When you become dependent and addicted to alcohol, it may not always be apparent to other people in your life if you can manage your actions while you’re intoxicated. Many people are capable of managing an alcohol addiction while remaining committed to other responsibilities each day.
This can make it more challenging for their friends or family members to recognize there’s a problem and to intervene. Although it can be easy for functioning alcoholics to hide their addiction, there are still signs that can be easy to spot. If you suspect that someone you care for consumes too much alcohol or wonder if you’ve become a functioning alcoholic, there are a few red flags to look for before seeking professional help.
Depends on Alcohol to Relax
Many people start to depend on alcohol to relax or unwind, whether they’re anxious to be in large group settings or have had a long day. It can often become difficult to feel at ease without alcohol once an addiction has developed. This can cause many people to consume it throughout the day and eventually start consuming it early on in the morning just to get their day started.
Drinking in the morning when you’re alone is another warning sign of a functioning alcoholic. Although most people drink in the evening or in social settings, alcoholics are known to primarily drink when they’re alone to elevate their mood or cope with their problems. It’s also common to get drunk even when the person doesn’t intend to, which can cause their addiction to escalate. Many people tell themselves they’ll just have one drink but can have difficulty limiting themselves and having discipline.
Legal Issues
Functioning alcoholics may be capable of hiding their addiction, but they can still have a lot of legal issues that transpire over time. Functioning alcoholics are known to perform their normal activities throughout the day, which includes driving a vehicle. This can cause them to get at least one DUI.
Failing to Manage Responsibilities
Although functioning alcoholics are often capable of appearing normal and of a sound mind, while they’re intoxicated, their addiction can start to catch up with them after a few months of years. They can start to have difficulty maintaining their workload and fail to meet deadlines. They may also find it challenging to keep up with cleaning their home or their personal hygiene.
Others may start to forget to get groceries each week or to feed their pets. It’s common for functioning alcoholics to start to make more mistakes as their addiction becomes more severe, which can be costly. Some people can lose their job, while others can lose custody of their children.
Lose Friendships
In most cases, it’s challenging to maintain friendships and a romantic relationship when there’s a dependency on alcohol. Alcoholics are not mentally present, which can make it difficult to remain fully committed to relationships and put the effort in when they have people they care for in their lives. Over time, it’s common for their loved ones to become frustrated by their mistakes or their lack of care. Some people may even confront the individual about their alcohol consumption.
This can lead the alcoholic to become defensive and cut off the relationship as they become angry. Those who are in denial about their addiction can refuse the help that is offered. Over time, it’s normal for the individual to become even more isolated and alone, which can fuel their addiction. Alcoholism can have a significant impact on marriage. It can be difficult for the alcoholic to be trusted by their partner, especially if the alcoholic is hiding money they spend. Alcoholism can even lead to illegal activity or sexual affairs, which can quickly lead to divorce.
Taking More Risks
Drinking too much alcohol can result in poor judgment, making it easy to take a lot more risks in life. Functioning alcoholics are known to act in ways that are out of character, which may include driving recklessly, gambling, and experimenting with drugs. It can become common for the individual to have a lack of care for their well-being, as well as other people’s well-being.
They can start to consume more alcohol and even black out more regularly. This can make it easy to forget what occurred while drinking. If you’re ready to get started seeking professional help for alcohol addiction, our counselors are here to help. You can give us a call today at 844-639-8371.