High-Functioning Drunks
non-drinker
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 13,841
I never took a sick day and was never even once late for work. The last 10 years of my drinking career, I also never took a day off from drinking. I was slowly killing myself, yet I kept at it for years. So glad I stopped when I did.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Chicago
Posts: 605
I used to think I was a high functioning alcoholic. I never missed work, so on and so forth, but really I was just hanging on by a thread. It was all an illusion or appearance of functionality. Internally I was miserable and trapped in a never ending cycle of wake up, work, drink, sleep and continue. That was my entire existence.
Not very functional imo.
Not very functional imo.
non-drinker
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 13,841
Originally Posted by ScottFromWI 
In my mind there are no "levels" of functioning. You are alcoholic or you are not..period.
Bottom line, I think that many of us fall into the same trap of thinking that as long as I'm not homeless and wandering the streets, I don't really have a problem.
Now what?
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Oregon Coast
Posts: 100
Originally Posted by Northeast69
My purpose of posting is to say I am astonished at how much many of you drank, and your horrible hangovers, and, yet, you were still performing at a high level. For years. Give me some insight on how you could do that.
I don't think most people can maintain the designation of a high functioning alcoholic indefinitely, especially if they're drinking daily. The body just can't handle it.
That is my experience anyway. I made it work until it no longer worked and then I became a chronic or late stage alcoholic. Alcoholism is progressive - it doesn't level off and it doesn't get better. Once the line is crossed into it, there's no backing out.
Best
Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,109
In the last few months before I quit I was missing work from hangovers..... I was "only" drinking once or twice a week. Definitely on Friday but sometimes I'd drink on a week night too. When I did drink I was drinking significantly more than I did when I was an everyday drinker..... I was giving myself some vicious hangovers, they could last a few days. I was in no state to be showing up for work without people getting wise to my drinking problem. I'm just so glad that I've quit! What a waste. I'm so sorry that I did that to myself for all those years.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Chicago
Posts: 605
Originally Posted by FormerBeerLover
Agreed. However, the fact that I WAS able to function was one of the factors that kept me going for years and years. I figured that, as long as I'm able to get up and get to work on time every day, I can't be THAT bad. Thankfully, it only took me the first day I couldn't function (went to ER with a severe panic attack) that I FINALLY decided to stop.
Bottom line, I think that many of us fall into the same trap of thinking that as long as I'm not homeless and wandering the streets, I don't really have a problem.
Bottom line, I think that many of us fall into the same trap of thinking that as long as I'm not homeless and wandering the streets, I don't really have a problem.
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