How to Recognize a Functional Alcoholic

When asked about their drinking habits, they get angry, drink in secret or too much, have a high tolerance for alcohol, and have withdrawal signs when they cut back. Even if they act like they're in charge, drinking can hurt their physical and mental health in very bad ways.

To spot a functional alcoholic, you need to know a lot about that person's behavior and why they drink. It's important to understand the case and not immediately judge it. Talking to them openly and honestly can help them feel safe enough to talk about their problems and ask for help.

It is possible to recover, and there are different treatment options. If we want to help someone stop drinking, we need first to figure out what signs they are showing, offer them help, and conduct an intervention if necessary. Here is a guide on how to recognize a functional alcoholic.

What Are the Signs to Recognize a Functional Alcoholic?

One of the most difficult parts of identifying a functional alcoholic is that while they are dependent on alcohol, they can still perform their normal activities. One important thing to consider is how well they can keep up their regular drinking while also caring for their jobs, relationships, and other duties.

They may be drinking a lot behind your back or by themselves, having a high tolerance for alcohol, going through withdrawal when they don't drink, and getting angry when you ask them about their drinking habits, even though it seems like they can handle it.

They may also put drinking ahead of other things they want to do and show signs of physical or mental decline over time. Common specific signs might be:

1. Increased Isolation
2. Consistent Drinking
3. Solo Drinking
4. High Tolerance
5. Withdrawal Symptoms
6. Defensive Behavior
7. Prioritizing Alcohol
8. Rationalization
9. Physical Changes
10. Memory Issues

Recognizing these signs and treating the person with kindness and understanding can be very helpful in getting a functional alcoholic to face their addiction.

What is Functional Tolerance?

Alcohol functional tolerance occurs when the body adapts to the effects of alcohol over time so that the same amount of alcohol has less of an impact on it. When a person consumes alcohol daily, their body becomes accustomed to it and is less sensitive to its effects.

There are several ways that functional tolerance can show up:

1. Behavioral Tolerance: 

Someone may seem less impaired by drinking even though they've had the same amount as before. They might be able to do things like driving -even when not recommended- that would normally be harder for them when they're drunk.

2. Metabolic Tolerance: 

If you continue to drink alcohol, your body may improve its ability to break it down, lowering your blood alcohol level and keeping you intoxicated for a shorter period.

3. Cellular Adaptation: 

Long-term alcohol consumption can alter the neurochemistry and cellular structure of the brain, hence reducing tolerance. This change can impact the amounts of neurotransmitters and how sensitive receptors are.

It is important to remember that functional tolerance can raise the risk of severe alcohol dependence and addiction. This is because people may need to drink more alcohol to get the same “benefits,” which can lead to a cycle of tolerance and higher consumption. Functional tolerance does not mean alcohol harm is less likely. Even if someone seems less affected by drinking, they may lose balance, memory, or cognition, and long-term alcohol consequences can develop.

Is a Functional Alcoholic Someone in Denial?

Not all the time. Denial is a behavior that some drinkers show, but not all functional alcoholics do. 

A functional alcoholic is someone who has a serious drinking problem but can still handle their job, family, and other responsibilities. They might not show typical signs of alcoholism, like losing their job, getting into trouble with the law, or having major relationship issues. Instead, they may appear to have their lives in order on the outside while secretly dealing with alcoholism.

Functional alcoholics may rationalize or justify their drinking habits, but they are not always in denial about the impact alcohol has on their life. There are many reasons why some people know they have a problem with drinking but can't stop or get help, such as being afraid of being judged or embarrassed or believing they can control their drinking.

Denial, on the other hand, can lead to drunkenness because people may lie about or justify their drinking, play down the bad effects, or refuse to admit they have a problem. A person may deny their behaviors as a protection tactic, which could help to the progression of severe alcoholism.

What are the Risks of Being a Functional Alcoholic?

Maintaining an outward appearance of stability is a coping mechanism for functional alcoholics, although their state is far from harmless. A functional alcoholic is just like another alcoholic but with a delayed sign of symptoms. Their health is deteriorating due to their continuous alcohol drinking, regardless of how they appear on the outside. Some of these conditions include impaired liver function, cardiac disease, gastrointestinal disorders, neurological impairment, compromised immunity, and an increased risk of specific malignancies.

Besides that, mental health problems are often linked to functional drinking. Abusing alcohol often makes other diseases like anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder worse, which makes things even more difficult.

When someone abuses alcohol, their health and relationships with other people get worse for many reasons, but especially because of the bad decisions that can be made while drinking.

Long-term abuse can also affect work performance because even when functional alcoholics might still have a good performance, the functional tolerance could mask the accumulative effects that might still show with time. 

Functional alcoholism is associated with monetary issues. Budgets may become overloaded and unstable due to substantial sums of money being redirected to support the drinking habit.

One cannot disregard the legal consequences of alcoholism. People run the danger of being penalized with public intoxication citations, driving under the influence charges, and other legal ramifications that can impact their professional and personal lives in the long run.

In a few words, functional alcoholism is not exempt from general alcoholism risks.

Am I a Functional Alcoholic?

To figure out if you might be a functional alcoholic, you need to look at different parts of your drinking carefully and how it affects your life. In this case, the CAGE assessment is a useful tool often used for self-evaluation.

Question:

1. Have you ever felt the need to Cut down on your drinking?

2. Have you ever felt Annoyed by criticism of your drinking habits?

3. Have you ever felt Guilty about your drinking behavior?

4. Have you ever needed an Eye-opener or a drink to steady your nerves in the morning?

Think about how you answered these questions. Think about whether you usually drink more alcohol than you mean to, whether you have cravings for alcohol, or whether you find it hard to stop drinking even though you know it's bad for you.

Consider the detrimental effects of alcohol consumption on your life, your social interactions, and your professional and academic endeavors because if you answered “yes” to the previous questions but at the same time your normal life is not affected, then you probably are a functional alcoholic. It is imperative to document any dangerous behavior in which you engaged while intoxicated.

For those who can relate to several of these cases, it might mean that their relationship with alcohol isn't going well. However, it's important to get help from a professional for a correct diagnosis and to look into the best treatment choices.

A professional can help you deal with your problems and make positive changes by providing personalized support, tools, and treatment plans.

How Can Someone Get Help?

Admitting you have an alcohol problem and obtaining assistance is crucial to recovery. Visit a doctor or addiction medicine specialist to get help. Then, you can try to find addiction treatment.

Alcohol addiction treatment may include different things like private therapy, SMART Recovery, or AA support groups. These resources offer a sense of community, coping techniques, and peer support to individuals going through similar things.

The type of treatment and the level of care required depends on the level of dependence, and it should always be assessed by a professional. Remember that long-term recovery requires help. Gather colleagues, family, and friends to help you heal. Their motivation, accountability, and emotional support can aid in difficult circumstances.

Several external factors can help in the recovery process. Still, it is the inner strength and desire to change that makes it possible to get over alcohol dependence in a sustainable and long-lasting way.