Alcohol Freedom Blog

There is a common misconception that alcoholics are easily identified based on their appearance, where they live, their job status, or because they look or act “impaired”. When you factor in slipping job performance, and/or increasingly showing up late or calling in sick, it may seem easy to point to someone as having a drinking problem.

But what of those who have become adept at hiding their drinking habits behind their life and/or career successes, or are what is commonly referred to as a high functioning alcoholic (HFA)?

At first, high functioning alcoholics in executive positions may believe they have their drinking under control because it isn’t obviously affecting what they do. They still make all the big decisions, conduct important meetings and keep the stock holders happy – today. In an instant all this can change.

As time goes on and excessive drinking continues, they may not notice that they’re not as sharp in their thinking, or notice memory lapses or that crucial tasks and planning may be forgotten or mishandled. Others will. At that point, it is not just your health or your family’s well-being on the line, but a company’s reputation and bottom line.

For an executive in this position, they may feel they’re in a “no win” situation.

On the one hand, they can admit they have a problem, seek help and take time off away from the company to participate in an in-patient alcohol treatment program. They know this can still affect the company or organization they represent in a negative way. Stock prices can fall, confidence in their abilities and past decisions can be questioned while away, and they’re not able to address them directly.

On the other hand, they’ve considered attending AA meetings, but whether they fear recognition or for any other reason, decide it just isn’t an option for them.

But they know if they don’t get help, chances are they will still continue to drink, leaving their company, family and health at risk.

Fortunately there are confidential, out-patient treatment programs available to help those who may feel there are no other options. Freedom From Alcohol® is an effective, discrete treatment program that not only helps curb the compulsion to drink and identify your drinking triggers, but just as importantly, works with you to create a roadmap to achieve the life you want to regain or to have in your personal and professional life.

In my post last week, I mentioned the challenges of coping with the holidays. I’d like to share some ideas with you that I think will help take you away from bad habits this holiday season:

1. Get plenty of sleep and exercise. Proper rest and being active helps you handle the extra stress of the holiday season.
2. Design your ideal day. Sit down and think of a perfect day, think of the things you would do from the moment you woke up until the moment you go back to sleep. Where would you work, where would you be, what would you wear and with whom would you spend your time. Thinking of the life you want can be a powerful trigger to help you evaluate your current activities and habits.
3. Do something completely different. Take a walk through your neighborhood to view holiday decorations, go on a picnic or visit a museum. Familiarity can be a trap, especially around the holidays. When you are trying to drink less, it’s difficult to keep the same social schedule or routine without reaching for a drink.

Through the use of anti-craving medication and our proven Freedom From Alcohol Method ® we’ve helped so many make it through the holidays without excessive drinking. If you need help now, please consult your doctor or contact me to learn if our program is the right one to help you curb excessive drinking.

As the holiday season is upon us, there are usually more opportunities or excuses for functioning alcoholics to over-indulge. Informal happy hours with co-corkers are filled with well wishes for most, and pitfalls for the alcoholic. Work sponsored holiday parties and social gatherings are also risky endeavors that could lead to embarrassing behavior and career threatening transgressions.

Holiday parties are one source of opportunity for the high functioning alcoholic but of equal concern are the senses of loneliness, stress and despair that many people feel during the holiday season. (If you often feel extra stress this time of year, The Mayo Clinic has some great tips to cope with the extra stress of the holiday season.) For many people, making it from Thanksgiving to New Years’ usually involves excessive consumption of alcohol.

What’s important to remember is that most alcoholics are not on the street begging for change. Most are among us contributing to society and holding down jobs. Most are like you or your friends. In between work and drinking, alcoholics often attempt to have normal family and other relationships. It’s only as the disease progresses, usually without self realization, that alcoholics begin to sabotage their careers and friendships.

So how do you know if you have a problem?

