When most people think of an alcoholic, they picture someone whose life is falling apart because of their drinking. They picture someone who has multiple DUI’s, has wrecked their car, has lost their job, has lost their house and their family.
But the truth is, many alcoholics do not fit this picture. In fact, many alcoholics excel at their jobs, have never wrecked a car or even gotten a DUI, and have never gotten in trouble because of these drinking. These functioning alcoholics often don’t recognize themselves as alcoholics.
Wondering if you or someone you know has a problem with drinking? Here are some signs of a functioning alcoholic to watch out for.
1. You Need a Few Drinks to Wind Down
Having a couple of drinks every once in a while after a hard day or during a difficult time is usually not a big deal. But if you find that you need a few drinks to wind down every day or multiple days a week, you might be a functioning alcoholic.
When you turn to alcohol to calm your nerves you’re using alcohol to cope, which is often a sign of alcohol use disorder. If you find that you need a few drinks to feel comfortable in social situations, that can be another sign of alcohol use disorder.
Being dependent on alcohol isn’t about how much you drink, it’s about why and how you drink. So, if you regularly need a drink to wind down or calm your nerves, that’s definitely a warning sign.
2. You Binge Drink on The Weekends
Weekends are meant for having fun, so it’s no surprise that many people imbibe a bit too much during these down times. However, if you find yourself consistently drinking a lot on the weekends, it may be a sign that you have a drinking problem.
This is especially true if you spend a lot of mental energy during the week thinking about drinking on the weekends. Or if your weekend drinking starts happening earlier each week, like starting on Thursday night instead of Friday.
And if you consistently end up drinking more than you intend to, that’s definitely a sign of alcohol use disorder.
3. You’re Defensive About Your Drinking
How do you react when people question your drinking? If someone comments that you may be drinking too much do you get defensive?
Functioning alcoholics have a hard time hearing that their drinking might be problematic. This is usually because they’re in denial about their drinking or because they suspect their drinking is out of control but don’t want to stop drinking.
If you find yourself getting irritated and defensive when someone questions your drinking, it’s definitely a warning sign.
4. You Hide Your Drinking
Do you feel the need to lie about how much you’re drinking? Do you drink in secret or hide your drinking from others? If so, this is a major warning sign of being a functioning alcoholic.
The only reason to hide your drinking from others or lie about your drinking is because at some level you know you’re drinking is abnormal – that you’re drinking too much.
If your drinking has progressed to the point where you can’t or don’t want to be honest about it, you most likely have a problem. You may want to consider going to an alcohol rehab center.
More Warning Signs of a Functioning Alcoholic
If these signs of a functioning alcoholic are showing up in your life, it’s likely that you have a problem with alcohol. Even if your life still looks good on the outside, you can be an alcoholic. Getting treatment is the best way to overcome this problem before you start to face serious consequences.
For more information about how to heal your life, check out the Self Improvement section of our site.
