most people imagine alcoholic Drunk on a park bench, holding an empty bottle in a paper bag. But some alcoholics have good jobs, lovely houses, and stable family lives. On the surface, they don’t appear to have a drinking problem. These people are high-functioning alcoholics.
Their drinking behavior is difficult to detect because it does not affect their lives. If you comment on how much they drink, they will use the following excuses to justify their drinking.
17 Things High-Functioning Alcoholics Say to Justify Their Drinking
What is a high-functioning alcoholic?
The typical high-functioning alcoholic is middle-aged, well-educated, and has a stable job, partner, and family life.
They don’t all follow the same drinking patterns. They may limit drinking to certain situations or times. For example, some people may drink alone, some always drink at social gatherings, some may drink every night, and some may drink heavily on the weekends.
Regardless of their drinking habits, addictive They will drink heavily but give the impression that their drinking is under control, and they will use various excuses to justify their drinking.
- “I’m not an alcoholic. I only drink on the weekends.”
- “You’ve worked hard today, it’s worth a drink.”
- “Oh, calm down, a few beers will be enough.”
- “I don’t get hungover, so I obviously don’t drink too much.”
- “It just relaxes me, okay?”
- “That’s my only bad habit.”
- “I don’t drink every day, so what’s the problem?”
- “I never drink at work, only after I’m done for the day.”
- “It’s my way of letting off steam.”
- “I’m not drinking cheap junk wine.”
- “The week is coming to an end. Why shouldn’t I have a drink?”
- “I was very stressed today, so I wanted to have a drink and relax.”
- “Everyone drinks in the office, why can’t I?”
- “When have you ever seen me drunk?”
- “This doesn’t affect my work, so why are you complaining?”
- “I’m not an alcoholic, I just like the taste of it.”
- “You smoke, why can’t I drink?”
Examples of high-functioning alcoholics:
- A partner who doesn’t have dinner with you as this takes away the pleasure of drinking.
- Colleagues who go out to bars on the weekend always go to work on Monday.
- My wife always has a few glasses of wine with dinner.
- A co-worker left a bottle of whiskey in the car.
- Family members always say they only had one drink when in fact they had several.
- Friends who wouldn’t attend an event without alcohol.
- The husband always had “some” for lunch.
- The teacher would start each day with a few shots of vodka.
- This friend can never have “just one beer.”
- this parents Who knows every liquor store in town.
- The life and soul of the party always has a drink in hand.
How to Talk to a High-Functioning Alcoholic
High-functioning alcoholics may not realize or admit that they have a problem, but it’s obvious to their friends, family, and coworkers that they drink too much.
You may have tried talking to this person and heard the excuses highlighted above. You can even reassure yourself that their drinking behavior is under control. But deep down, you know that’s not the case.
If you’re reading this, I suspect you want to assist, but aren’t sure how to approach the topic. After all, this is a delicate issue and they may not want to admit that they have a problem. Here’s how to fix the problem.
Remember to always speak with kindness and compassion. Focus on the problem, not the person. Choose a private place where you can talk openly and a time when you know they will be awake.
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Tell them you support them
Start by saying that you love and support them, but you are concerned about their drinking and what will happen if they continue to drink.
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Voice your concerns about the future
Acknowledge that they have a job, a partner, and a stable family life, but you worry about how their drinking will affect those things in the future.
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Show them how drinking affects others
Let them know how their drinking is goingimpact people’s lives Now, even though they can’t see it.
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Be prepared for denial, excuses, and even anger.
They may get defensive and say they are functioning normally and therefore do not have a drinking problem. But encourage them to think about how they become dependent on alcohol.
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Have support group contact details handy
Provide them with contact information for support groups, treatment centers, or alcohol abuse counselors.
There is a good chance that this conversation will not end well and they will become upset or angry. This is not something that can be solved in one conversation. You will revisit the topic many times before the addict admits they have a problem or is ready to seek help.
Let them know that you’re there to help once they’re ready to recognize the extent of their drinking.
final thoughts
High-functioning alcoholics may not think they have an alcohol problem. They will argue that they can work and run a household without being affected by drinking. Like everyone else, they don’t associate drinking with alcoholism.
However, even functioning alcoholics will eventually stop functioning, so they must confront their drinking before that happens damage their healthcareers and relationships.
Associate Editor and Staff Writer exist learning mentality
Janey Davies has been publishing online for over 10 years. She has suffered from panic attacks for more than 30 years, which led her to study at the Open University and gain an honors degree in psychology. Jenny uses her own experience of anxiety to provide help and advice to others dealing with mental health issues.
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