There are 4 phases of alcoholism: prealcoholic, alert, critical and chronic. With each subsequent phase, the symptoms of alcoholism increase and become more severe. Nevertheless, as psychotherapists emphasize, treatment can be started at any stage of addiction development and it is always possible for the patient to return to complete sobriety. How to recognize the different phases of alcoholism?

Phases of Alcoholism - How Does Alcohol Disease Develop?

The phases of alcoholismprevent the onset of alcoholism suddenly, but vary in severity from time to time. This conclusion was first made by an American physician of Czech origin, Elvin Morton Jellinek.

The researcher based his concept on his own observations, which showed that each case of alcohol addiction is preceded by the occurrence ofwarning symptoms .

If noticed in time, the development of alcoholism may be inhibited even before the symptoms of the disease develop advanced.

For this to happen, however, it is necessary to react quickly and decisively. Without it, it is extremely difficult for an addicted person to stop drinking - when left alone, she rolls down more and more, and her alcoholism becomes chronic - treatment of alcoholism in this case is very difficult.

Phases of alcoholism: the pre-alcohol phase

The first phase, called the pre-alcohol phase or the introductory phase, can last up to several years and may not arouse any suspicions in bystanders or a potential alcoholic.

The symptoms characteristic of this phase do not differ significantly from the behavior of people who drink alcohol occasionally. The decisive factor is the attitude of a given person to alcohol.

The potential alcoholic, unlike people who are less likely to suffer from this disease, finds drinking particularly enjoyable and relaxing for him. Therefore, he begins to treat alcohol as a kind of a means of improving his mood - he reaches for it whenever he has a bad mood, is depressed or something upsets him.

At this stage, he does not drink alone, but he is subconsciously looking for an opportunity to do so - he often goes to parties and social gatherings, where he has a chance to drink.

Reflex over timereaching for alcohol in difficult moments is so strong for him that without the "booster" he is unable to cope with the internal tension. As a result, he developsalcohol toleranceand needs to drink more and more to beintoxicated .

Phases of alcoholism: the warning phase

The warning phase begins with the appearance of the first "palimpsest", or memory gap.This moment is commonly referred to as"film break"- a person remains conscious (does not lose consciousness), and yet does not remember what happened to him after getting drunk.

This phase is characterized by the repetition of palimpsests even after drinking a relatively small amount of alcohol.

In addition, several characteristic behaviors can be observed in a person at risk of alcoholism:

  • accelerating the pace of drinking and initiating "queues";
  • a big change in behavior after drinking - a person who used to be quiet suddenly becomes the life of the party, talks a lot, is bolder, gets rid of inhibitions;
  • secretive drinking - drinking glasses in a secret way to get drunk faster, also drinking alone before the party to "get tired";
  • drinking alone, alone.

The appearance of remorse is also typical for this phase. The potential alcoholic begins to realize that he is drinking too much, but at this stage he is not yet aware that he has an alcohol problem.

Instead, you try to justify yourself to yourself and rationalize your behavior ("everyone has the right to drink from time to time, I'm not doing anything wrong"). He reacts with irritation to comments from others and clearly denies the accusations of alcoholism.

Phases of alcoholism: the critical phase

The critical phase begins when the alcoholic loses control of his drinking. No plans or promises made to himself or his loved ones stop him from reaching for a glass.

Brief states of abstinence are possible, but sooner or later they end up drinking again. The whole life of an addicted person begins to revolve around alcohol - his main activity becomes planning when to drink, buying alcohol or collecting funds for this purpose.

The alcoholic neglects his family, work, loses interests, ceases to care for his appearance and surroundings. Hissex drive is dropping . At the same time, he is still unable to admit to himself that he has an alcohol problem - he constantly finds new excuses and reacts aggressively to criticism.

The first physical symptoms of addiction appear, the so-called alcohol hunger. Drinkingbecomes continuous with short periods of abstinence - this is how the alcoholic tries to prove to himself that he still has control over his drinking.

Characteristic for this phase is also a sharp drop in self-esteem, a feeling of emptiness and helplessness.

Phases of alcoholism: chronic (chronic)

The most advanced stage of alcoholism, in which the alcoholic gets rid of all remorse and inhibitions. He drinks almost continuously and takes his first dose of alcohol in the morning. He is constantly intoxicated, his alcohol tolerance is sharply lowered - just a few glasses are enough to be completely drunk.

The constantly high level of ethanol in the blood has a very negative impact on his he alth: there is a decrease in intellectual functions, psychomotor slowing down, sexual drive disorders, changes in character (loss of higher feelings) occur, the liver and nervous system suffer.

Each attempt to get out ofalcohol abuseends with a severe withdrawal syndrome - hand tremors, headaches, general weakness, vomiting, sleep disturbances, anxiety. Chronic alcohol psychosis may appear.

At this stage, the alcoholic not only uses typical liquors, but due to lack of money, he can also drink poisonous alcohol substitutes (e.g. denatured alcohol). Due to poisoning, he is more and more often in sobering-up stations and hospitals.

Drinking continuously and in a continuous flow will eventually exhaust the body and can cause death.

Category:

Psychology