by Astrid on August 6th, 2009

Astrid

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Is there really such a thing as a "functioning" alcoholic?

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  • by Annon on August 7th, 2009

    Annon

    Can you say Ted Kennedy?

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  • by Kierafaye on August 7th, 2009

    Kierafaye

    yes, my father
    he's a great father and provider but it's no secret that he's a definite alcoholic

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  • by Scifisuz on August 12th, 2009

    Scifisuz

    My stepfather drank lots every day of his life and extra on weekends, never missed a day of work - was always pleasant, never saw him slurring and whirling or anything. Died at 59 of liver cancer/cirrhosis.

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  • by cofe is grateful today on August 7th, 2009

    cofe is grateful today

    Maybe for a while (or a long while) but in the end, I believe, it will catch up with you.

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  • by Sexyrabbit on August 7th, 2009

    Sexyrabbit

    The one i know is not working.

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  • by Don Gorgeous George on August 7th, 2009

    Don Gorgeous George

    Yeah I am one. We are not functioning at our best though, even though we are good at making it seem like we are.

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  • by Baggins on October 25th, 2009

    Baggins

    My brother died of alcoholism at the age of 46. Up until the end, he was a functioning alcoholic. He hardly ever missed work and never drank at work. Once he got home, though, he would pickle himself until he passed out. In the end, he ran into bad circumstances with being out of work. He ended up drinking instead of eating and died. I miss him so much.

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  • by Timjon on August 30th, 2009

    Timjon

    Yes, I have known a number of "functioning" alcoholics, and was one for a long time myself.

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  • by Piratebooty on August 30th, 2009

    Piratebooty

    Yes. I have heard of those that have to drink before work just to get going. It's like coffee to them. Sad Sad

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  • by dead leaves raked in a pile on August 30th, 2009

    dead leaves raked in a pile

    Yes there really is. There are certainly people who drink, even heavily, yes continue to function at the highest level.
    "You, sir, are drunk!"
    "And you, madam, are ugly, but tomorrow, I shall be sober."

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  • by Symbeline on August 30th, 2009

    Symbeline

    You probably walk by at least 20 alcoholics a day.

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  • by on the journey on August 7th, 2009

    on the journey

    Really it depends on your definition of functioning and your definition of alcoholic. In my opinion I think its absolutley possible - its that person that drinks all night once they are off work, but manages to hold down a job and still pay bills.

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  • by Marky Mark on October 25th, 2009

    Marky Mark

    Yes. I've worked with many.

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  • by mtndewman44 on October 25th, 2009

    mtndewman44

    Yes,many many alcoholics are quite functional.

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  • by Bob on October 25th, 2009

    Bob

    go to a large office and start smelling. the functioning alcoholic is usually at work, rarely misses work, does a fine to excellent job, but, the smell of day-old alcohol oozes out from every pore. lots of functioning alcoholics in the united states.

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  • by Anonymous on October 25th, 2009

    Anonymous

    Yes. Both mine and my best friend's Dad.
    Her dad drinks maybe a fifth of day, but still shows up to work everyday. My dad drinks heavily every weekend, usually about three or four fifths of whiskey in a weekend. But never during the week, so he still shows up to work. He's more of a problem drinker than an alcoholic.

    Either way, both of them are perfectly functioning in society, but drink more than they should and will probably suffer from it later in life.

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  • by Astrid on August 31st, 2009

    Astrid

    Scifisuz, your mother was not alone, unfortunately this sort of thing is not uncommon.

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  • by DudeLer 2 on August 30th, 2009

    DudeLer 2

    sure, they are functional enough to work,
    but after an hour at home they are disfunctional.

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  • by Pablo on August 28th, 2009

    Pablo

    only five or six per cent of the alcoholics end up

    in skid row~ most alcoholics are *functional*

    this is 95% of the people who don't take very well

    to *drying out* and staying off of drugs or alcohol

    Diets are the same way ~~ 95% of the diets fail in two

    years or less

    *Functioning* means they still can work and have some

    kind of life~~ and usually they are surrounded with

    *enablers* who enable them to keep up their destructive

    addictions and yes alcohol is an addiction

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  • by Bakebyday still baking.. on August 28th, 2009

    Bakebyday still baking..

    I believe that a functioning alcoholic is someone that can do everyday and still get a buzz going on. they hold down jobs and do all.

