Liver disease, particularly cirrhosis, is a common and severe consequence of chronic alcoholism. Cirrhosis develops as healthy liver tissue is progressively replaced by scar tissue, impairing the liver’s ability to filter toxins from the blood, produce essential proteins, and store nutrients. Individuals frequently turn to alcohol as a coping mechanism to manage anxiety, depression, or everyday stress. This habitual use of self-medicate gradually transitions into alcohol dependence as the individual becomes psychologically reliant on alcohol for emotional relief. Art and music therapy are two expressive therapies that can help people overcome AUD and other problems with alcohol. With art therapy, people may paint, draw, or even doodle to explore their emotions, understand their behaviors, and manage distress.
Ways Alcohol Affects Mental Health
- Physically, the body starts adapting to regular intake; emotionally, mood swings and stress fluctuations emerge.
- If you or someone you know is struggling with alcoholism, there are many resources available to help.
- It is a condition that affects people from all walks of life and can have severe implications for their health, relationships, and overall quality of life.
The primary way a person with early-stage alcoholism differs from someone in middle-stage alcoholism is that alcohol is no longer leveraged for a quick high. Depending on the severity of their alcohol use, a person may experience withdrawal symptoms that begin within 6 hours after they stop drinking. The symptoms of late-stage alcoholism are liver disease (cirrhosis), memory loss and cognitive impairment, severe withdrawal symptoms, and loss of control over drinking. During this advanced phase, chronic alcoholism inflicts substantial damage to the overall quality of life. In middle-stage alcoholism, individuals have developed a physical dependence on alcohol. They may experience withdrawal symptoms if they try to stop drinking, including sweating, shaking, nausea, and anxiety.
If you or someone you know is struggling with alcoholism, it’s important to reach out to a healthcare professional or addiction specialist who can provide guidance and support. As alcoholism progresses, individuals move from the pre-alcoholic stage to the early-alcoholic stage, where the effects of alcohol consumption become more apparent. This stage is characterized by increasing tolerance to alcohol and the development of early signs of alcohol dependency. The end stage of alcoholism is when a person becomes completely dependent on alcohol, experiencing severe physical and psychological effects. Drinking is constant, and withdrawal symptoms become life-threatening if alcohol is not consumed. the stages of alcoholism explained early, middle and end-stage If you’re seeking help for yourself or a loved one, our expert team is here to guide you every step of the way.
- Addressing sensation-seeking, impulsivity, and stress management reduces early alcohol use.
- It involves four stages of alcoholism, and each has its own signs, symptoms, and solutions for healthy behavior change.
- You may not be addicted to alcohol at this point, but you’re definitely dependent on it.
- The Grove Editorial Team is committed to educating, supporting, and empowering individuals and families on their journey toward a healthier, substance-free life.
- He is purpose driven towards improving the standard of and removing stigma related to behavioral healthcare.
Stage #3: Middle Stage (Serious Drinking Problem)
In end-stage alcoholism, family members often witness severe physical and mental deterioration in their loved one. They may see them struggle with hallucinations or seizures related to withdrawal symptoms or suffer from liver damage or other serious health conditions. Loss of control over drinking is a hallmark of late-stage alcoholism, characterized by compulsive alcohol consumption despite severe physical, mental, and social consequences. At this point, alcohol use is driven primarily by the need to avoid withdrawal symptoms rather than a desire for pleasure or relaxation. Recognizing the early signs of alcoholism is crucial for intervention and seeking appropriate help. If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol-related issues, it’s important to reach out to a healthcare professional or a support group for guidance and assistance.
Side Effects of Long-term Alcoholism
Our dedicated team, many of whom have personal experience with addiction, is committed to walking alongside you on your journey to sobriety. Alcohol intolerance becomes increasingly severe over time, making alcohol consumption progressively more uncomfortable and hazardous. Whether you want to reduce your alcohol intake or overcome an issue with heavy drinking, therapy is an effective tool for understanding your behaviors, what’s causing them, and how to change them. The stages range from moderate consumption and occasional binge drinking to severe AUD. With advanced-stage alcohol misuse, a person’s body may feel as though it physically needs alcohol in order to function as it usually would. In this stage, an individual can feel they have lost control over their alcohol consumption.
60% of people who drink increased their consumption of alcohol during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Many of us start experimenting with alcohol and gradually push the limits of our drinking. You’re concerned but don’t want to quit drinking, so you want confirmation that you aren’t an alcoholic.