1. Keep a journal of your drinking through the holidays
2. Set a hard limit of drinks and see if you can stick to it
3. Take the alcohol screening test

Most importantly, whether you feel you have a problem or you feel you don’t — but still want to curb your drinking; contact me today to see if The Freedom From Alcohol Method® is right for you.

As we all have heard, alcoholics are quick to deny that they have a drinking problem and as we’ve discussed in previous posts, functioning alcoholics don’t realize they are in the grasp of alcohol until it is too late. It’s unfortunate because it can mean the destruction of their career, family life, social networks and their own health.

Many managers are able to easily observe a workplace problem or opportunity and take an objective look to come up with unique ways to solve an old problem. I challenge you today to apply this same business thinking to your drinking. Let’s analyze the impact that your own drinking may be having on you and your organization.

For example according to The National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information you:

• Are far less productive.
• Use three times as many sick days.
• Are more likely to injure yourself or someone else.
• Are five times more likely to file worker’s compensation claims.

According to the Department of Labor and a study conducted in Ohio, the following improvements in job-related performance were found in companies that addressed alcohol abuse prevention in the workplace:

• 91 percent decrease in absenteeism.
• 88 percent decrease in problems with supervisors.
• 93 percent decrease in mistakes in work.
• 97 percent decrease in on-the-job injuries.

So if you won’t listen to your colleagues, your family and friends; sit down and think of the positive impact that a new life which keeps alcohol in-check might bring to your business and yourself.

You may not even need to leave your home or work to get help. A number of new treatments like the Freedom From Alcohol Method® are available. Through the use of anti-craving medication and counseling, you can receive confidential treatment to help you abstain or lessen alcohol’s grip on your health and behavior – and take your life back from alcohol.

It takes one to know one. That old expression from our adolescence usually rings true. Experience is a great teacher and is a powerful engine for the human experience. Even small children learn from experience. Whether we are learning a letter or a color, once we know how to identify something we can easily pick it out of a group. However, what’s true for the telltale crooked lines of a “Z” or the calming of the “blue” sky; is not true of alcoholism.

Many people only recognize an alcoholic as the person on the street with a bottle in his hand or someone that is not able to hold down a job. As defined by Merriam-Webster, Alcoholism is the continued excessive or compulsive use of alcoholic drinks.

Because they don’t know how to recognize it and the effect of the alcohol, alcoholics are very often blind to their own disorder. As their disease progresses, most alcoholics are functioning members of society: They hold down jobs and are successful in their careers, and family life; however, in hindsight many such drinkers have observed significant problematic issues unaddressed in these areas that he or she denies or is unaware of. Without help, it’s very likely this disease will cause the loss of all these things held dear.

I encourage you to read a recent post on taking your life back and recognizing signs of alcoholism and to get help today if you think you may be a high functioning alcoholic, or might know someone who is.

How do you know when you need help? As we covered in previous posts, Alcoholism is a progressive disease that seems to occur unbeknownst to the person with the affliction. The functioning alcoholic does not necessarily realize that their pattern of drinking has become more predictable and that they are slowly increasing their consumption.

So if you think you might be a high functioning alcoholic, or someone you care about or respect is questioning your decision to drink; how do you know if you have a problem?

Here are the three strategies to help you arrive at the answer to the question: Do I need help?

1. Set a limit for your drinking. If you can consume 2 or 3 alcoholic beverages over the course of your night out and can consistently stop without having “just one more” or “one for the road.” You may not need help. (In all cases we would recommend you consult with a qualified medical practitioner.) The key is to be honest with your self and to set a limit that is safe and much less than you may normally have.
2. Keep a journal of your drinking. Note not only the date and day but the times, types of drinks and amounts. If you see any patterns developing or drinking not within normal realms (The two martini lunch only happened on Bewitched), then please seek an impartial consultation from a medical professional.
3. Take a que from the Office of Professional Management and review their handbook on alcohol in the workplace. When you think of the warning signs, do you think of yourself?

The key to addressing High Functioning Alcoholism is honest self evaluation and to  get help today.