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  • by kizzygirl on August 6th, 2009

    kizzygirl

    Yes, my sisters husband is one, he works a full time job and all.

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  • by b-we on August 6th, 2009

    b-we

    Yup. There are plenty of them. They are people who drink on a daily basis, some of which do it at work, and still function normally (for them, but that's because everyone's used to seeing them like that).

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  • by Mikelbf2000 on October 25th, 2009

    Mikelbf2000

    Yes but they still need help.

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  • by Sharona Life is a Tale Told by an Idiot on August 28th, 2009

    Sharona Life is a Tale Told by an Idiot

    Oh yeah. And a functioning drug addict too.

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  • by Anonymous T. Jackson on August 28th, 2009

    Anonymous T. Jackson

    "functioning"? Well ... they are still alive and still drinking. It's only a matter of time and luck. Then they aren't.

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  • by pandora on August 28th, 2009

    pandora

    Yeah, when my husband was in drill instructor training he bunked with a guy who couldn't study or remember a thing without drinking at least a six pack of beer a day before studying. He said, he could finish a six pack and not even get a buzz and had a flawless memory when drunk.

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  • by Anonymous on August 28th, 2009

    Anonymous

    me. i'm always buzzed. drink a four loco y voy a trabajo.

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  • by spooner on August 28th, 2009

    spooner

    Yes, I know a few.

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  • by Wonder Woman on August 28th, 2009

    Wonder Woman

    Yes. I've met many throughout my life; but mostly people just see them as "the life of the party"! They don't miss work or any other function or responsibility; they just do it with a constant buzz that most people aren't aware of!

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  • by dontmissout4me on August 28th, 2009

    dontmissout4me

    How do you know when you need help? As we covered in previous posts, Alcoholism is a progressive disease that seems to occur unbeknownst to the person with the affliction. The functioning alcoholic does not necessarily realize that their pattern of drinking has become more predictable and that they are slowly increasing their consumption.So if you think you might be a high functioning alcoholic, or someone you care about or respect is questioning your decision to drink; how do you know if you have a problem?Here are the three strategies to help you arrive at the answer to the question: Do I need help?Set a limit for your drinking.
    Here are the three strategies to help you arrive at the answer to the question: Do I need help?

    1.Set a limit for your drinking. If you can consume 2 or 3 alcoholic beverages over the course of your night out and can consistently stop without having “just one more” or “one for the road.” You may not need help. (In all cases we would recommend you consult with a qualified medical practitioner.) The key is to be honest with your self and to set a limit that is safe and much less than you may normally have.
    2.Keep a journal of your drinking. Note not only the date and day but the times, types of drinks and amounts. If you see any patterns developing or drinking not within normal realms (The two martini lunch only happened on Bewitched), then please seek an impartial consultation from a medical professional.
    3.Take a que from the Office of Professional Management and review their handbook on alcohol in the workplace. When you think of the warning signs, do you think of yourself?
    The key to addressing High Functioning Alcoholism is honest self evaluation and to get help today.

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  • by brian646 on August 28th, 2009

    brian646

    i think that means someone who drink's to an excess all the time....yet, is still able to hold a job and somehow function as a member of the community....take care....Brian........

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  • by iDeath on August 7th, 2009

    iDeath

    my troll

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  • by Ron C on August 7th, 2009

    Ron C

    Look at George Bush, he functioned, sort of. Ted Kennedy functioned until the brain tumor.

    GWB would have functioned well except that he's a sociopath combined with his alcohol problem.

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  • by good ol boy on August 7th, 2009

    good ol  boy

    all well and good to hold the job/pay the bills but the devestation an alcoholic wreaks in their personal life and famly is catastrophic. The mood swings , walking on egg shells, the fear that the alcoholic creates by their very presence is totaly terrifying. Please note I am the child of alcoholics and a recovering alcoholic myself with a small child. So I speak with some authority.

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  • by jaydee on August 7th, 2009

    jaydee

    I just want to give the definition of an "alcoholic"... an alcoholic is someone who drinks more than you do.

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  • by Suny on August 7th, 2009

    Suny

    yep and addicts too, as long as they have their vices.

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  • by qwerty on October 25th, 2009

    qwerty

    yes

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  • by Jazz-Man on August 7th, 2009

    Jazz-Man

    their livin certainly wont be functioning

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