makes them irritable or anxious
- Drinking during the daytime
One in four people who drink at those levels may already be considered functional alcoholics. Recognize the alcoholism signs listed above to help a loved one contact treatment centers as soon as possible, whether in a detox program, outpatient treatment, or individual therapy.
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Alcoholism and Codependence in Marriage
Alcohol addiction causes pain and suffering in marriage. In relationships with people dependent on alcohol, codependency often develops when one of the spouses becomes the caretaker of the partner struggling with alcoholism or substance abuse. A codependent relationship has one partner’s behavior dependent on the need to care for or control another person. Sometimes this can take the form of purposeful or subconscious enabling behavior for alcohol abuse. More often, the spouse with the caretaker role might be helpless and unsure what to do.
Studies show that supporting the caretaker partner in overcoming these behaviors and emotional challenges associated with substance abuse results in a better chance for addiction treatment recovery to last. The best treatment programs offer recovery resources, help, and emotional support while healing alcohol or drug addiction.
How to Help a Loved One With a Drinking Problem
Strength, courage, and conviction serve as necessary traits for the battle against the grip of addiction. Witnessing a loved one’s drinking and the ramifications of their alcohol abuse can feel overwhelming and commingle with feelings of shame, fear, anger, or self-blame.
A short list of ways to help loved ones with drinking problems is:
- Educated yourself on alcoholism
- Realize your role in the process
- Offer to attend support meetings
- Research treatment options
Our compassionate team of admission counselors is available 24/7 to answer any questions you may have before committing to one of our drug addiction treatment programs. We offer free phone consultations to discuss your or your loved one’s condition and available recovery resources. We are fully committed to getting you the help you need as quickly as possible. We offer the necessary levels of care for a successful substance abuse treatment, like outpatient or individual therapy.
A progressive disease like alcoholism can only get worse. If you are worried about someone you love, call The River Source at 866-294-9331 to learn what therapies and insurance options our treatment centers offer and the best way to start the healing drug addiction or substance abuse treatment process.