[madisgram]

Characteristics of High-Functioning Alcoholics
Alcoholics have poor attendance at work. Alcoholics drink every day. Alcoholics are mostly old men. Alcoholics are usually homeless. Alcoholics are unable to do well in their careers. Alcoholics always drink in the morning. These are just a few of the stereotypes about alcoholics which ...
Blog Entry by Sarah Allen Benton, M.S., L.M.H.C. - Posted on Jan 21, 2009

I don't get it. How are you "high functioning" if you are homeless and seldom go to work, etc.. That's just silly.

According to the Big Book of A.A. "An alcoholic is one who is allergic to alcohol";
therefore, I am, an alcoholic. I can not consume any amount of alcohol without getting very ill. (God is sooo good to me--and I mean that!)

I consider myself a "high functioning alcoholic"--and I do not drink.

That blog makes no sense to me. It describes the alcoholic who has hit bottom; not the alcoholic who is; minute by minute, day by day; in recovery, working the steps,
and living life on life's terms.

Am I missing something? Sorry if I am-------thanks--theo

[splitimage]

Yeah I was a high functioning alcoholic for years. Got my MBA, my Accounting Certification, and became a finance director for a major multinational. Knew I had a drinking problem for years before I sought help, because I thought I had it under control since there were no negative consequences to my drinking. I was successful, while at the same time putting away a 20oz'er of hard liquor a night. The fact that I was an emotional mess was irrellevant.

The first time I entered treatment, all my friends and co-workers were shocked and horrified. None of them had a clue that I had a problem.

Gained some insight when I had my first withdrawal seizure in 05 and tried to quit for the first time, was unsuccessful, and went into treatment for the first time in 06. Had severe case of Paws post treatment combined with untreated mental illness so I relapsed almost immediately, and drank more and harder. Eventually lost the job. Been struggling with sobriety ever since. Currently trying again.

--splitimage

[Leed]

I too was a high functioning alcoholic. I went to work every day, even tho I had a blackout the night before, and went to work STILL in a blackout -- I never remembered GETTING to work, and couldn't remember what car i drove, or the trip there. I didn't "wake up" until noon or so. I drank like that for 20 years ~ doing my job like anyone else, and in fact, I got glowing progress reports in my personnel file. I was an optician, so i had to know what i was doing. LOL Little did they know I faked it alot.

When I got sober, my boss and co-workers were SHOCKED that I even drank!!! They swore they didn't know I was a drunk -- they must have been darn fools not to know. *I* could even smell the booze coming out of my pores the morning after. ACK!!

[madisgram]

Originally Posted by theodora

I don't get it. How are you "high functioning" if you are homeless and seldom go to work, etc.. That's just silly.
high functioning alcoholics are able to keep it together-job, etc. even tho they have a major prob. with alcohol. my ex was one of these HFAs. that was one of the reasons i didn't pick uup on his having a prob. at first. he was a corporate executive, went to work everyday and could control his cravings til he got home. it's harder for them to see their alcoholism-denial-cause their life on very successful. the outside doesn't exhibit the prob. but their stinkin' thinking is the same as other alcoholics. the article makes this distinction.
According to the Big Book of A.A. "An alcoholic is one who is allergic to alcohol";
therefore, I am, an alcoholic. I can not consume any amount of alcohol without getting very ill. (God is sooo good to me--and I mean that!)

I consider myself a "high functioning alcoholic"--and I do not drink.does this mean you don't drink cause you know you have a prob. if so, my hat is off to you for breaking thru the denial.

That blog makes no sense to me. It describes the alcoholic who has hit bottom; not the alcoholic who is; minute by minute, day by day; in recovery, working the steps,
and living life on life's terms. no, it's describing the active alcoholic. not one who has gotten help.

Am I missing something? Sorry if I am-------thanks--theo

hope my reply helps, theo. the purpose of my posting this thread was for some ppl perhaps that are HFAs deceiving themselves that they have no prob. with alcohol. hopefully the article will help them see that just because they have jobs, a car, a boat doesn't mean that they are excluded from our "club".