functional alcoholic
Concealed but addicted
A functional alcoholic is someone who maintains the outward appearance of a normal life—job, relationships, responsibilities—while drinking heavily or dependently.
The term emphasizes that alcoholism doesn't always look like rock bottom: He held a senior position for years; no one knew he was a functional alcoholic.
The phrase can minimize the severity of addiction or delay recognition that a problem exists.
- drinkerOne who consumes beverages
- denialRefusal to accept reality
- wineFermented grape beverage
- wine momParent stereotyped by alcohol humor
- hiddenKept out of sight
bottles · workplace · secret · cope · takes the edge off · maintain · facade · successful · professional · dependency · habit · evening · stress · liquid courage · routine · tolerance · excuses · sober
- Alcoholismdependence, dependency, problem drinking, binge drinking, heavy drinking
- drinkersdrinker, drinkers, imbiber, imbibers, drunk
functional alcoholicteetotaler
Complete abstainer from liquor
abstainer · recovering alcoholic · non-drinker · straight edge · temperance advocate
functional alcoholicsocial drinker
One who imbibes socially
functional, function, functions, functioned, functioning, functionary, functionality, dysfunctional, malfunction