What are the physical/facial signs of an alcoholic?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m an alcoholic and it is clear why no one knew. Most posters seem to have a vaudeville idea of what an alcoholic looks like.

People knew. I can tell if my alcoholic mother speaks one single word to me. The tone of her voice immediately gives it away. This thread asked for physical signs so people shared this. I hate an alcoholic who thinks they had everyone fooled. You didn’t.

Sorry for your trauma but this is BS. People definitely didn’t know the extent of my drinking and this thread shows why. The responses are cartoonish.

I bet your mother is drinking much more than you know. Alcoholics are experts at hidden drinking. By the time they lose control of hiding it, they are many drinks in.

Are you dumb? I am aware she drinks a ton, she’s an alcoholic, like I said. I’m not confused about that. Typical alcoholic behavior, thinking you’re smarter than everyone - ooooh nobody knows I drink, I’m the one person in the world who can hide alcohol abuse; oooh let me tell you about your own experience with your mom's drinking. You guys are not half as clever as you think are in your own delusional minds.

Your experience with your mother does not mean that you can speak with knowledge about alcoholics in general. Many alcoholics are extremely high-functioning, successful people.

My alcoholism has never impacted my career negatively, and in my support groups I can point out many others who continued at the top of their game into and through getting sober. I am a top expert in my field, and remained so during and after the decade I abused alcohol.

I'm sorry your mother is an alcoholic, but that doesn't make you an expert on alcoholism in its many forms. And there are MANY. There's a huge range, as anyone who has spent time in the recovery world knows.

If you've spent time in recovery, you've no doubt heard about the "fantasy of functionality". Our culture won't stop the raging alcoholic while they are still able to function. We need the labor. But that doesn't mean we don't know. Once you've got a problem with alcohol, it shows.

I'm sorry you still haven't gotten honest with yourself about your shame and embarrassment. Forgive yourself. But a fearless moral inventory is gonna reveal all the people who knew you were a drunk and didn't care enough to call you out because you were still "functional enough". You weren't fooling them. You are not the magical stealthy alcoholic (and holding to the belief that you are/were is a slip risk, friend).

DP. What a strange and hostile response. My closest friends and even some family members were shocked when I stopped drinking completely and were genuinely surprised when I said it was because I had a problem with alcohol. I mean, I think everyone to a person would have described me as someone who loved a drink/would never turn down a drink, but I don't think any of them had any idea I was putting away two bottles of wine a night on the regular.

[Anonymous]

Bloated appearance, puffy face, weight gain
Smell--body odor that smells kind of sicky sweet
Smell of alcohol on their breath

[Anonymous]

Functional alcoholic: dark puffy eyebags too young.