Classifying Alcoholism: The 4 Stages and 3 Severity Levels

They may develop serious health issues related to their alcohol consumption and may struggle to maintain any semblance of a normal life. Treatment options typically involve a combination of medical, psychological, and social interventions to help individuals recover from alcoholism and achieve long-term sobriety. As alcoholism progresses to later stages, however, alcoholic hepatitis may develop. This is an inflammation of the liver, and some symptoms include yellowing eyes, muscle pain, and dark urine. The later stages of hepatitis may cause swelling in the ankles and legs.

As a person with a high tolerance continues to drink heavily, their body adapts to the presence of alcohol. After ongoing heavy use, the body may develop a physical dependence. A person with a dependence may go through withdrawal symptoms without a certain level of alcohol in their body. 5 Steps to Breaking Your “After Work Drink” Habit When the normally high level of alcohol in a person’s body begins to drop, they may feel physically ill. They may only feel well when they maintain a consistent level of alcohol in their bloodstream. When casual drinkers move into early-stage alcoholism, their tolerance begins to rise.

Careers – Join Our Team

If you or a loved one has an alcohol use disorder, don’t hesitate to call us. Alcohol in large amounts interferes with the digestion process and the passage of nutrients from the intestines into the bloodstream. Liver function has been damaged, further limiting the conversion of nutrients into a usable form that the body can assimilate.

Unless and until the cause of the addiction is identified and new coping mechanisms can be put in place, you’re likely to run back to the bottle the next time the patterns of your life re-emerge. Detoxing from alcohol is dangerous at either stage, but most dangerous at the third stage. Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome can be more https://en.forexdata.info/after-work-wine-the-dangers-of-drinking-to-cope/ painful and more complicated than withdrawal from any other drug due to the way alcohol impacts the brain. Guidelines give us a framework for establishing and identifying problems, but every person is different. Every alcoholic is not the same person, and each alcoholic will have a different relationship with alcohol.

The Early Stage of Alcoholism

Alcoholism typically falls into four stages, with each stage getting progressively worse. We do not receive any commission or fee that is dependent upon which treatment provider a caller chooses. No matter what you do, don’t give up hope – recovery is achievable if you keep at it.

We can guide you through the worst of your alcohol withdrawal symptoms and make you more comfortable during the detox process. Watching a loved one endure the end stages of alcoholism can be frustrating and lonely. The feeling of powerlessness is stifling as you watch someone you care about slowly deteriorate physically and mentally while they may even continue to refuse to admit their drinking is problematic. For those who need help and don’t want it, intervention may be the only alternative. Alcohol use disorder is a progressive disease that includes a beginning, middle, and end stage, which can result in life-threatening health conditions.