Signs that you are a functioning alcoholic

Most people will tell you that they can control their alcohol, even if those watching them may be worried.

Some will even say the fact that they do not drink all week and only have a tipple on the weekend is a sign that they do not have a reliance on alcohol.

Others will say because they have one drink a day will mean there is no reliance at play.

When diagnosing a functioning alcoholic, experts use the four letters in the acronym CAGE.

C – Cutting down – do you ever think you should probably drink less?

A – Annoyance – do you ever feel annoyed by people complaining to you about your drinking?

G – Guilt – do you ever have feelings of guilt about your drinking or what you do when you drink?

E – Eye-opener – do you ever feel like you need a drink to feel better, particularly in the morning to unwind?

And it is said, if you answer yes to one one or two of those questions then you may be a functioning alcoholic.

Now these are all subtle signs and just because you have a couple of yeses it doesn’t mean it is so. The tipping point is when personal and professional relationships are at risk.

Dr Iqbal Mohiuddin, a consultant psychiatrist at 25 Harley Street Day Clinic, told Healthista that a massive third to a half of the people he sees for alcohol addiction don’t prescribe to our stereotypical image of an alcoholic.

That means you can look just like anyone else and still be a functioning alcoholic.

14 unites per week is what is suggested as healthy and there are suggestions that you might want to spread them over a couple of days and include a couple of alcohol-free days.

By the way, if you do not know what constitutes a unit, you can click here for a calculator by Drink Aware that helps you find out what is in each drink.

With information The Stylist