Can a Functioning Alcoholic Be Affected by One Drink?
We normally associate alcoholism with increased tolerance to alcohol. Alcoholics often are able to drink a great deal before the usual symptoms of intoxication kick in — slurred speech, falling asleep, getting loud, poor balance, and poor judgment which could lead to and accident or a DUI charge.
However, there are exceptions. Some functioning alcoholics do indeed show signs of intoxication with as little as a single drink. There are at least two different reasons why this might happen.
The first and most common is that alcohol does not easily leave the system of some alcoholics. The first drink of the day is added to the remains of what they drank the day before.
A healthy liver will process the alcohol and related toxins within about 12 hours. That is why the rule for pilots is, "Twelve hours from bottle to throttle." But if a person's liver is becoming impaired by the abuse of alcohol, it may take much longer to process and eliminate the alcohol. So if an alcoholic requires less and less alcohol to get a buzz, he might be well advised to have his liver checked. Or better yet, stop drinking altogether.
There is a school of thought about allergies suggesting that we crave what we are allergic to. If an alcoholic has become allergic to alcohol and abstains from alcohol for a period of time, it may take very little alcohol to affect his system dramatically. Sometimes the body's reaction to the reintroduction of alcohol is violent. I have first-hand experience with that.
Of course, a particular individual could have both an under-functioning liver and a growing allergic reaction to alcohol.
The prolonged abuse of alcohol takes its toll on the body. Besides destroying brain cells, it affects liver function and can have major effects on metabolism. Because alcohol is a diuretic, and alcoholics typically don't drink much water, they tend to be in a chronic state of dehydration. Dehydration can of course be responsible for a host of other problems, including brain fog.
Dr. Neill Neill, Registered Psychologist, maintains an active psychology and life-coaching practice on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada. He is a member of the treatment team at Sunshine Coast Health Centre, an alcohol and drug treatment center for men. His goal is to help you to help yourself to a better life. http://www.neillneill.com
Filed under Symptoms of Alcoholism by Dr. Neill Neill
Comments on Can a Functioning Alcoholic Be Affected by One Drink? »
Ashley @ 9:46 am
My husband has always been known as a “partier” … in our early twenties I didn’t see it as a particular “problem,” partially believing that this is what most twenty-somethings do, and partially because I was naiive. Now that we are married and have a two year old son (and another on the way) I cannot and will not accept his drinking habits. I’ve been on line researching Chad’s drinking habits - functioning alcoholic? Maybe. He seems to be like none other that I read about, though. He can go all week without drinking (and feels like this is a HUGE deal) but once Friday rolls around, he brings home a 12 pack (or even an 18 pack) and starts drinking as soon as he gets home. Long after I go to bed he stays up drinking those Bud Lights and watching TV. Usually he passes out on the couch with one in his hand. He claims he just wants a buzz and can’t get one so he has to keep drinking. But I can tell he’s affected by the beer after maybe three or four - he will never admit to being drunk. Why or how anyone could consume 18 beers by THEMSELVES is a mystery to me. Of course, when I bring it up, I hear the same excuses - “I work hard all week - what’s wrong with having a couple beers?” (nothing - if it was just a ‘couple’) or “You drive me to drink” or “It’s my only escape. Otherwise I am just a guy who’s married and has a kid.” While this behavior is extremely bothersome, it’s the drinking when we’re in public or with friends that’s completely hummiliating. I dread when people invite us over for BBQ’s or swim parties or even simply for a nice dinner, because I know Chad will be the drunkest, if not the ONLY drunk one at the end of the night. I KNOW that he can’t stop once he’s had a sip of alcohol. If he has a glass of wine, he needs the whole bottle. If he drinks a beer, he needs at least twelve more. It’s not that he gets violent when he drinks, or even angry, if anything, he gets emotional…but the bottom line is I can’t stand his loss of control. I can’t stand him when he’s drinking. In fact, I HATE the person he is when he’s drinking. I am always the alcohol police - “Chad, drink some water,” or “Chad, that’s your last beer.” Of course he never listens, but I hate that I even have to monitor his drinking at all. Meanwhile, our son is watching, waiting to emulate him, waiting to be just like daddy. He already points to a beer and yells out “Beer! Daddy!” I approach him about his drinking and all I get from him is denial - he gets angrily defensive, tells me that he goes all week without a drink, that he doesn’t drink during the day…I’ve talked to his mother, who deep down doesn’t REALLY think he has a drinking problem (but all three of her sons do), I’ve talked to his friends (who all aknowledge his problem but refuse to talk to him about it)…I don’t know what else to do. He won’t listen and no one but me will speak up. I need some advice.
