Stages of Alcoholism Signs, Symptoms, Treatment

Stage Four: Sever Alcohol Abuse and Dependence

Alcoholism is a progressive disease and without the help from a rehab program, it will only get worse and more complex to treat. It is important to note that alcohol abuse can be treated at any stage. While some people believe that a person must hit rock bottom to be successful in treatment, this is a harmful and dangerous myth. Grasping the stages of alcoholism requires people to understand how alcoholism is diagnosed, as each stage is characterized by a certain number of diagnostic symptoms.

Complacency or a sense that the work is done once you reach maintenance is often a one-way ticket to recovery relapse. Alcohol and drug abuse can tear families apart and transform loving and successful individuals into desperate, lonely husks of their former selves. Even though the impact is devastating, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Anyone can overcome addiction with the help and guidance of a substance abuse treatment program.

Addiction & Alcoholism

If two drinks were enough to calm their anxiety when they first started drinking alcohol, they may find they now need three or four drinks to feel the same way. Once an individual begins to drink more frequently, they have entered the second stage of alcoholism. During this stage, drinkers are typically still drinking solely in social settings. However, they need to consume more alcohol in order to produce the same effect they experienced in the beginning. Additionally, this stage of alcoholism is when an individual will begin to identify a sense of emotional relief as an effect of alcohol. It may sound backward, but the person may feel that they function better when they are intoxicated.