I found this interesting article worth reading..
I think whoever wrote it must know me personally!!
supermario.
Many people think of alcoholics as disheveled, homeless winos who have lost everything, but there are people who meet the criteria for a medical diagnosis for alcohol dependence who are highly functional in society and still have their jobs, homes and families. This type of drinker is known as a functional alcoholic.
They rarely miss work and other obligations because of their drinking, although it does happen occasionally, and they usually excel at their jobs and careers. Typically, they are clever and witty individuals who are successful in many areas of their lives. To all but those who are closest to them, they give the outward appearance of being perfectly normal.
Denial Is a Problem
One of the main reasons that alcoholics seek help for their drinking problems is the eventual negative consequences of their alcohol consumption. When the pain or embarrassment gets bad enough, they can no longer deny that their drinking needs to be addressed.
For the functional alcoholic, the denial runs deep, because they have yet to encounter outward negative consequences. They go to work every day. They haven't suffered financially. They have never been arrested. They have never been hospitalized. They don't have a problem!
But Here Is the Problem:
The functional alcoholic consumes as much alcohol as any "full-blown" alcoholic, they just don't exhibit the outward symptoms of intoxication. This is because they have developed a high tolerance for alcohol intake to the point that it takes more for them to feel the effects, this is an abnormally high tolerance, which creates alcohol dependency and over the years this dependency creates alcohol addiction.
This slow build-up of alcohol tolerance means the functional alcoholic is drinking at dangerous levels that can result in alcohol-related organ damage, cognitive impairment and alcohol dependence. Chronic heavy drinkers can display a functional tolerance to the point they show few obvious signs of intoxication even at high blood alcohol concentrations, which in others would be incapacitating.
Are You a Functional Alcoholic?
Could it be that you are an alcoholic even though you continue to function well in society? Could your drinking have slowly increased to the point that you have become alcohol addict without even knowing it?
Below is a profile of typical functional alcoholic behavior. See if any of these actions seem familiar.:
He Drinks Like He Did in College - When he was in college, he was the first to arrive and the last to leave the party. He could drink everyone else "under the table." Most of his friends graduated, grew up and stopped the partying. Now in his mid-30s or early 40s, he still drinks like a freshman away from home for the first time.
He Can Hold His Liquor - He can drink as much or more than anyone, but rarely appears intoxicated. He seldom staggers or slurs his speech. He is more than likely a "happy drunk," rarely getting unpleasant or out of control when drinking.
Drinking Is a Big Part of His Life - He talks about drinking a lot and he is often the driving force behind office parties and drinking gatherings after work. He tends to avoid events where no alcohol is available. He buys the economy sizes, just a few beers here and there but he always makes sure there is "enough" alcohol available.
Friends Ignore the Symptoms - Because he is generally well liked and fun-loving, those around him also laugh off his drunken escapades.
He is so much fun to be around because of his care free attitude and he gets invited to a lot of parties where he enjoys becoming the center of attention. But close friends and relatives know he has a problem. They talk behind his back. But rarely is he confronted directly about his drinking.
He Begins to See the Negative Effects - Although he continues to be functional, it begins to get more difficult to do. He begins to notice withdrawal symptoms when he's not drinking, such as the shakes or nervousness. Hangovers begin to take their toll.
A Dangerous State
Unfortunately, even when functional alcoholics begin to recognize that they have a drinking problem, they still resist reaching out for help. By the time they admit the problem, their withdrawal symptoms - which can begin within a few hours after their last drink - have become more and more severe.
Signs and symptoms
This list is intended to be used as a guide and not as strict diagnostic criteria.
1. Drinking patterns
When they have one drink, they experience a craving to have more and cannot predict what their alcohol intake will be
They obsess about the next time they will be able to drink alcohol
They behave in ways that are not characteristic of themselves while drunk and continue to repeat these behaviors and patterns
Surround themselves socially with heavy drinkers
Getting drunk before arriving at social engagements
Setting drinking limits (e.g., only having three drinks, only drinking three days per week) and not being able to adhere to them
Driving drunk and not getting arrested or involved in an accident
Always having to finish an alcoholic beverage or even another person's unfinished beverage
Using alcohol as a reward
Having memory lapse due to excessive drinking (blackouts)
Taking breaks from drinking and then increasing alcohol consumption when they resume drinking after a period of time
Not being able to imagine their life without alcohol in it
2. Denial
Have difficulty viewing themselves as alcoholics because they do not fit the stereotypical image and because they feel their lives are manageable
Avoid recovery help
3. Professional and personal life
Well respected for job/academic performance and accomplishments
Can maintain a social life and intimate relationships
4. Double life
Appear to the outside world to be managing life well
Skilled at living a compartmentalized life (i.e., separating professional, personal and drinking lives)
5. Hitting bottom
Experience few tangible losses and consequences from their drinking
May hit a bottom and not recognize it clearly
I think whoever wrote it must know me personally!!
supermario.
