Stages of Alcoholism Atlanta, Georgia Addiction & Detox Program

Once it takes hold, it can be hard to shake loose—without the right help. Drinking large amounts of alcohol at one time is dangerous, and can even lead to coma or death. Furthermore, you may become dependent on the feeling you get from drinking and find that these episodes increase in frequency. This is especially true for teens who attend parties where drinking is the primary activity. You might think binge drinking is safe when you only do it occasionally, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

It may sound backward, but the person may feel that they function better when they are intoxicated. This is because they only feel the negative effects of alcohol when they stop drinking. In early-stage alcoholism, the person maintains and may increase their alcohol use. With that said, those who are at the pre-stage of alcoholism are casual drinkers. Differently from casual drinkers though, they may start to depend on alcohol mentally in order to get through a stressful day. When you have a hangover, it’s very common to feel as though you need alcohol simply to get through the day, and you could wake up with the rashes.

Stage #1: Occasional abuse and binge drinking

If you constantly turn to alcohol to deal with stress and anxiety, your body will start to rely on it. During this stage, you probably continue to fulfill your obligations at school, work, and home. Additionally, many people remain in denial of their drinking problem at this point. It might surprise you to learn that even in what is referred to as “early-stage” alcoholism, a person with an alcohol use disorder (AUD) may experience blackouts as a result of binge drinking. Early-stage alcoholism is easier to notice than the pre-alcoholism stage.

• Moderate drinking is the only safe way to consume alcohol, but drinking in general isn’t safe for everyone.
• Even brain damage and hepatitis can occur in end-stage alcoholics.
• With that said, if you can check off some of the factors above, you should be careful when drinking.
• Some people may not be tolerant to alcohol even though they are problem drinkers.
• This is because young minds may have a dopamine deficiency and may get a bigger thrill from drinking alcohol.
• Similarly, when a person increases their alcohol intake, they also increase the risk of damage to their body.

Other health complications, like heart problems and stroke, stem from chronic alcohol abuse in end-stage alcoholism. Even brain damage and hepatitis can occur in end-stage alcoholics. Binge drinking is a common practice affecting 1 in 6 American adults, resulting in the consumption of 17 billion drinks each year. Binge drinking can be temporary or occur often, sometimes signaling the threat of future heavy drinking or alcohol abuse. In the late stage of alcoholism, your life has likely become unmanageable.

Stage 1: Experimenting and Binge Drinking

They may be showing signs of physical health or increased mental health problems. Lack of control is a notable sign that someone’s drinking has gotten out of hand. You’ll want to find a rehab center that has medically-supervised detox the 3 stages of alcoholism capabilities so that you can comfortably and safely detox from alcohol. There are inpatient and outpatient options, but an addiction specialist should determine the best level of care for you based on your individual needs.

From mental illness to a family history of drinking, alcoholism can occur for a variety of reasons. It can also affect every area of a person’s life, including their relationships, career, finances, and health. Long-term alcohol abuse can be a lonely road, and while early detection can significantly increase their chances of recovery, detecting this condition isn’t always that simple. Instead of focusing on work or being mentally present when you spend time with family members, you start thinking about when you can have your next drink. Your drinking habits also adapt to your new level of alcohol tolerance, causing a gradual increase in your alcohol consumption.

Middle Stage of Alcoholism

The psychological side effects can be just as detrimental, if not more, than the physical ones, and they can create problems in relationships and behavioral challenges. There are people who can help you with the struggle you’re facing. Finding a 12-step program, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, can provide support and help you maintain sobriety. Feel free to join our alumni program to develop a support network of other clients from Atlanta Detox Center.

• It makes it easy to treat an alcohol patient early in their relapse.
• Due to these reasons, it can be difficult to tell whether you or someone that you know may have a higher risk of addiction than others.

Unfortunately, due to fear of judgement or failure, many do not share how they are feeling when this occurs. If you don’t begin practicing self-care, you will become exhausted. As the tension builds, one becomes at greater risk of moving into stage 2—mental relapse. Some people — known as functioning alcoholics — can still maintain their life during this phase, but this is rare and likely to lead to liver damage or other alcohol-related illnesses. If you feel like your drinking problem is chronic but your life isn’t falling apart, don’t continue down this dangerous path.