It’s often difficult to recognize an alcoholic, as most of them can, at least superficially, carry out their everyday responsibilities. Maybe they’re even members of our families. The high-functioning alcoholics are very adept at concealing their alcoholism from others, even from themselves. However, the signs are there. You just have to search for them.
So what exactly is a high-functioning alcoholic?

To function is to be able to carry out specific actions or activities, to operate or to work. High-functioning alcoholics, then, can convincingly deal with their prescribed roles and carry out their daily duties – yet they are addicted to alcohol. They can maintain their relationships with their family, friends, and coworkers, keep up with their jobs and hobbies. In essence, they live a double life: they are outwardly the successful, capable husbands, wives, siblings, sons, daughters, friends, or coworkers, while inside they are suffering from alcoholism.

High-functioning alcoholics have the same disease with skid-row drunks, but they follow a different progression. With their unique high level of denial, the first often find it extremely difficult to admit that they even drink too much. Through years of success and achievement – in spite of their drinking issue – the HFA isn’t defined as an alcoholic by others.

Also, due to the stigma and shame that’s still associated with alcoholism, the HFA would hate to admit to others, let alone themselves, that they have a problem with alcohol. Their personal denial makes others unable to realize that this person is indeed alcoholic.

Since they can’t admit that they are alcoholics, HFAs are likely to remain undiagnosed. Also, they are often the last to look for treatment for their disease.

Here are 13 warning signs and symptoms of HFAs:

1) The HFAs usually surround themselves with others who like to drink.
This assimilation makes it hard to pick out the HFA from the rest drinkers. Besides, the HFA actually enjoys drinking and being around other drinkers.

2) They are obsessed with alcohol.

3) One drink is never enough.

4) Alcohol is part of their lives.

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