Highly Functional Alcoholic Oxymoron -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My doctor told me yesterday that I am a highly functional alcoholic and confessed that he is in recovery for the same. He then recommended that I consider AA meetings. Since alcohol does not cause any problems to my health or otherwise I take offense to the label and am concerned about the potential ramifications of having been officially diagnosed as an alcoholic by a healthcare provider. My take now is that I should not have been so honest about my alcohol consumption and need a new doctor. Since he said he was in recovery, I was curious to hear from others in this community and to get their thoughts on the subject and validity of the diagnosis "highly functional alcoholic". JDNWATER is online now Report Post |
a person may have their poop in a group outwardly.jobs doin good. lawns mowed. health is good. cars in running order.marraige isn't in shambles. look inside and tell us whats goin on. my thinkin was no different that the prosecuting attorney, the pharmacist, or the one that ended up living in skidrow. |
I'm surprised a doctor used that term. Mine put me down for tobacco use disorder because I smoked. I had quit drinking by that time so he didn't put down anything in that category. He just ran the blood tests I asked for. |
Originally Posted by tomsteve
(Post 4747578)
a person may have their poop in a group outwardly.jobs doin good. lawns mowed. health is good. cars in running order.marraige isn't in shambles. look inside and tell us whats goin on. my thinkin was no different that the prosecuting attorney, the pharmacist, or the one that ended up living in skidrow. |
It takes one to know one. A person who is an alcoholic in recovery who incoperates a program of recovery such as AA consisting of steps and principles to live by each day they remain sober would definitely be someone I'd trust to tell me that I have a drinking problem and my addiction is to alcohol. And sure enough it was 23 yrs ago in Aug. 1990 that I was sick and finally told I had a problem with drinking alcohol successfully and causing problems in my life. My heart, mind and soul. Honesty is very important to me in remaining sober and pretty much all those ive come across in recovery and live a program of recovery on a daily bases is very believeable and trustworthy to me. IMO as always.:) |
To be fair more info is needed to give an opinion. How much you drink, why, when. I think there is list of standard questions to indicate alcoholism isn't there? |
I'm no Dr., but I've said this before: Functional isn't a type of alcoholism it is a stage of alcoholism. |
Welcome to the forum JDNWATER! People are very supportive of the journey here. Were you officially given the diagnosis of 'alcohol dependence'? Or some other related diagnosis that you are were seen for or are aware of? If you are concerned or are questioning the validity of your physician's assessment then you can contest the diagnosis. The medical group can tell you how to go about the process to have something officially removed from your medical record. Start with the phone number for 'medical records'. :grouphug: |
Originally Posted by aasharon90
(Post 4747603)
It takes one to know one. A person who is an alcoholic in recovery who incoperates a program of recovery such as AA consisting of steps and principles to live by each day they remain sober would definitely be someone I'd trust to tell me that I have a drinking problem and my addiction is to alcohol. And sure enough it was 23 yrs ago in Aug. 1990 that I was sick and finally told I had a problem with drinking alcohol successfully and causing problems in my life. My heart, mind and soul. Honesty is very important to me in remaining sober and pretty much all those ive come across in recovery and live a program of recovery on a daily bases is very believeable and trustworthy to me. IMO as always.:) |
Originally Posted by Taking5
(Post 4747617)
I'm no Dr., but I've said this before: Functional isn't a type of alcoholism it is a stage of alcoholism. |
JDNWATER, this might not be your case, that's for you to decide. I can relate to hesitations of discussing it with a doctor and having it on your medical record. They keep talking about privacy but my wake-up call was when I was trying to get a new doctor and he has somehow had full access to my previous medical history and I was told: "you have been prescribed such-and-such antidepressant on such-and-such date by your previous doctor, and we don't treat mental health issues here". That antidepressant was prescribed to me when I saw a doctor for an anxiety issue, but when I looked up its side-effects, I decided against taking it. Nevertheless, it is now on my mental health history. I understand this is nothing to be ashamed of, but something about that where doctors and insurances have full access to it just really irks me. |
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Originally Posted by LeTheVerte
(Post 4747622)
Welcome to the forum JDNWATER! People are very supportive of the journey here. Were you officially given the diagnosis of 'alcohol dependence'? Or some other related diagnosis that you are were seen for or are aware of? If you are concerned or are questioning the validity, you can contest the diagnosis. The medical group can tell you how to go about the process to have something officially removed from your medical record. Start with the phone number for 'medical records'. :grouphug: To me alcoholism is by definition a problem and when none exist, regardless of how much you drink, you cannot be an alcoholic. Curious to hear thoughts from the community. |
