Stages of Alcoholism Signs & Symptoms You Need to Look For

Therapy is a crucial part of the recovery process, as it helps individuals address the underlying mental health issues that may have contributed to their alcohol dependency. Binge drinking is particularly concerning because it significantly increases the risk of developing alcohol use disorder. This pattern of excessive drinking often leads to periods of intoxication, where individuals may lose control over their behavior and decision-making abilities. In the end-stages of alcoholism there are noticeable health conditions, like jaundice, from liver failure. There are also more subtle signs like itchy skin, fluid retention, fatigue, and bleeding. If you know someone who drinks regularly and has these symptoms, have them reach out to a treatment provider to discuss their treatment options.

• In addition, medications may be able to help ease or stop drinking and guard against relapses.
• It’s essential that you get help at this stage before the situation worsens.
• Priorities shift to make drinking alcohol the No. 1 priority in the person’s life.
• If you or a loved one are showing signs of problem drinking, it is a sure sign to get help and attempt to stop drinking before the stages of alcoholism progress.

Inpatient Programs

As people move out of the pre-alcoholic stage, you may notice an uptick in their usage. They may be binge drinking more regularly and experiencing blackouts more frequently. However, these behaviors may not become worrisome to someone at this stage. They may believe it’s normal behavior, especially because it’s been widely discussed as an occasional side effect of drinking. Symptoms of a person’s alcoholism will continue to grow worse as they progress into the illness. Without early intervention, a person can end up developing a severe addiction to alcohol and need serious alcohol treatment.

Alcohol consumption and social drinking

Heavy drinking poses many long-term health risks, including liver damage, brain damage, heart disease, malnutrition, and mental health disorders, including an increased risk of suicide. At Rockland Treatment Center, we understand how consuming addiction is and how intimidating it is to take https://ecosoberhouse.com/ the first step to a better life. Your relationships are suffering and you do not feel like your friends or family understand your experience. Your health has likely deteriorated to the point of liver damage or even failure.

• Recognizing the signs of the middle stages of alcohol addiction and seeking appropriate treatment is crucial for breaking this cycle and preventing further decline.
• 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.
• Successful treatment for alcohol abuse and addiction typically combines medication, behavioral therapy, and an aftercare program.

Late Alcoholic or Chronic Phase

By the time you reach the third stage of AUD, symptoms are more obvious to you and those around you. Your drinking is affecting your ability to take care of responsibilities at work 5 stages of alcoholism and home and getting in the way of day-to-day life. You could be isolating yourself from friends and family, or giving up hobbies that you once enjoyed so that you can afford to spend more time and money on alcohol.

The Disease Model: How Alcoholism Progresses

• To learn more about the stages of alcoholism, and how you or a loved one can receive the help needed to reach long-term sobriety, contact us today.
• You may feel like there are no other options but to continue drinking to help the pain go away, even temporarily.
• In fact, most people are able to handle moderate alcohol consumption and have a low risk of developing an alcohol use disorder.
• However, no matter how hard a person may try to hide their alcoholism from you, there are several signs that you can be on the lookout for that might cue you in.

We all have specific problems and needs, and treating alcoholism is about understanding and catering to them to get results. However, no matter how hard a person may try to hide their alcoholism from you, there are several signs that you can be on the lookout for that might cue you in. Alcohol abuse may look different for every person you come across, so it can be hard to distinguish if there is a problem. It’s also not something most people are willing to admit or seek help for, making it even more difficult to recognize.

They may also start experiencing severe health problems related to excessive drinking, such as early symptoms of liver damage. The pre-alcoholic stage is characterized by occasional or moderate drinking with no signs of physical or psychological dependence on alcohol yet present. Binge drinking is defined by The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism as a pattern of drinking alcohol that brings blood alcohol concentration to .08 percent or higher.

• Experts have increasingly seen these terms as negative and unhelpful labels.
• Alcoholism can impact anyone, no matter what they are going through.
• If a person believes they may be drinking excessively or may have developed AUD, they should speak with a healthcare or mental health professional or reach out to a support organization.

As the disease becomes more severe, blackouts and loss of control can happen. And the physical costs of excessive alcohol use become noticeable. At this stage, drinking becomes everything in your life, even at the expense of your livelihood, your health and your relationships. Attempts to stop drinking can result in tremors or hallucinations, but therapy, detox, and rehab can help you get your life back. One of the biggest concerns with risky drinkers is when they don’t think they have a problem. Moderate drinking is the only safe way to consume alcohol, but drinking in general isn’t safe for everyone.

In fact, you may be experiencing a lot of thoughts and feelings during this stage. You may not be sure how to address your struggles with the stages of alcoholism. For drinking to be considered binge drinking, a male would consume five or more drinks within the space of two hours. A female, meanwhile, would consume four or more within two hours.

In this last stage of alcoholism, the individual often exhibits both physical and mental health issues. The most destructive form of alcoholism is chronic alcoholism, an emotionally, socially and physically devastating disease. Alcoholism emerges from alcohol abuse, when there’s a pattern of drinking despite negative consequences.

Late Alcoholic Stage

This is a crucial period, where getting help can significantly alter the course of your alcohol dependency. Take our quick online test to check your drinking habits and what they could mean for your health. To determine whether or not you may be in the first stage of what is Oxford House this model, answer the following questions. If you answer “yes” to most of them, you may be in this stage along with most people who drink on occasion. Treatment for AUD includes medication, therapy, and lifestyle changes. Copyright © 2025, AddictionHelp.com The information provided by AddictionHelp.com is not a substitute for professional medical advice.