1(800) 615-1067A functioning alcoholic is a person who is able to maintain daily responsibilities and obligations, such as work and family life, despite having an alcohol addiction. It’s important to remember that addiction is a complex disease that affects individuals differently, so the way a functioning alcoholic thinks may vary from person to person. However, here are some common ways functioning alcoholics may think:
Rationalization: A functioning alcoholic may rationalize their drinking by telling themselves they deserve a drink after a long day of work or that they need alcohol to manage stress.
Justification: They may justify their drinking by telling themselves that they’re not as bad as other alcoholics or that they have control over their drinking.
Minimization: A functioning alcoholic may minimize the negative consequences of their drinking, such as ignoring the impact it has on their health, relationships, or work performance.
Concealment: They may go to great lengths to hide their drinking from others, such as sneaking drinks, hiding alcohol, or drinking alone.
Dependency: A functioning alcoholic may feel like they need alcohol to function normally, making it difficult to imagine life without alcohol.
Guilt and shame: Despite being able to function in daily life, a functioning alcoholic may still experience guilt and shame about their drinking, which can contribute to negative thinking patterns and lead to increased drinking.
It’s important to remember that functioning alcoholism can still have negative consequences and can lead to serious health problems and addiction. It’s important to seek help if you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol addiction.