The Stages of Alcoholism

Alcoholism develops in three stages. This disease can take many years to develop into a full blown addiction. Alcoholism begins when the drinker’s physical and mental health become affected and ruled by alcohol. At this point they have gone from drinking to alcoholism.

The early stages of alcoholism usually go unnoticed by not only friends and family but also the drinker. A person begins drinking in this stage for new reasons such as daily stress or a personal or professional problem. They may drink to change their mood or avoid the one they are currently feeling.

In the intermediate stage the drinker no longer needs a reason to drink. They may even fabricate reasons to drink. He or she is now drinking way over socially acceptable limits, until they reach a loss of control point or blackout. The drinker may have a DUI. Family and friends are now aware that there is a problem and the drinker gets angry when alcohol abuse is mentioned. The drinker thinks he or she can stop drinking anytime they want to. This is no longer the case. They will say “I will never drink again!” and sincerely mean it. They are shocked to find that when they stop, the cravings for alcohol are all but unbearable.

The advanced stage of alcohol is undeniable. Friends and family are now hurt and angry at the destruction the drinker has brought upon themselves and those around them. The drinker has inflicted permanent damage to their internal organs and may have lost their jobs or much, much more. Trying to convince the drinker to stop drinking now is usually pointless as these efforts go ignored by the drinker.

At this point it is going to take a catastrophic event to get the alcoholic to decide he or she really wants to stop drinking. At this advanced stage when the drinker makes a sincere attempt to stop drinking, he or she will find out that the addiction has completely taken hold, and there will be extreme withdrawal symptoms.

Quitting alcohol is a tremendous challenge. There are many success stories of people who were able to overcome their addiction to alcoholit can be done. But for all of the success stories, there are those who battled alcohol and wanted to win that were unable to beat the strong hold alcohol has. The most important thing to remember is that you can do it and no matter what obstacles come, never give up.