Many people think of alcoholics as disheveled, homeless winos who have lost everything, but there are people who meet the criteria for a medical diagnosis for alcohol dependence who are highly functional in society and still have their jobs, homes and families. This type of drinker is known as a functional alcoholic.
They rarely miss work and other obligations because of their drinking, although it does happen occasionally, and they usually excel at their jobs and careers. Typically, they are clever and witty individuals who are successful in many areas of their lives. To all but those who are closest to them, they give the outward appearance of being perfectly normal.
Denial Is a Problem
One of the main reasons that alcoholics seek help for their drinking problems is the eventual negative consequences of their alcohol consumption. When the pain or embarrassment gets bad enough, they can no longer deny that their drinking needs to be addressed.
For the functional alcoholic, the denial runs deep, because they have yet to encounter outward negative consequences. They go to work every day. They haven't suffered financially. They have never been arrested. They have never been hospitalized. They don't have a problem!
But Here Is the Problem:
The functional alcoholic consumes as much alcohol as any "full-blown" alcoholic, they just don't exhibit the outward symptoms of intoxication. This is because they have developed a high tolerance for alcohol intake to the point that it takes more for them to feel the effects, this is an abnormally high tolerance, which creates alcohol dependency and over the years this dependency creates alcohol addiction.
This slow build-up of alcohol tolerance means the functional alcoholic is drinking at dangerous levels that can result in alcohol-related organ damage, cognitive impairment and alcohol dependence. Chronic heavy drinkers can display a functional tolerance to the point they show few obvious signs of intoxication even at high blood alcohol concentrations, which in others would be incapacitating.
Are You a Functional Alcoholic?
Could it be that you are an alcoholic even though you continue to function well in society? Could your drinking have slowly increased to the point that you have become alcohol addict without even knowing it?
Below is a profile of typical functional alcoholic behavior. See if any of these actions seem familiar.:
He Drinks Like He Did in College - When he was in college, he was the first to arrive and the last to leave the party. He could drink everyone else "under the table." Most of his friends graduated, grew up and stopped the partying. Now in his mid-30s or early 40s, he still drinks like a freshman away from home for the first time.
He Can Hold His Liquor - He can drink as much or more than anyone, but rarely appears intoxicated. He seldom staggers or slurs his speech. He is more than likely a "happy drunk," rarely getting unpleasant or out of control when drinking.
Drinking Is a Big Part of His Life - He talks about drinking a lot and he is often the driving force behind office parties and drinking gatherings after work. He tends to avoid events where no alcohol is available. He buys the economy sizes, just a few beers here and there but he always makes sure there is "enough" alcohol available.
Friends Ignore the Symptoms - Because he is generally well liked and fun-loving, those around him also laugh off his drunken escapades.
He is so much fun to be around because of his care free attitude and he gets invited to a lot of parties where he enjoys becoming the center of attention. But close friends and relatives know he has a problem. They talk behind his back. But rarely is he confronted directly about his drinking.
He Begins to See the Negative Effects - Although he continues to be functional, it begins to get more difficult to do. He begins to notice withdrawal symptoms when he's not drinking, such as the shakes or nervousness. Hangovers begin to take their toll.
A Dangerous State
Unfortunately, even when functional alcoholics begin to recognize that they have a drinking problem, they still resist reaching out for help. By the time they admit the problem, their withdrawal symptoms - which can begin within a few hours after their last drink - have become more and more severe.
Signs and symptoms
This list is intended to be used as a guide and not as strict diagnostic criteria.
1. Drinking patterns
When they have one drink, they experience a craving to have more and cannot predict what their alcohol intake will be
They obsess about the next time they will be able to drink alcohol
They behave in ways that are not characteristic of themselves while drunk and continue to repeat these behaviors and patterns
Surround themselves socially with heavy drinkers
Getting drunk before arriving at social engagements
Setting drinking limits (e.g., only having three drinks, only drinking three days per week) and not being able to adhere to them
Driving drunk and not getting arrested or involved in an accident
Always having to finish an alcoholic beverage or even another person's unfinished beverage
Using alcohol as a reward
Having memory lapse due to excessive drinking (blackouts)
Taking breaks from drinking and then increasing alcohol consumption when they resume drinking after a period of time
Not being able to imagine their life without alcohol in it
2. Denial
Have difficulty viewing themselves as alcoholics because they do not fit the stereotypical image and because they feel their lives are manageable
Avoid recovery help
3. Professional and personal life
Well respected for job/academic performance and accomplishments
Can maintain a social life and intimate relationships
4. Double life
Appear to the outside world to be managing life well
Skilled at living a compartmentalized life (i.e., separating professional, personal and drinking lives)
5. Hitting bottom
Experience few tangible losses and consequences from their drinking
May hit a bottom and not recognize it clearly
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