With summer around the corner and Brits getting ready for wedding season, holidays and boozy BBQs, a recovery coach has shared the three signs that could indicate someone is a functioning alcoholic.
While many of us know our limits when it comes to drinking, there are some red flags that could indicate an unhealthy relationship with alcohol.
Recovery coach Connor, who posts under the handle @thesoberplug on TikTok, explained three signs that could point towards someone being a functioning alcoholic - and asked if people could ‘relate’ to any of them.
Compartmentalising your drinking
Connor explains: “Number one, you compartmentalise your drinking. This means that during certain times or responsibilities you refuse to drink.
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"However, once that is over with, you allow yourself to drink and that is justified."
Justifying your drinking
Connor went on to say that people who have issues with alcohol may also try to justify their drinking.
“Number two, you think that certain externals or materialistic things justify your drinking," he said.
"In other words, if you have a nice car, a nice house, a nice job, you feel that your drinking isn’t an issue, because you would not have these things if it was a real problem.
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“However, we all know that status or financial success has absolutely nothing to do with having an alcohol problem."
Believing there isn't a problem
Connor explained that functioning alcoholics can justify their drinking by believing that they can't have a problem with alcohol, if they are able to provide for their family.
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“Number three, you might provide for yourself or your family and in this circumstance, your alcoholism is justified," he continued.
"Functioning alcoholics get the sense of, ‘as long as I am providing for my family or myself that it can’t possibly be an issue’.
“After all, if it was a real problem, I wouldn’t be able to be responsible for certain people, right?
"Well that is completely false. Our actions have consequences on other people, just because we can balance a few different things, it does not mean that we don’t have problems in our life and that it doesn’t impact others in our life.”
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Connor ends the clip by urging anyone who is struggling with alcohol to reach out for help.
You can find an alcohol or drug service in your local area or use the following information to get support:
With You provides a range of support for alcohol, drugs and mental health via a local service or online. These are free and confidential services and include the following:
- Drinkline provides advice for anyone who is worried about their own or someone else’s drinking – phone 0800 731 4314, available Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm and Saturday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm
- Alcohol Helpline can provide advice and support if you’re over 50 and are worried about your own or someone else’s drinking – book an appointment online or phone 0808 801 0750, Monday to Friday, 12pm to 8pm and Saturday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm
- Know The Score provides support if you’ve taken drugs, are thinking of taking them, or are just curious and want to know more – use their webchat or phone 0800 587 5879, Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm and Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 4pm
Topics: Health
Lucy Devine