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High Functioning Alcoholic (HFA)
The term alcoholic normally conjures up an image of someone who is always drunk, dishevelled and dysfunctional. Someone who is perhaps unemployed and aggressive toward others. However a high functioning alcoholic (HFA), is someone who is able to hold down a job and maintain relationships. An HFA may not realise they have a problem or think their drinking is normal and perfectly manageable. They can be educated and hardworking, in fact the more successful or accomplished they are the harder it may be for them to recognise they have a problem.
Here are some behaviours associated with high functioning alcoholism.
The alcoholism can be enabled by friends and loved ones, for example borrowing money to pay a bill because all their money has been spent on drink, or asking someone to cover for them if they’re late or absent from work.
They may be high achieving in some areas but tend to forget birthdays and anniversaries, or miss them because they’re drunk.
They isolate themselves in their private time so as not to expose their drinking habits.
They may claim only to drink only at specific times and places, such as only the weekend or with friends. Some may claim only to drink the finest scotch or most expensive wine rather than beer, as if alcoholics only drink the cheapest booze they can find.
Any attempt to challenge the behaviour is met with either denial or aggression. In fact they usually have a reasonable explanation for why they are drunk, such as enjoying a social event or currently experiencing a period of stress at work.
Behaviours change also when drinking. For example a normally happy jovial person may become quite sombre when drunk, or a normally meek and pleasant person may become aggressive.
As with most addictions it is common for the alcohol to mask other issues such as anxiety, trauma, depression, stress and so on. Recognising that you are having difficulty and may need support is a positive and healthy sign. Counselling can help not only the person with the drink problem but family and loved ones who may be affected also.
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This article was written by sentientcounselling