Dr. Neill Neill @ 7:26 pm
Dear Ashley,
Your husband’s alcoholism (alcohol addiction) is unmistakable and it is beyond the point of leveling off–it will get worse. Addiction is a horrible way to ruin lives. it sneaks up.
It is also apparent that you are becoming addicted to caring for an alcoholic. Of course, you concern is born in love (and self preservation), but your trying to intervene just gives him further excuses to continue drinking. That’s codependency.
Read some of the articles I’ve written on codependency. I go into it a bit further in the free ebook, “Addiction and Codependency,” you get when you register for my monthly newsletter. And better yet, if you are on my newsletter list, you will get access to my book “Living with a Functioning Alcoholic, A Woman’s Survival Guide” at a deep discount before I release it to the general public sometime in the next 3-4 weeks.
Ashley, I do hope this will prove to be of some help.
Neill
rick @ 7:19 am
my wife is great,until she starts drinking.she has already been told she has a bad liver,but it has not stopped her. whenever i try to talk to her she always turns to table and says anything bad about me and never accepts the fact her drinking is probably our number 1 problem.we have 3 great boys,they donot want to be around her when she is drinking and she says she is not drunk but we all know better.her comment is always about how hard she works,and that she makes more money than me.i could go on and on but the bottom line is i love my wife,but once our 16 year old leaves,i am not sure i can stay with her if she keeps this up.or worse,what if she dies from this. how do i convince her she needs help?
George @ 1:09 am
I have a fiance who I believe is a functioning alcoholic. I need help on how to handle this. I have not approached her about my concerns yet.
Sheann @ 4:09 am
My mom was an alcoholic and died age 63. I'd been driven to leave home thru the terrible thimgs she said which made me have extreme low self esteem and a very lonely life. I can't get over terrible experiences caused by fathers abuse and mums drinking
Dr. Neill Neill @ 8:55 am
Hi Rick,
A belated response, I know. With my son dying this spring from heart failure as a result of drug and alcohol abuse, I have neglected a lot of things. Sorry.
You can't convince her she needs help. That's her path. If your part ways permanently, it would not surprise me if she faced herself, cleaned up and moved on. That happens to some. But what happens to others is a continuation of the self abuse with continued deteriorating health. It is not knowable what she would do. What is fairly certain is that she won't change unless something else changes.
You have some tough choices to make, but don't give up on yourself.
In response to a comment from Allan on another article, I wrote, "I have been getting increasing numbers of comments from men who live with alcoholic wives. You know, I'm sure, that I wrote a book for women on living with alcoholic men. Do you think there would be value in a book for men who live with alcoholic wives.
Although many of the problems are the same, there are differences. I and other men, I'm sure, would appreciate your thoughts on the matter."
Rick, if you would care to share your thoughts on the matter, it would be appreciated.
Neill
Dr. Neill Neill @ 9:04 am
Hi George,
Please see the beginning of my response to Rick, and accept my apologies.
Put your concerns out in the open as soon as possible. You need to know right away whether she realizes she has a problem and takes action to deal with it, denies she has a problem, or is insulted that you even suggested it and leaves.
It get much more complicated after you marry and doubles again when you have children.
Neill
Dr. Neill Neill @ 9:20 am
Hello Sheann,
I'm sorry about your mom. I know the pain of watching a loved one slowly kill themselves.
You have been through a lot. With modern energy psychology, it is possible to to turn childhood trauma into ordinary memory. The trauma will have helped to shape who you are, but it doesn't have to trigger you and continue to plague you. It doesn't have to lead being a poor parent or spouse. All of this is treatable.
I know it's treatable, because I've been through a childhood with sexual abuse, abduction and torture, parental death, sibling separation and hunger. I needed to do the work to become the happy productive person I am.
Do take a look at some of the articles on my other website, http://www.neillneill.com and don't lose hope.
Love and blessings,
Neill