Originally Posted by JDNWATER
(Post 4747625)
I trust that I know myself better than anyone else. I also know it is human nature to project our own personal experiences when judging others. Often giving us in incorrect view of a person or situation. Thanks for the reply. Hope you stay well. But I do find it curious that you have took the time to sign up here..at a recovery forum. Welcome, by the way. As I say, I do not doubt your common sense, so would it not be better to inquire with some appropriate medical or legal governing body regarding false information to file..then to ask folks in addiction recovery? |
Originally Posted by melki
(Post 4747646)
JDNWATER, this might not be your case, that's for you to decide. I can relate to hesitations of discussing it with a doctor and having it on your medical record. They keep talking about privacy but my wake-up call was when I was trying to get a new doctor and he has somehow had full access to my previous medical history and I was told: "you have been prescribed such-and-such antidepressant on such-and-such date by your previous doctor, and we don't treat mental health issues here". That antidepressant was prescribed to me when I saw a doctor for an anxiety issue, but when I looked up its side-effects, I decided against taking it. Nevertheless, it is now on my mental health history. I understand this is nothing to be ashamed of, but something about that where doctors and insurances have full access to it just really irks me. |
Originally Posted by melki
(Post 4747632)
Spot on! Welcome JDN. I would never admit my true alcohol consumption to a medical professional! Because I know I would hear something that I don't like.... I know I fit the textbook description of HFA and find it easy to tell myself that I don't have a problem, but the fact that I can't seem to go more than 2 weeks without alcohol and tell myself I can control it kinda makes me face the truth... but only when sober ;) How about seeing how long you can give up for? Trying quitting may give you some answers or insight. Or of course a second opinion. Good luck on your journey x |
Originally Posted by Nuudawn
(Post 4747655)
You are obviously an intelligent and articulate soul JDN. I know myself well enough to know that nobody can BS me better than me...nobody. I am definitely not diagnosing you as someone battling addiction.. But I do find it curious that you have took the time to sign up here..at a recovery forum. Welcome, by the way. As I say, I do not doubt your common sense, so would it not be better to inquire with some appropriate medical or legal governing body regarding false information to file..then to ask folks in addiction recovery? |
Originally Posted by Cowgirlie
(Post 4747661)
^^ interesting, and very thought provoking. Never heard that, but noticed I slid from weekend binge drinking to nightly drinking in recent years. And joined here when I felt alarmed about the feeling of it becoming a habit I couldn't control, worrying where the slide was taking me. Welcome JDN. I would never admit my true alcohol consumption to a medical professional! Because I know I would hear something that I don't like.... I know I fit the textbook description of HFA and find it easy to tell myself that I don't have a problem, but the fact that I can't seem to go more than 2 weeks without alcohol and tell myself I can control it kinda makes me face the truth... but only when sober ;) How about seeing how long you can give up for? Trying quitting may give you some answers or insight. Or of course a second opinion. Good luck on your journey x |
Originally Posted by JDNWATER
(Post 4747571)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- JDNWATER is online now Report Post If getting into trouble were the sole criteria for alcohol dependence a lot of us would still be drinking. The doctor can say you are a heavy drinker or have a drinking problem. If that is the case just quit and go back in a couple of months and tell him you did. I had 3 months in when I went and asked for test to be done. He didn't put me down for the abuse disorder because I had quit. So my doctor must think alcoholics can't just up and quit. We can though. My husband has a conceal and carry. If they told him he could never drink alcohol again to keep it he would. |
I would find out if it was on my records, and, if so, ask to have it removed. Only you know if alcohol is a problem or not. |
Denial may just be a river, but it's mighty large. Good luck to you |
My view is alcoholism has very little to do with volume or quantity consumed, medical bodies and governments devise guidelines on how many drinks is too much, even giving men and women different thresholds, but someone could be within the guidelines and be an alcoholic, in the same way someone may exceed the guidelines and not be an alcoholic. When I first started to drink, I used to have 2 pints of beer on a night out, fast forward 5 years and I was consuming a half bottle of liquor a night, but I now have realised I drank in the same way and had the same traits over my 2 pints, I drank to get drunk, and I drank until I could have no more, 2 pints was all I could manage back then, with a half bottle of liquor I drank and subsequently passed out/blacked out into bed as my tolerance had increased. So the progression started to affect my life and forced me to make the decision