If people with high functioning AUD do not get treatment, the disease may progress to a point at which their dependence significantly impacts their day-to-day lives. For example, you might imagine an “alcoholic” as someone who is constantly near-blackout drunk, and someone who’s unable to maintain a job or family life. Instead, the DSM-5 has established AUD as the term to replace previous stigmatizing terms such as alcohol dependence, alcohol abuse, and alcoholism. However, this and other related misnomers such as “functional alcoholic” are no longer used because of the potential stigma that can prevent someone from seeking help. Your insurance plan may cover some or all of the cost of treatment for drug or alcohol addiction. Our online health insurance verification system will estimate your in-network and out-of-network deductibles, coinsurance percentages and out-of-pocket maximums.

Signs & Symptoms Of A High-Functioning Alcoholic

According to Conroy, it may be easy to get caught in denial with AUD if you subconsciously feel something is wrong with you at your core. It also might mean admitting that they don’t have it all together, and their exterior (and interior) world is crumbling. But maybe they drinka few glasses of wine each night to help them fall asleep. Or, they get bombed every weekend but don’t skip a beat at their demanding job. However, a doctor should recommend the best type of treatment for each person since the severity and presentation can vary from person to person. For some people, AUD may also mean more than physical dependence, but a stress reliever or source of psychological escape.

Functional Tolerance

In terms of family life and friends, there is also the problem of “secondary” denial that loved ones may have about an HFA by not believing that they are “real” alcoholics. This powerful sense of denial also prevents the loved ones of HFAs from intervening. HFAs may provide the main source of income for a family and therefore the spouse or partner may not feel that they have the leverage to persuade the HFA to get help. Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is another effective option for high-functioning alcoholics seeking recovery.

Communicate your boundaries

Traditional alcoholism often comes with visible signs that are hard to ignore, such as job loss, financial difficulties, and strained relationships. The key difference lies in how well the individual can hide their addiction. Certain factors may increase your risk of developing an alcohol problem.

Treatment Options for High-Functioning Alcoholics

A doctor can check a person’s drinking levels and recommend further treatment options. The more a person drinks, the more at risk they are of developing severe alcohol use disorder. It is important to express to an HFA how his or her drinking is negatively affecting you (emotionally, spiritually, physically) and how you perceive it is harming others as well (friends, children). In order to prevent an HFA from getting overly defensive, you can place the emphasis on your feelings and concerns—instead of stating how you think he or she should be living or acting. A balanced diet that includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats can help restore the body’s nutrient levels and support optimal functioning.

Anxiety Medication Addiction

” This might be the go-to comment from a high-functioning alcoholic to a co-worker. In fact, it’s likely to be a regular practice to invite peers to go out drinking. Surrounding him or herself with others drinking makes the high-functioning alcoholic functional alcoholic husband feel more confident, relaxed and eases any stress or problems that might be present. This is a false assumption, of course, but it doesn’t deter the high-functioning alcoholic from seeing alcohol as the best way to relax and feel confident.

We can help you along the path to a healthy, successful, and stable life.

• They may try to quit independently, but the withdrawals are too unpleasant or severe.
• The condition causes changes in the brain that decrease the ability to quit on your own.
• This is because people can be skillful at hiding the signs of an issue with alcohol.
• Alcoholism can take a devastating toll on a person’s physical health, emotional well-being, personal relationships and professional life.
• This can help you learn new coping skills so you can turn to other behaviors instead of drinking in order to live a healthier life.