Like many forms of addiction, alcoholism is a progressive condition. Health experts are largely unanimous that there are three or four stages through which a problem alcoholic goes through getting worse after each stage. Understanding the characteristics of each of these stages of alcoholism is important for a person to successfully assist an alcoholic recover.
The first stage of alcoholism is where someone starts to develop growing resilience to the intoxicating effects of alcohol. At this point a person finds that they have to drink more alcohol over time in order to get the high they so crave. Often, many people in this stage are unaware of the changes that are taking place within them and would be quick to deny any risk of descending into a full blown alcohol addict.
The second stage is a little more dramatic. The individual starts to have a strong dependency on alcohol and they do not feel comfortable or confident doing anything before they have had a drink. It is at this stage that the deterioration of vital interpersonal relationships including close friends and family starts to take place. Of the stages of alcoholism, it is at this stage that one will probably lose their job or lead their business into financial distress.
As would be expected, the final stage of alcoholism is where matters come to a head. Here, dependence on alcohol is so strong that it ceases to just be a distraction to someone's life but an end of itself. None of the stages of alcoholism present more danger to the alcoholic's personal safety than the third stage. The alcoholic's physical appearance sees a marked deterioration and the effect on internal body organs such as the liver will start to take their toll.
It is never too late for a person to be weaned off alcohol addiction. However, the ability to interpret the outward telltale signs plays a key part in how effective the rehabilitation and therapy will be. This is the reason why you must know the stages of alcoholism.
The first stage of alcoholism is where someone starts to develop growing resilience to the intoxicating effects of alcohol. At this point a person finds that they have to drink more alcohol over time in order to get the high they so crave. Often, many people in this stage are unaware of the changes that are taking place within them and would be quick to deny any risk of descending into a full blown alcohol addict.
The second stage is a little more dramatic. The individual starts to have a strong dependency on alcohol and they do not feel comfortable or confident doing anything before they have had a drink. It is at this stage that the deterioration of vital interpersonal relationships including close friends and family starts to take place. Of the stages of alcoholism, it is at this stage that one will probably lose their job or lead their business into financial distress.
As would be expected, the final stage of alcoholism is where matters come to a head. Here, dependence on alcohol is so strong that it ceases to just be a distraction to someone's life but an end of itself. None of the stages of alcoholism present more danger to the alcoholic's personal safety than the third stage. The alcoholic's physical appearance sees a marked deterioration and the effect on internal body organs such as the liver will start to take their toll.
It is never too late for a person to be weaned off alcohol addiction. However, the ability to interpret the outward telltale signs plays a key part in how effective the rehabilitation and therapy will be. This is the reason why you must know the stages of alcoholism.
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