LDT

"Functioning Alcoholic".....translation...."It's only a matter of time".

Nov20

I told myself this for years.
"I drink at home, the end of the day, after kids are fed and gone to bed. This is me time, I'm not hurting anyone. I just need to relax"
Well I was hurting ME. I was hurting my husband and my marriage. I can't get those evenings back. But I look forward to many great ones in the future!

sugarbear1

functional is another term for "alive"

high bottom, low bottom....what's your choice?

Brian316

Agreed at least that's how it went for me. An alcoholic is an alcoholic functional or not. I used to tell myself I was a functional alcoholic because I could work and pay bills while I drank. Eventually I was doing nothing except for getting drunk.

jazzfish

The other day someone stated it as: function alcoholic = an alcoholic who still has a job

abstinentsteve

Isn't every alcoholic functional ( at least superficially ) in the beginning of their journey? A lot of us we're completely normal if not studied in any depth. "Functional" to me can mean pretty much "just getting by," in some areas of life.
living a full life in all major areas is more than "functional," IMO.

Silvy69

There is no such thing!! This disease escalates and eventually it will bite you in the arrsss.. I was a very functional alcoholic "COUCH", never got a DUI and always had a job.. I don't believe that for a minute, I think I was just a lucky alcoholic that didn't kill someone or myself when I was driving drunk which was happening all the time. Now when I think about it I can't believe the stupidity.. It gives me this feeling in the pit of my stomach and makes me so grateful for being sober today and not have ruined anyone's life ..

Renarde

I see functional alcoholic not as "I'm doing fine" or "I'm different" but as "I am keeping up the facade, right now" or "I am maintaining the lie, for now." I was functional enough that no one will believe me that I'm a drunk, but I am one. I had not lost anything significant in my life yet. I think it's a phase of addiction. It also aids in denial. It was easier for me to think there was no problem because I was still high achieving. Once my liver started aching though, I knew it was real. And I have no doubts that it was progressing.

haveaproblem

I agree with the other posters. I am "functional" (i.e. I still have a job), but I started feeling that I was getting less "functional" every day. I have to quit. Day 3.

Renarde

I think functional means more how have you maintained societal expectations - ie, job, relationships, bills, family, no catastrophic accidents or incidents, etc.