When it comes to alcohol treatment, high-functioning alcoholics may feel apprehensive about reaching for help from alcohol rehab Orange County. This is because many people start thinking about rehab when they lose their jobs or friends. Despite their addiction to alcohol, high-functioning alcoholics tend to hold stable jobs and often have high-paying careers. They may also maintain relationships better than people with other subtypes of alcoholism.
According to the National Institutes of Health, nearly 20% of alcoholics1 in the United States fit into the high-functioning subtype, and about one-third of them have a family history of alcohol abuse. The NIH also stated that about 25% of people with high functioning alcoholism suffer from a major depressive disorder, which can complicate the struggles of alcoholism.
What Are the Signs of High Functioning Alcoholism?
In many cases, people overlook the alcohol abuse of high-functioning alcoholics because they may be high achievers or hold positions of power. Although they may be able to maintain this lifestyle for some time, doctors warn people that heavy drinking will eventually catch up with them. If you think that you may be a high-functioning alcoholic, these are some of the signs that doctors warn you to watch for2:
- Loved ones make excuses for your drinking.
- You often joke that you have a problem with alcohol.
- You do not feel confident or relaxed without alcohol.
- You have had legal problems related to your drinking.
- You unintentionally get drunk or start drinking in the morning.
- You may hide alcohol or feel angry when people confront you about drinking.
- You cannot remember what you did when you were drinking.
- It feels increasingly difficult to keep up with work or family responsibilities.
If you notice these signs in a loved one, he or she may be a high-functioning alcoholic. It can be hard for them to reach out for help. If you have a loved one who needs help, we can give you some suggestions about how to approach the topic with your loved one.
Why Detoxification Alone Is Ineffective
One of the most important things to remember about high-functioning alcoholism is that it is an addiction. Additionally, addiction is a chronic disease3, which means that removing alcohol and going through withdrawal will not remove the disease itself.
Detoxification is still an important step in starting the recovery process. Since alcohol withdrawal4 often comes with anxiety, depression, shakiness, and uncomfortable physical symptoms, it is important to be around health professionals during this time. Also, it is important to start treatment with skilled mental health professionals.
Why Alcohol Treatment Is Important
For high-functioning alcoholics, it is possible to get treatment5 before life starts to crumble. Treatment is essential for learning the right strategies for dealing with addiction and beating it for good. The only way to break the cycle of addiction permanently is to use those strategies while you make the necessary lifestyle changes. People with high-functioning alcoholism may also have depression, anxiety, or other issues to deal with. Professionals can provide dual diagnosis treatment for alcoholism and any depressive disorders.
Help Break Addiction with Alcohol Rehab Orange County
At Clear Life Recovery, we develop personalized plans for each person. With proven methods, we teach people to break their dependency on alcohol and avoid falling back into the cycle of addiction in the future. These are some of the treatments that we use:
- Detoxification to help you break your dependency on alcohol.
- Therapy and life skills training.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to change distorted thought patterns.
- Counseling to help you identify your struggles, share your concerns, and more.
Drug and alcohol abuse has been on the rise in Orange County for years. According to the National Institutes of Health, about 6% of Californians meet the criteria for alcohol dependence6, and 50% of people start drinking before they finish high school. However, only 10% of people in the state who have a substance abuse disorder seek treatment. The same report showed that alcohol leads to more non-fatal emergency room visits locally than all types of drugs combined.
If you are struggling with addiction, Clear Life Recovery is here to help you get through recovery and live a fuller life. Please contact us to learn more about alcohol rehab Orange County.
Sources:
1. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/researchers-identify-alcoholism-subtypes
2. https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/high-functioning-alcoholic#1
3. https://ldi.upenn.edu/sumr-blog/why-detox-not-enough-reforming-addiction-treatment
4. https://www.health.harvard.edu/a_to_z/alcohol-withdrawal-a-to-z
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3883816/
6. https://collections.nlm.nih.gov/master/borndig/101744589/SubstanceUseDisorderAlmanac2018.pdf
