Hiding An Alcoholism Problem: A Common Strategy

By Author: Jill Cohen
Total Articles: 79
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Those who are successful in life plus have the ability of hiding an alcoholism problem are sometimes known as high-functioning alcoholics. They are defined as “high functioning” because they are able to carry out their respective duties, roles and activities while still maintaining a dependence on alcohol. They are able to maintain normal relationships with their family, peers and co-workers without letting their alcohol dependence become obvious.

Typically, high-functioning alcoholics are accomplished and have several achievements to their credit, whether it’s in education, their work or in their family. They don’t fit into the stereotypical connotation of an alcoholic because their lives are seemingly normal.

But there’s more to high-function alcoholics, or HFAs, than people care to know. HFAs believe that they can maintain their active social lives, keep positive family relationships and succeed in their careers. This is because they have mastered one thing: separating their drinking life from the rest of their life.

This is what makes HFA so difficult to diagnose and treat, simply because many ...
... HFAs will not admit they are substance dependent. They would rather go undiagnosed rather than deal with withdrawal symptoms, therapy sessions and recovery group meetings.

A high-functioning alcoholic has to decide for himself to seek help. He must believe that therapy and group sessions will help him overcome his dependence on alcohol. He must not feel pressured to attend these sessions. Rather, he should also believe that seeking help will help him improve the overall quality of his life, particularly his hidden life.

One effective manner of dealing with HFAs is “drink tracking.” Drink tracking lets HFAs set boundaries on their drinking. They set a “drinking quota” for the week—for example, only drinking during the weekends. Drawing up such a quota has been proven effective as a way to help HFAs stop drinking. This is the most effective way to help a high-functioning alcoholic stop hiding an alcoholism problem.

Read interviews with those who have hidden their drug and alcohol problems and recovered at Addiction Recovery Interviews .