Originally Posted by
crystal226 
I guess the point being to me it seems like calling someone a "functional" alcoholic seems like just a way to soften the blow of the disease to ourselves, to the A, and to the outside world. I guess I was just thinking it seems like that label itself is a type of enabling.
Any thoughts....
I agree with your big picture assessment.
When I think of functional I think of someone that can basically take care of themselves but are still alcoholics. When they pass the point of being able to take care of themselves, well then they are no longer functional in my head. I guess I only think of things like logistics and not relationships or emotional/spiritual functioning.
Applying it to individual people can sure muddy the waters though.