The early stage of alcoholism is deceptive, often masquerading as a phase of experimental or social drinking. Individuals may begin to use alcohol as a coping mechanism for stress, anxiety, or depression. This stage is characterized by a gradual shift from voluntary to compulsive drinking. Warning signs include drinking alone, lying about alcohol consumption, and an increasing focus on alcohol-related activities. People who are in the middle alcoholic stage are aware that they are unable to quit. They drink to excess often, despite the negative consequences, and they are physically and psychologically dependent on alcohol.
Long-Term Health Problems Associated with Chronic Heavy Drinking
When you drink frequently and heavily, your blood vessels narrow. This means your heart must work harder in order to push blood through your veins. This strain on the heart not only leads to high blood pressure, but it can also lead to a heart attack. Family and friends may start to notice cognitive issues, too. Memory decline and problems with concentration start to become apparent at this stage. Alcoholics tend to have intense cravings for alcohol when they are not drinking.
Graduate School of Addiction Studies
Even though alcohol has become a significant part of everyday life, early-stage alcoholics often deny that they have a problem and may be defensive about their drinking. They may also rationalize, or make excuses, for their behavior https://ecosoberhouse.com/ and insist they can stop drinking whenever they feel like it. As alcohol consumption increases, the liver adapts to break down alcohol more quickly. Over time, repeated alcohol exposure also alters a person’s brain chemistry.
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It’s a process of gradual change, of small victories accumulating over time. But with each obstacle overcome, you grow stronger and more capable. The maintenance stage isn’t about reaching stages of alcoholism perfection, but about continual growth and learning. The preparation stage is all about setting yourself up for success. It’s about creating a solid foundation for the action to come.
These physiological changes contribute to the increasing tolerance seen in early-stage alcoholics. Despite heavy alcohol consumption, they may show few signs of intoxication or ill effects from drinking, such as a hangover. And as tolerance builds, they’ll begin to drink more and more to achieve the same buzz or high they’re used to.
Stages of Alcoholism
Because alcoholism is a chronic disease and alcohol relapse is common, persistence is a necessity — but success is achievable. Later, it can cause fatigue, bleeding and bruising, itchy skin, yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes and fluid accumulation in the abdomen known as ascites. Fluid buildup in end-stage liver disease is a particularly ominous sign. Fifty percent of patients with ascites typically die within two years if they don’t have a liver transplant.
- By the time a person reaches end-stage alcoholism, drinking has taken over their lives and has likely had a negative impact on relationships, work or school, finances, and overall health.
- Hangovers, blackouts and stomach problems may now be physical symptoms that occur on a regular basis.
- If a person tries to quit drinking on their own during end-stage alcoholism, they may experience severe symptoms of withdrawal, including tremors and hallucinations.
- Here are some key characteristics of the late alcoholic stage.
You may also have problems completing tasks at work, home or school, and your relationships with others may start to crumble. Many alcoholics stop worrying about their appearance during this stage. They are typically obvious to others, including coworkers, family members, and friends.
Alcoholic blackouts happen more frequently, and you cannot fall asleep at night without drinking. The early stages of alcoholism are often difficult to detect as there may not be any obvious impairment or dysfunction. During this stage, the addicted person’s body is building up a tolerance to alcohol, so they may be able to drink larger quantities without losing control. The key to identifying this stage of the disease is to understand the social aspects of it.
Visible Signs of Alcohol Addiction Taking Hold
- Immune systemDrinking too much can weaken your immune system, making your body a much easier target for disease.
- End-stage alcoholism, also known as late-stage alcoholism, is the most severe.
- Excessive alcohol use over many years can cause infertility in women and erectile dysfunction in men.
- The affects can range from dementia and intellectual functioning to debilitating conditions that require long-term care, even if a person has been sober for a period of time.
- If someone increases their drinking significantly, there could be a problem.
It’s a stage marked by ambivalence – a push and pull between the desire to change and the comfort of familiar habits. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of Sober Recovery’s “Terms of Use”, “Privacy Policy”, “Cookie Policy”, and “Health Disclaimer”. The material on this site is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment provided by a qualified health care provider. The person may now secretly recognize there is a drinking problem, and others may begin to notice as well.
The 3 Stages of Alcoholism
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), recovery is a process that involves remission from AUD and quitting heavy drinking for good. Alcohol use disorder can include periods of being drunk (alcohol intoxication) and symptoms of withdrawal. The affects can range from dementia and intellectual functioning to debilitating conditions that require long-term care, even if a person has been sober for a period of time. Heavy alcohol consumption has been linked to more than 60 different diseases.
