People are being urged to watch their drinking habits this Christmas as experts reveal the ‘red flag’ signs of a functioning alcoholic.
Christmas is the time of year people may like to enjoy a drink or two. With friends and family gathering to enjoy the festive period, New Year is also just around the corner.
However, for some, their drinking habits may appear to be out of control. There are a few signs you can watch out for to tell whether someone is a functioning alcoholic.
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The ECHO previously reported on the illnesses you can get from drinking alcohol from short-term to long-term issues. From the dreaded hangover and alcohol poisoning to heart disease and liver disease, the NHS warns against regularly drinking more than 14 units a week.
According to the NHS, there are also dangers around drinking too quickly on any single occasion which can increase your risk of accidents as well as misjudging risky situations. To reduce health risks, you are advised to limit how much you drink and drink slowly as well as drinking with food.
As well as raising blood pressure and being harmful to all organs in our body, excessive drinking damages the liver in two big ways : scarring (called cirrhosis) and causing a build-up of fat. It can also cause major changes to our brain.
Signs and symptoms of a functioning alcoholic include:
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Frequent intoxication and smelling of alcohol
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Loss of control around alcohol use
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Hiding alcohol in strange places such as their garage, at the office, in bushes or in their car
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Drinking between work times or appointments, or drinking just enough to keep their alcohol levels topped up if they are alcohol dependent
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Frequent binge drinking after daily responsibilities are taken care of
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Justifying their drinking as a way of unwinding after work, a busy day with the kids or as a reward
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Becoming irritable, anxious, restless and unable to sleep if they are unable to drink
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Regularly drinking in the morning before going about their day, or at odd times of the day such as lunchtime in order to avoid alcohol withdrawal symptoms
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Always drinking at social events and ‘preloading’ prior to attending a social event
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Avoiding social events or activities that do not involve alcohol
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Alcohol has become a problem at home, with them either drinking excessively alone at home or disappearing to a pub or bar straight after work for hours
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Becoming defensive or flippant when challenged over their drinking
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Denying they are an alcoholic, reasoning that they still hold down a job or take the kids to school on time
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Alternating alcohol and prescription pills in order that they can function
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They may become erratic, spontaneous, angry or change their character completely whilst intoxicated
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Difficulty in recalling events that took place whilst heavily intoxicated – experiencing an alcoholic blackout
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Risk-taking, they may well drive to work or drive children to school whilst still over the limit from the previous night or from taking a morning drink
Martin Preston, Founder and Chief Executive at Delamere , previously shared the benefits of giving up alcohol. Cutting out alcohol can aid in weight loss due to the cutting down on a significant number of calories.
It can also make you stay better hydrated as drinking six glasses of wine is the equivalent to losing 20-24 glasses of water. This in turn will give you more energy and will make you less susceptible to things like migraines and headaches.
According to the NHS, alcohol misuse is when you drink in a way that’s harmful, or when you’re dependent on alcohol. The full list of short-term and long-term risks as well as advice on alcohol misuse can be found here.
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Sarah Carter is a health and wellness expert residing in the UK. With a background in healthcare, she offers evidence-based advice on fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being, promoting healthier living for readers.
