A former high-performing alcoholic has revealed the subtle (and sometimes socially accepted) signs that could indicate you're quietly struggling with alcohol dependence, even while holding down a full-time job.
The ex-drinker, Erik, who once earned $50,000 a month as a general manager and juggled meetings, deadlines, and client calls while hiding a heavy drinking habit, now wants others to recognise the early red flags that they may be slipping into the same pattern.
"I'm a recovering cocaine/alcoholic addict. I don't share this to diagnose, I just share this to help anyone out there, maybe, understand," he said in a video posted to YouTube Shorts.
He points to five key signs that you might be a functioning alcoholic, even if it doesn’t feel like one.
1. Alcohol becomes a part of your daily routine, morning and night
You might joke about a “shower beer” or a mimosa on the weekends, but if you find yourself drinking before work or reaching for a drink the second you're off the clock, that’s a red flag.
2. You choose restaurants or lunch spots that serve alcohol, even during the workday
For many functioning alcoholics, drinking during the day becomes normalised. Often, alcoholics make excuses to eat at bars or places with drink specials, and no one really bats an eye because of how normal it seems. It can be easy to hide, especially if others seem to be doing it.
3. You smell like booze at work, and make light of it
Showing up to work with bloodshot eyes or the lingering scent of alcohol on your breath becomes easy to brush off with a joke about a “big night” or “celebrating something.” But the ex-drinker says that’s a major warning sign, especially if it isn't just once in a while.
4. Drinking is your main way of coping with stress, and it’s never just one
If your first thought after a long day is heading to the pub or cracking open a cold one (and one quickly turns into three or more) that’s cause for concern.
5. You dodge questions, even from close friends
When loved ones start asking about your drinking habits, the knee-jerk response is to change the subject, laugh it off, or get defensive. Alcoholics generally don't want to admit they have a problem, so they often avoid any conversations that might force them to confront it.
Now sober, Erik says: "There's no right or wrong way of getting sober, it's your way of getting sober. So, don't forget that, don't give up, and keep going at it."
If you or someone you know is battling addiction, please reach out for help and contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA's) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (1-800-662-4357) or go to https://findtreatment.gov/