Increased Tolerance
The amount of alcohol that leads to addiction is more than four drinks per day or fourteen drinks per week for men and more than three drinks per day or seven drinks per week for women. According to the American Medical Association, drinking above these limits increases the likelihood of developing Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) and losing control over alcohol consumption. AUD severity is classified into three levels, mild, moderate, and severe, based on the number of symptoms a person exhibits according to the DSM-5 criteria.
Music therapy is where people play or listen to music to help them address any concerns and achieve their mental health goals. “Talk therapy will give you a secure, accepting environment in which to explore your traumas and pains,” says Clemons. You exhibit a higher tolerance to alcohol, increased cravings, and the onset of more serious physical, emotional, and social consequences, including possible health issues. “The phases of change—precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance, and termination—determine the course of alcoholism rehabilitation. These phases need patience, perseverance, and time, but they will eventually result in a fulfilling existence free from alcohol’s control,” continues Clemons. Healthcare and mental health professionals may describe this stage as severe AUD.
Build a Support Network
Teaching resistance strategies, problem-solving, and emotional regulation helps individuals avoid alcohol in stressful or peer-pressure situations. Addressing sensation-seeking, impulsivity, and stress management reduces early alcohol use. Setting clear family rules, discussing alcohol risks, and maintaining open dialogue discourage drinking. Educating people on how to analyze alcohol advertisements lowers the influence of marketing that promotes drinking. The primary treatments for alcohol addiction in Indiana are alcohol detox, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), behavioral therapies, and support groups. This alcohol addiction treatment helps people stop drinking, manage withdrawal symptoms, and develop strategies to maintain long-term recovery.
Doctors look for 11 key signs of alcohol addiction, including drinking more than planned, trying and failing to cut down, and feeling strong urges to drink. Other signs include drinking despite problems at work or home, developing a high tolerance, experiencing withdrawal symptoms, and drinking in risky situations. A person with a few signs of alcohol addiction has a mild problem, while someone with many signs has a more severe addiction that requires urgent treatment. The effects of alcoholism include liver and heart disease, mental health disorders, job loss and financial instability, and relationship breakdown. Persistent drinking despite negative consequences becomes more apparent, with alcohol consumption taking precedence over responsibilities and relationships.
What Are the Treatments for Alcohol Addiction in Indiana?
Chronic alcoholism may require inpatient support and a medical detox alongside interventions like talk therapy. Understanding the four stages of alcoholism, including the late-alcoholic stage, can aid in recognizing the signs and seeking help promptly. Recognizing the signs and characteristics of the middle-alcoholic stage is crucial in order to intervene and seek appropriate help.
Screening tools like the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) are employed to evaluate drinking patterns and identify problematic alcohol use. Signaling significant alterations in brain chemistry and physiological adaptation to alcohol. Severe cases result in life-threatening complications such as seizures or delirium tremens.
People used to refer to alcohol use disorder as alcoholism, and the people with it as alcoholics. Today, instead of people being alcoholics, professionals refer to them as people with AUD. This article explains the different stages of alcohol misuse and how to find support if a person needs it. For example, if social events where alcohol is present are triggering for an individual in recovery, they may need to avoid these events or bring a sober friend for support. Support group meetings, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA), can provide individuals with ongoing support and accountability in recovery.
They think, “Well, I don’t drink every day,” or “I still have my job and pay all my bills,” so they convince themselves that their drinking is still okay. Physical withdrawal symptoms manifest as the body becomes accustomed to the presence of alcohol and struggles to function without it. Group sessions provide people with a safe and supportive environment to connect with others who share similar struggles. It can encourage accountability, healthier coping mechanisms, and the healing power of a trusted community. Regardless of what stage you or a loved one are experiencing, know that change and recovery are possible. The purpose of treatment is to assist people in detecting the early phases when they have the best chance of success,” says Clemons.
Comprehensive Care: Medication-Assisted Treatment and Intensive Outpatient Programs
Experts advise on the typical stages of alcoholism—and tips for treating each stage. A person with severe AUD will almost always experience symptoms of withdrawal when the alcohol in their body begins to wear off. They define binge drinking, the most common form of excessive drinking, as 5 or more drinks in a single occasion for males and 4 or more drinks in a single occasion for females.
