Signs You Are A High Functioning Alcoholic
A high functioning alcoholic is someone who can hide their alcohol abuse well from others.
They live completely functional lives and most of the time you would never know they are struggling with alcohol.
During my active addiction, I was a high functioning alcoholic.
I thought that as long as I still had a job and took care of my daughter, I could still drink as much as I wanted.
You can read more about my story with alcohol addiction HERE.
Recognizing the signs of a high functioning alcoholic can be hard, but not impossible.
There are things that you can look out for if you or someone you know might be struggling with alcohol addiction.
[Related Post: Signs You Need To Take A Break From Alcohol]
Keep reading for signs you are a high functioning alcoholic.
*DISCLAIMER: I am not a doctor. I’m just a mother who had a terrible experience with alcohol and I want to share my experience with others so you know what to look for should you or someone you know struggle with alcohol addiction. ♥️
You keep your relationship with alcohol a secret
Do you drink in private so nobody knows just how much you’re drinking?
Do you pregame at home before social events so it seems like you’re not drinking as much when you’re out?
Or do you try to mask the smell of alcohol so nobody knows you’ve been drinking?
If you’re constantly going out of your way to keep your alcohol use a secret, you might be abusing it.
I was guilty of all of those.
You only saw what I drank when I was out, not how much I had already consumed before leaving the house.
You only saw the cute little glass of wine I posted on social media not knowing that I drank the whole bottle after.
I didn’t want people to see how much I was actually drinking because that would make me look like an alcoholic.
Nobody really knows just how much alcohol you are consuming, people only see what you want them to see.
You Maintain your job and Parental responsibilities
A high functioning alcoholic might tell you it’s none of your business how much alcohol they are consuming.
As long as they get up the next day and take care of their responsibilities, they can drink however much they want to.
That was definitely me.
I didn’t think I had a problem with alcohol because I was still going to work and still taking care of home.
Maybe not always in the best mood, but I still did it.
If I could drink the night before and go to work the next day, I was good.
As long as my child was fed, clothed, and taken care of, I could enjoy my nightly glass or three of wine as a mom.
The reward for a high functioning alcoholic after fulfilling their obligations is a drink.
You maintain your appearance
It is quite the show you have to put on so people don’t suspect that you’re an alcoholic.
This is also why many people can’t tell when someone is struggling with alcohol because they hide it so well.
Everything on the outside seems completely normal yet behind closed doors, they are drinking themselves numb.
In addition to putting on a show so people never suspect you are struggling, many high functioning alcoholics like to keep up with their image.
Unlike your stereotypical alcoholic who looks horrendous, a high functioning alcoholic is mostly well put together.
This is to hide the fact that they are an alcoholic.
The more put together they look, the less likely you are to question them about their alcohol use.
You prioritize what you think is important so you can drink
While some tasks and habits are non negotiable, others might not be so important to you.
You make sure to maintain your job, not just so you can afford to live, but so you can afford to get drunk.
Alcohol is a major part of your lifestyle and you need money to keep up with it.
You’ve been saying for years that you want to get in shape and eat healthy, but alcohol is an instant stress reliever.
Going to the gym is too much work, but going home and pouring yourself a drink after a long day is effortless.
Reading a book to stimulate your brain is too much work, pouring yourself a drink is a much faster dopamine hit.
You might even find yourself going out with your coworkers more often for happy hour.
You lie and say it’s a great way to network, but really you’re just there to drink.
A high functioning alcoholic will strategically plan their life in a way that they can prioritize alcohol.
You get defensive when questioned about your alcohol use
On the off chance that someone sees how much you are actually drinking and they question you, you get upset.
You tell them it’s none of their business because you don’t see a problem in your behavior.
Why does it matter what you do in your free time?
You like to unwind by having a couple drinks at night… every night.
You’re still getting up for work the next day so what does it matter?
Most of my drinking was done at home, alone.
As lonely as I felt doing it, I also loved the idea of nobody questioning me.
I could drink as much as I wanted without judgment from others.
A high functioning alcoholic is quick to deny any accusations of alcohol abuse when confronted.
They are in complete denial of their addiction.
Instead, they will justify their drinking and give excuses as to how their alcohol use doesn’t make them an alcoholic.
You justify your alcohol use
A high functioning alcoholic will give you just about any excuse why they need to drink.
They’re drinking because they are celebrating a milestone.
They drink to relieve stress because of that demanding, yet great paying job they have.
Parenting is hard, and the only thing that’s quick to take the edge off at the end of the day is a drink.
Life is hard, so that martini is well deserved.
They think that rewarding yourself with a drink doesn’t actually make you an alcoholic.
Until you’re “rewarding” yourself every single night.
They will give just about any reason to justify their behavior and make you believe it’s normal.
Slowly, they will start to drink for any reason or no reason at all.
You start to isolate yourself from friends and Family
When people start to question your drinking, you see it as a threat.
Instead of thinking that maybe your loved ones are genuinely concerned for you, you feel like they are attacking you.
They couldn’t possibly understand how demanding your job is, or how hard parenting is in today’s world.
So, you tell yourself you’re not an alcoholic because this is your way of coping with every day stress.
Everybody does it!
Since others can’t seem to understand you, you’d rather keep your distance and isolate yourself.
This way, no one can ever question you about your drinking habits and you can drink in peace.
However, the more you distance yourself, the lonelier you will become and the more likely you are to drink.
It’s all just a vicious cycle.
You have a higher tolerance to alcohol
Over time, the more you drink, the higher your tolerance becomes and the more alcohol you need each time to feel buzzed.
While high functioning alcoholics may not drink every day, they may be more likely to binge when they do drink.
Eventually, they might notice they are drinking too much when they start to have negative health effects.
In turn, they will try to give up drinking for a brief period of time but then resume their usual drinking habits shortly after.
This just creates a vicious cycle of addiction where you keep needing more each time you drink.
You have an after drinking ritual or routine
Over the years, you have perfected your after-drinking routine and it works every time to prevent a hangover or help nurse one.
Do you have a hangover routine?
Take a shower, sweat out the alcohol and get ready for the day.
A double shot of espresso with a breakfast sandwich, some Tylenol and Advil, and you are good to go.
High functioning alcoholics have go-to remedies for hangovers that they swear by to keep them functioning.
While these remedies might help you feel better momentarily, you are still doing damage to your body when you drink.
The more you drink, the more damage you are causing.
Eventually, your body will give out when it can no longer handle the amount of alcohol you are consuming.
Did any of these Signs stand out to you from your own behavior or someone you know?
Recognizing the signs of a high functioning alcoholic is crucial to breaking the vicious cycle of addiction.
Alcohol addiction comes in many forms and is not the same for every person struggling.
If you, or someone you know, is struggling with any signs of addiction, please seek help.
You deserve to live a happy sober life, free from addiction. ♥️