to make some changes, but having displayed the same attitude to alcohol throughout, quantity/volume was not a great indicator of the problem, as a Dr wouldn't have flinched at my 2 pints of beer consumption but would have at my half bottle of liquor, at both stages though if I'm being honest I was displaying alcoholic behaviours!! The questions that should be being asked are, is alcohol negatively impacting your health? your life? is there a dependance on alcohol? not being able to go a period of time without it? how much of your life is consumed with alcohol? thinking about alcohol? is there a fear at the thought of not having alcohol in your life anymore? do you lie to others and conceal your drinking? is drinking causing financial problems?!! These are a far more telling examination, rather than mere volume of alcohol consumed!! :) |
Whenever I question my doctor's opinion I get a second one. Seems like that might be your next step. |
Originally Posted by Nuudawn
(Post 4747655)
You are obviously an intelligent and articulate soul JDN. I know myself well enough to know that nobody can BS me better than me...nobody. I am definitely not diagnosing you as someone battling addiction.. But I do find it curious that you have took the time to sign up here..at a recovery forum. Welcome, by the way. As I say, I do not doubt your common sense, so would it not be better to inquire with some appropriate medical or legal governing body regarding false information to file..then to ask folks in addiction recovery? My best friend was a highly functional alcoholic with a husband, 4 small children, lots of money, a job, 2 cars, vacation home & now she's dead. She died last fall after her body simply shut down from the alcohol. It sounds like you have a similar experience with a friend. I'm very sorry. One of this things that came to my mind when I read your post is if you truly believe you don't have an alcohol problem, why do you need to come to SR and get feed back from others. I see red flags. Maybe in the back of your mind you are a little worried about your drinking? I wish you the best! Come here anytime! Sent from my iPhone using SoberRecovery |
it's hard as you don't say how much you drink, just that you disagree with the doctor. Ask to see a different doctor but be honest with the quantity and frequency of what you do drink. OR, go and ask a consultant who does not have access to your medical records... which will allow you to be honest without fear of consequences on your records. |
Originally Posted by silentrun
(Post 4747670)
What does that mean? If getting into trouble were the sole criteria for alcohol dependence a lot of us would still be drinking. The doctor can say you are a heavy drinker or have a drinking problem. If that is the case just quit and go back in a couple of months and tell him you did. I had 3 months in when I went and asked for test to be done. He didn't put me down for the abuse disorder because I had quit. So my doctor must think alcoholics can't just up and quit. We can though. My husband has a conceal and carry. If they told him he could never drink alcohol again to keep it he would. I do think it is a problem if you cannot be completely honest with your personal physician and I know people frequently lie about their alcohol consumption to their doctors for exactly these reasons. Now I am in a position where I very well may take your advise and go back and tell him I quit, just to avoid problems. I believe alcoholism is a serious condition. I believe words have meaning and when used have consequences. To me alcoholism is a condition that by definition must include a problem. An earlier responder to my post said that being a highly functional alcoholic is a stage. I could not disagree more. By that rational, everyone how drinks could be labeled a pre-alcoholic. I believe alcoholism is a serious condition that begins when alcohol becomes a problem and a person refuses to stop drinking in spite of the problems that exist. |
Alcohol certainly damages your liver. He should have told you that. |
Originally Posted by Serenidad
(Post 4747704)
I agree with Nuudawn. My best friend was a highly functional alcoholic with a husband, 4 small children, lots of money, a job, 2 cars, vacation home & now she's dead. She died last fall after her body simply shut down from the alcohol. It sounds like you have a similar experience with a friend. I'm very sorry. One of this things that came to my mind when I read your post is if you truly believe you don't have an alcohol problem, why do you need to come to SR and get feed back from others. I see red flags. Maybe in the back of your mind you are a little worried about your drinking? I wish you the best! Come here anytime! Sent from my iPhone using SoberRecovery |
Originally Posted by aborkie
(Post 4747746)
Alcohol certainly damages your liver. He should have told you that. I assume you are like most people and do not eat a perfect diet and if so rest assured I would not accuse you of having a serious condition, such as alcoholism. |
Welcome JDNWATER :) None of us here can diagnose you an alcoholic or not. You obviously have concerns - noone goes to the Dr for no reason or signs up here for kicks. Get a second opinion. If it's the same as the first, that'd be pause for thought. If you want to prove to yourself that you don't have a problem, stop drinking for 90 days, I'm confident things will be much clearer to you one way or the other then :) D |
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