Local Rehab Examines High-Functioning Alcoholics

Lexington, KY - SUN Behavioral Health Kentucky’s Lexington IOP location published a blog post exploring the concept of a “high-functioning alcoholic.” The more accurate and less stigmatized phrase would be a person with a high-functioning alcohol use disorder, and it refers to people who don’t view themselves as having an alcohol use disorder. Often, alcohol is controlling their lives, but they are unable to notice signs themselves due to still being able to hold down a job or being able to care for themselves and their children.

“Being a high-functioning alcoholic is not an official diagnosis. Instead, it might refer to someone in one of the early stages of alcoholism. This idea might relate to people who can carry out their daily tasks while also experiencing consequences from their alcohol use. These daily tasks might include personal hygiene, paying bills, managing a career, and caring for children. They might also lack other impairments typically found in alcohol use disorders. They might feel like alcohol controls their life, and they would have a difficult time stopping due to alcohol withdrawals such as cravings. The main difference between someone who is considered a high-functioning alcoholic and someone with an alcohol use disorder is the level of severity. The good news is no matter where you are on the spectrum of an alcohol use disorder, remember recovery and treatment are always achievable, even if it seems impossible,” the blog post states.

The most significant sign that someone has a high-functioning alcohol use disorder is that despite facing challenges when it comes to their alcohol use, they still have a stable career. This career can be in any profession, such as pilots, doctors, and lawyers, but they can also be miners and construction workers. Food service workers are also likely to have people with high-functioning alcohol use disorders, such as bartenders, chefs, and servers. Sometimes, people with this disorder will use their careers as an excuse to drink.

People can know if there are concerns with their alcohol use by observing their behaviors around alcohol. For example, someone with an alcohol use disorder may regularly be unable to stop drinking alcohol once they get started, even if they promised themselves they would only have 1 or 2 drinks. They may also feel like they need more alcohol to feel the same effects as before, and when not drinking, they experience symptoms that encourage them to drink more. These symptoms may include cravings that make it challenging to quit drinking.

If someone suspects their loved one may have a high-functioning alcohol use disorder, it may be easy to want them to seek treatment immediately, but accomplishing that want may not be as easy as it seems. People with alcohol use disorder may be resistant to approaches in haste. However, approaches with knowledge and honesty in an appropriate moment when they are not drinking and using language that does not place blame or use labels are more successful. There might still be resistance, but communicating the signs one sees can encourage a loved one to get help. Some of these signs may include joking about alcohol, hiding alcohol, separating sections of their life, and having an explanation for every time they drink.

“People with high-functioning alcoholism can benefit from alcohol detox just the same as someone who has a more severe form of alcohol use disorder. Someone with high-functioning alcoholism has many of the same situations as severe forms of alcohol use disorder. Receiving treatment at a facility can help someone better manage their stress and any other emotions that are associated with their alcohol use, such as guilt, shame, and depression. Even though people who have high-functioning alcoholism can maintain relationships, those relationships can still strain. You might feel like you are hiding things from your loved ones, which can create feelings of mistrust and betrayal. Seeking help is vital at any stage of alcohol use, and it can result in a healthier version of yourself. Treatment can teach you skills and techniques you might not have known to help you manage all aspects of your life,” the blog post continues.

SUN Behavioral Health Kentucky’s Lexington IOP location solves unmet needs in the community. They do this by offering no-cost care assessments that allow patients to meet with a representative before starting treatment. Often, people who decide to seek alcohol use disorder treatment may change their minds before their first appointment, which is why they offer 24/7 crisis care to allow people to get the help they need in the moment of crisis. They also treat co-occurring disorders, which are two or more disorders that exist alongside each other, such as an alcohol use disorder and depression.

For more information about SUN Behavioral Health Kentucky, visit their website or call them at 859-429-5188.