Expert gives five ways someone could be a secret 'functional alcoholic'

An expert has shared five ways you can tell if someone who know could secretly be a functional alcoholic.

According to guidance outlined by UK Addiction Treatment Centres, a 'functioning alcoholic' would be considered as someone who has an addiction but is still able to continue their regular daily routine - which means they are able to mask their alcohol consumption.

This can mean that functional alcoholics can often be harder to spot than someone's traditional understanding of an alcoholic.

However, mental health and addiction counsellor Evan has shared five signs which could suggest someone you know could be dealing with functional alcoholism.

1. Functional alcoholics are by definition harder to spot

As we previously highlighted, it is a lot harder to determine whether or not someone has an addiction problem if they are still able to successfully go about their day-to-day life, hence the term functional alcoholic.

Evan describes a functional alcoholic as someone 'with a substance use disorder who is still able to be successful in their work or maintain their responsibilities, which masks the severity of their use'.

This means you have to pay attention to more subtle clues.

2. Health issues

The next sign on Evan's list is subtle health issues, which may not obviously be 'tied to alcohol' on first glance.

These issues can include being overweight, have poor cardiovascular health or even be someone who is pre-diabetic.

"If these individuals do not stop they may have something more severe such as liver failure of cognitive decline," he adds. "Almost always they have a shorter lifespan."

3. Hidden relationship strain

Although a functional alcoholic may not appear to have 'overly tumultuous relationships' there can be subtle clues. Evan explains this person may have a spouse who is either a 'heavy drinker' or who tolerate their behaviour.

4. Hidden dependance and withdrawal

Evan adds that while a functional alcoholic typically won't 'drink to intoxication', they will us alcohol 'like a medication'.

"It's very consistent," he adds. "Perhaps it's for their anxiety or just life in general.

"However when they stop, they experience severe withdrawal just like someone with a more developed addiction."

5. They struggle to change their behaviours

The last clue on Evans list involves being able to make changes to their behaviour. "Because things don't get 'that bad' they have a hard time finding the motivation to makes changes." he explained.

He then went on to add this can often lead to a person developing 'full-blown alcoholism' or remaining in a pattern of their current behaviours.