Alcoholism affects everyone differently. While some people struggling may show very noticeable signs, others will be able to cover it up more easily. Some people with an alcohol use disorder (AUD) can even seemingly function well in daily life and cover up the problem for an extended time.
Despite functioning alcoholism making things look okay, it can still have harmful effects on someone’s mental and physical well-being over time when it goes untreated. Therefore, it’s important to identify high-functioning alcoholic signs before the effects of the drinking problem worsen.
Can an alcoholic still function, and what does that look like? Keep reading as we discuss the signs of hidden alcoholism and treatment resources that can help.
What Is a Functioning Alcoholic?
A high-functioning alcoholic is someone who appears to have control over their drinking or can maintain a normal routine despite alcohol dependency. You may see someone with a drinking problem, but still working, maintaining relationships, keeping up their physical appearance, and able to socialize without noticeable effects.
While this may be the case, functioning alcoholism still qualifies as AUD. The symptoms are just masked. That same person could be sneaking drinks throughout the day, using alcohol to cope with stress or emotions, or have tried to quit or reduce drinking several times without success.
Research suggests that about 20% of alcoholics are high-functioning, so it’s something that affects many people. It’s common for those with a drinking problem to want to deny it or try to cover it up since it’s difficult to admit when you’re struggling.
Common Signs of Functioning Alcoholism
While identifying a high-functioning alcoholic isn’t easy, there are still common signs to look for to tell if you or a loved one is struggling. Those include:
Drinking Daily or Heavily Outside of Public View
A functioning alcoholic will still drink regularly. They might sneak drinks throughout the day and feel like they need to so they can get through everyday tasks without feeling withdrawal symptoms.
It’s common to buy tiny bottles of alcohol that can be easily concealed, put alcohol in normal drinks like coffee or soda, or have alcohol in normal-looking travel mugs or water bottles that you can’t see through to keep drinking during the day. Someone might also isolate after completing daily tasks to go drink without others noticing.
Denying the Problem Because of Job or Social Success
It’s easy for someone who is maintaining success in their career, keeping a normal social circle, or who has an otherwise happy family to deny that they have a drinking problem. Others may ask if things are okay, but not push too much since everything else seems to be going well.
Using Alcohol to Cope with Stress or Emotions
It’s common for those struggling with AUD to use drinking as a way of self-medicating. Stress at work, loss of a loved one, or untreated trauma are all things that can cause distress when they go unmanaged. If someone is continuously drinking to cope, it can lead to dependence over time.
Mood Swings, Irritability, or Withdrawal Symptoms
Even alcoholics who are high-functioning will still have withdrawal symptoms when they try to quit or may have changing moods when they aren’t drinking. Withdrawals are a common reason why someone may keep drinking, sneaking it during the day, and feel like they need it to function normally.
Making Excuses to Drink or Drinking in the Morning
A functioning alcoholic may try to create natural excuses to drink, where it would appear normal. That could include frequently inviting people out to bars after work, planning more parties than usual, or constantly saying that it’s been a stressful day and they need to drink to take the edge off.
Needing to drink immediately in the morning is also a sign of functional alcoholism. It’s common for someone with AUD to wake up feeling out of it and needing to drink before withdrawal symptoms start.
Hiding Alcohol
Finding alcohol that a loved one has hidden away or was sneaking can be a sign of functional alcoholism. They may keep some stashed around the house, in the car, or even at work.
Why Functioning Alcoholism is Often Missed
The stereotypes of “rock bottom” don’t always apply to every person who struggles with alcohol addiction. When someone can maintain a consistent schedule and look like everything’s alright, the problem becomes a lot less obvious for anyone on the outside looking in. It’s especially easy to miss with alcohol since drinking is a normal part of social gatherings for many people.
It’s common for the person struggling to want to keep it hidden, too. They may feel shame about their drinking problem, be afraid that revealing it will hurt their work or family, or not know where to go for help.
Loved ones or employers may also enable or ignore it. For example, a spouse who notices their partner drinking more often but otherwise doing fine may pass it off as them blowing off some steam or a temporary thing without looking deeper into it.
That said, ignoring functioning alcoholism has risks and can lead to worsening effects over time. Noticing it and getting help for someone struggling as soon as possible is crucial.
The Risks of Delayed Treatment
The risks of untreated functional alcoholism are similar to the risks associated with other types of AUD. However, harmful effects may seem to escalate quickly or come out of nowhere when someone has successfully covered up the problem for a long time. Common risks include:
- Health issues: The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) lists many medical complications that can happen because of alcohol abuse. Those include an increased risk of cancer, chronic pain, liver damage, kidney damage, cardiovascular problems, and a weakened immune system.
- Job loss and legal problems: Functioning alcoholism may worsen to a point where the individual’s performance at work goes down, they get caught drinking at work, or get into legal troubles that lead to job loss or other consequences.
- Relationship breakdowns: Even if someone’s relationship looks good from the outside, there may be more going on that you don’t see. Ongoing alcohol addiction is often hard on relationships, especially when a loved one isn’t seeking help for their problem or covering it up.
- Isolation and burnout: A study from the Journal of Aging and Health found that 63% of adults who report struggles with alcohol or drug addiction say they’re lonely or isolate because of substance abuse. In the case of someone who’s been covering up their drinking, they may feel burnt out from hiding it all the time and start isolating more and more.
How to Break the Cycle
Seeking proper treatment is vital to prevent the risks listed above and recover from functioning AUD.
When you notice a loved one is showing signs that they may be a functioning alcoholic, it’s a good idea to calmly talk to them about it. Make sure to acknowledge the problem without judgment and show that you’re there to provide support.
A professional assessment at a treatment center is a good place to start. Treatment professionals can help provide a diagnosis for AUD and outline treatment options available that will help.
Successful recovery programs typically start with a medical detox followed by inpatient or outpatient treatment that consists of therapy, lifestyle change, and relapse prevention planning to build strategies and coping mechanisms that lead to long-term success.
How Genesis House Helps High-Functioning Adults in Recovery
Genesis House is an addiction treatment center that can help high-functioning adults struggling with alcohol or drug addiction. We offer a luxury and private treatment environment that can provide confidential care and around-the-clock support.
All our treatment methods are customized based on your needs. That includes detox, many types of therapy, trauma-informed care, holistic support, and long-term planning to offer continuous support.
You can start with a free consultation to learn more. Get in touch with us today to ask any questions or hear more about how our treatment options can help.
References
- “Researchers Identify Alcoholism Subtypes | National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).” www.niaaa.nih.gov, https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/researchers-identify-alcoholism-subtypes
- Berger, Douglas. “Medical Complications: Common Alcohol-Related Concerns.” www.niaaa.nih.gov, 10 Apr. 2023, https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/health-professionals-communities/core-resource-on-alcohol/medical-complications-common-alcohol-related-concerns
- Canham, Sarah L., et al. “Association of Alcohol Use and Loneliness Frequency among Middle-Aged and Older Adult Drinkers.” Journal of Aging and Health, vol. 28, no. 2, 16 June 2015, pp. 267–284, doi:10.1177/0898264315589579. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4681688/
