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Through my new book and this blog, I intend to increase awareness and to facilitate dialogue about high-functioning alcoholics and the challenges that they face. It is crucial that the stereotype of the "typical" alcoholic changes so that those alcoholics who are successful professionally and personally can break through their denial and get help. Read More
Maybe these people are so
Maybe these people are so stressed, that they drink to make them feel better.
https://docs.google.com/a/canifinancial.com/Doc?id=dhdvs3gk_6htgbt2dk&hl=en
response to "Maybe these people are so"
There are many people who live stressful lives but they do not turn to alcohol. Alcoholics use any excuse to drink- celebration, anger, stress. Normal drinkers may use alcohol to relax, but there is a difference between using alcohol, abusing alcohol and being alcoholic.
www.losingtom.org
I saw the write up on your book in the NY TImes. I have never heard the term HFA, but that is what my father (Tom) was for most of his life, until long term drinking damaged his brain to the point he could no longer function, and he went down hill quickly. He went from the HFA to the stereotypical alcoholic, homeless person. So I have seen both sides of the spectrum. Experiencing my father's alcoholism at the end, prompted to me to produce a documentary film and Web site called Losing Tom. I just wanted to say I think it is great when you can share something so private in a public way. I found it changed my life in ways I never imagined, and for my mother too. Hope you visit my web site www.losingtom.org and that you find you not only help yourself, but help others by doing what you are doing. Good luck with it.
Response to "www.losingtom.org"
I visited your Website and read through a description of the documentary that you made- it looks like a powerful film. I appreciate your encouragement and agree that it can be healing to share a matter such as alcoholism publicly in order to decrease some of the stigma around it.
As you mentioned with your father, it is possible to be an HFA for years. However, in some cases the progression takes over and the HFA hits a low bottom.
I appreciate how you addressed the stigma of alcoholism within your family and on a societal level. Your courage to come forward with your story will help others and also seems to have allowed you to find meaning in the pain that you have experienced from your father's alcoholism and subsequent passing.
Response to Early Show
I saw your story this morning on the Early Show. Thank you! I have often times, especially lately, thought that I have a drinking problem but was never able to admit it. I do and maybe now that I understand HFA is a true entity maybe I can begin recovery. Since I am fairly successful I felt like I could not be an alcoholic. Wow, what a self discovery and realization. Alcoholism is familial and I always denied that fact that it could have been passed on to me. My grandfathers, father, and now maybe even my son...so I can only assume or err on the side of safety that I must do something to help myself as well in order to help those who love me and support my son. I always thought this was a weakness in character which is one reason not to admit it and reach out for help but now that you have enlightened me as to the prevalence maybe I won't feel so alone.
Response to " Response to Early Show"
Thank you for your message- and it means alot to know that you were able to connect with a really brief version of my story on the CBS Early Show. Part of why I wrote this book is to help change the stereotype of the alcoholic. I struggled to accept and label myself as an alcohol, and have since learned the truth that it is not what your life looks like on the outside, but what happens to you when you are drinking/your relationship to alcohol
According to the Surgeon General's 2007 research, genetics account for 50% of the chance of being alcoholic, so your assumptions about the familial nature of alcoholism are correct.
You are truly not alone in terms of thinking you may be an HFA- in fact, there are more alcoholics are HFAs (20%) than "skid row" drunks (9%) according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Some addiction experts estimate that up to 75% of alcoholics are HFAs.
If you need to seek help, there are resource links listed on my Website at www.highfunctioningalcoholic.com. It is recommended that if you are physically dependent on alcohol (drinking daily) that you seek medical help if you should choose to stop drinking. In addition, it can be beneficial to seek therapy from an addiction specialist. Please let me know if you need a possible suggestion of one locally by emailing me at sarah@highfunctioningalcoholic.com
CBS Early Show link: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=5024746n
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