The Three Stages of Alcoholism
There are three stages of alcoholism that usually take years to develop, and it is very important to recognize those early stages of alcoholism so you can seek help before it's too late. The three stages are simply termed, the early, the middle, and end stages of alcoholism. Below you will find more information on each of these stages of alcoholism. Remember, if you or your loved one is currently experiencing any of these stages, please seek treatment before it’s too late.
Alcoholism can be defined as the over consumption of alcoholic beverages where it effects someone’s physical and mental wellbeing. Currently, it is considered perfectly acceptable for a healthy adult to be able to consume one or two drinks daily without it affecting them mentally or physically. These rules do not count for pregnant women or for someone who has had addiction to alcohol in the past.
Early Stages of Alcoholism
In the early stages of alcoholism, a person will begin to allow alcohol to affect their mood or behavior. A person may not even realize they are in the early stages of alcoholism, and tell themselves they are just drinking to relieve stress or have a good time while out with friends or family. During this stage a persons tolerance may increase, meaning it will take more alcohol to achieve the feeling they are hoping to receive from the alcohol. If a person continues to drink during this stage their body will become dependent on alcohol. This will enable them to be able to drink large amount of alcohol without appearing to be under the influence.
Over time the body will no longer be able to handle those large amounts of alcohol. When this happens the person’s body will start to lose control of certain bodily functions.If a person doesn't seek treatment during this stage they will move to the next stage.
Middle Stages of Alcoholism
During the middle stages of alcoholism the alcoholic may begin to have a stronger urge for the alcohol and can no longer control their desire to drink. During these stages of alcoholism they may begin to drink greater amounts of alcohol and drink during times they normally would not. These stages of alcolohism commonly show the alcoholic is now losing control of their ability to stop drinking and their body now processes alcohol differently than it did in the early stages of alcoholism.
During these middle stages of alcoholism, the disease starts to affect a person in more apparent ways; such as physically, mentally and in various social settings. During these early stages of alcoholism, a person may be able to control when they drink, during the middle stages of alcoholism the alcoholic begins to lose control of their desire to drink. The body will need alcohol more than during the early stages of alcoholism and the cravings will start to get out of control. This particular stage can last for any amount of time as every person is different. An alcoholic starts to experience blackouts or other strong reactions when they don't give their body the alcohol it now needs and desires, then they are moving on to the final stages of alcoholism.
Late/End stages of Alcoholism
In the final stages of alcoholism, the alcoholic will now drink excessively and will lose all control over their addiction. It’s normal for an alcoholic in this stage to avoid all social situations and spend their time drinking an excessive amount of alcohol. It would be very hard for an alcoholic during this stage to now hide their addiction from family and friends. Because of this they may cut themselves off from the outside world and focus all their attention to drinking.
During this stage the mental and psychical condition of the alcoholic is greatly altered and can now cause great damage to major organs. One organ that is greatly affected by alcohol abuse is the liver. During these final stages of alcoholism a body’s liver function begins to fail, if the liver functions are decreased it means the body can no longer “filter” out impurities in the same way it once could. This can cause even more damage to the body. Another side effect apparent in the final stages of alcoholism is malnutrition. This is because excessive amounts of alcohol affects how the body digests it's nutrition. Alcohol abuse often leaves an alcoholic suffering from malnutrition. Now we have reached the last stages of alcoholism, death is certain unless help is received immediately. The body can shut down from years of alcohol abuse, suicide often occurs and accidents are common, because they were under the influence.
It’s very important to remember during these last stages of alcoholism a persons health is on a razors edge. The body's physical craving for alcohol is great and just simply skipping a drink can cause severe detox. During this stage– if an alcoholic is ready to become sober they must do so in a medically supervised detox and this process can take a while. It is very important to remember that alcoholism is a disease and needs to be treated as such. It is not just a matter of “just don't drink.” The longer a person drinks the harder it will be for the body to no longer crave alcohol.
It is important to know that no matter which of the stages of alcoholism the person is at, there is always hope. The Internet is full of resources for alcoholics and information is readily available on where to seek help. A local support group such as Alcoholics Anonymous is a great resource for helping an alcoholic come to terms with their addiction, and helping them to continue to lead a sober life even after the physical craving is long gone. With any addiction the first and most important step is admitting there is a problem and seeking help to stop the addiction before it’s too late.
I hope you now will have a better understanding of these stages of alcoholism.
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