Functional Alcoholism
Some alcoholics still manage to perform most of the functions of daily living. The defense of the functioning alcoholic is often If I’m getting through the day, then what’s the problem? First of all, alcohol itself has several long and short-term impacts on health if you drink too much from weight gain, depression, liver and kidney damage, and even insomnia. Second, the alcoholic is often self-treating for other conditions, either mental or physical, and so long as these underlying causes are not being addressed, they will persist. Finally, alcoholism is often a progressive illness and eventually, even the functioning alcoholic will start to function less.