The accessibility of alcohol and its being widely accepted as a social lubricant contribute to its higher risk of being misused. Unfortunately, the consequences of alcoholism include severe health issues and even death. The World Health Organization reports that up to 2.6 million deaths annually are attributed to alcohol consumption. In the United States, excessive alcohol intake causes more than 170,000 deaths each year.
Alcoholism knows no gender, profession, or status in life. While it can have obvious effects, some people seem to be able to carry it ‘well’. But is there really such a thing as high-functioning alcoholism?
Most people with high-functioning alcoholism have stable and even high-paying jobs. They do well in their career, take care of their families, and have robust social lives. There’s little to no indication that they are battling with alcohol use disorder. This makes it harder for individuals and their loved ones to recognize the problem, delaying intervention and treatment.
People with high-functioning alcoholism are oftentimes able to hide or minimize their alcohol use, but that doesn’t mean heavy or excessive alcohol use does not affect them at all. Subtle signs may emerge that could include shifts in behavior, changes in personality, and patterns of alcohol misuse.
Individuals can become secretive when it comes to how much alcohol they consume regularly and when questioned directly, could either evade the topic or get defensive about it.
High-functioning alcoholics often have a hard time acknowledging their drinking as an issue. Some may try to justify or downplay their alcohol consumption, not just to others but even to themselves.
Many utilize alcohol as a way to deal with stress, anxiety, or depression and it becomes more difficult to see it as a possible co-occurring disorder that needs immediate help.
Often, individuals drink way more than they planned to consume. They also find themselves drinking more often over time. They could be drinking at work, first thing in the morning, or all night and still feel the urge to drink more.
Since they consume great amounts of alcohol regularly, high-functioning alcohol users develop an unusually high alcohol tolerance. This will lead them to consume even greater amounts of alcohol to chase the effects that they want to feel.
They often develop a false sense of confidence that they are in full control of their drinking and are unable to stop on their own.
As the drinking problem continues to spiral out of hand, the facade can eventually crack. The ability to juggle work, family, and social life even while under the influence of alcohol is eventually compromised. They will start making mistakes, neglecting responsibilities, and could even lose relationships with family and friends.
Although high-functioning people with AUD conceal their alcohol use well, they still can experience the effects of alcoholism and be prone to certain behaviors.
High-functioning alcoholics can put themselves and others at risk by maintaining a false sense of control over their alcohol use. Some of these behaviors can include driving while under the influence, blacking out, getting into arguments, etc…
No matter how well they hide it, their body still suffers the health consequences of excessive heavy drinking. Long-term drinking can damage vital organs like the heart, liver, and brain. There’s the risk of developing cirrhosis, pancreatitis, heart disease, brain damage, and even cancer.
The pressures of maintaining relationships can lead them to eventually detach themselves from the people around them. Moreover, any form of alcoholism increases the risk of neglect, domestic violence and negatively impacts relationships with others.
Many high-functioning alcohol users also have lucrative and high-power careers. While they could go for years maintaining appearances, the long-term effects of alcohol misuse can eventually add up and lead to job loss or difficulties in the workplace.
High-functioning alcoholism is still alcoholism, and the best way to successfully overcome it is early intervention, treatment and sustained recovery.
Behavioral and other types of therapy are instrumental to help manage cravings, cope with triggers, prevent relapse and discover the root cause of the substance use disorder. Treatment plans for AUD can include the use of medication to help with cravings.
Depending on the severity of the problem, you can choose to join an intensive outpatient program. This is ideal for those with more manageable conditions who are working or studying full-time. You can also opt for more intensive inpatient programs if the alcohol problem is more deep-seated and harder to manage on your own.
Since recovery is an ongoing journey, continuing care and support are invaluable to long-term sobriety. You can have an aftercare plan tailored to your specific needs which can include therapies, support groups, holistic approaches, and more.
People with high-functioning alcoholism are usually weighed down with the pressures of maintaining normalcy while leading dual lives. Since they battle AUD in private, they often fail to seek the help they need leading to severe health issues.
On average, people with AUD generally die almost three decades earlier than those in the general population. Men who are hospitalized due to AUD have an average life expectancy of 47-53 years while women have a life expectancy of 50-58 years.
The liver can start recovering a few days to weeks after your last drink. If the damage is more severe, healing could take several months. In the case of long-term excessive alcohol intake, the damage to the liver may not be reversible.
Living with high-functioning alcoholism can create devastating effects on one’s professional and personal life. Taking that initial step of seeking help can pave the way to lasting recovery.
With a highly-qualified team of specialists, our alcohol treatment program in Chicago is here to help in your recovery. We will develop an extensive treatment plan that addresses the underlying issues and other complications. With evidence-based treatment and a holistic approach, we will help you navigate and overcome high-functioning alcoholism. Talk to us. Book a FREE consultation today!
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