Or, they may use it to numb any pain that they may be experiencing. Pre-alcoholism isn’t usually considered a stage of alcoholism because it can be difficult to tell whether someone may become an alcoholic or not. Those with end stage alcoholism are physically compelled to drink.

Deep breathing and meditation are excellent forms of relaxation techniques. This is a great time to become productive and/or take time to focus on yourself. Twelve-step groups of Alcoholics Anonymous, co-occurring disorders treatment, and holistic therapies are available. Getting treatment at this stage is crucial to avoid further damages. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) states anyone who meets 2 of the 11 following criteria within a 12-month period may be diagnosed with an AUD. Here are some questions to consider to accurately assess whether you or a loved one may be suffering from a problem with alcohol.

Stage 3: Middle Alcoholism

When a person doesn’t take the time to acknowledge and address the symptoms from emotional and mental relapse, it doesn’t take long to lead down the path to physical relapse. The key is to reach out for help if you find yourself in physical relapse immediately in order to stop the vicious cycle of addiction before it is too late. Your alcohol abuse is out of control, and you physically and psychologically crave it. For example, at this phase, if you decide to go a day without drinking you may feel extremely sick and depressed. Without help, going through withdrawal from alcohol dependence can be extremely dangerous or potentially fatal.

Underlying medical, biological, and psychological issues can also be linked to excessive drinking. You can replace risk factors with protective factors, things that prevent you from going through the stages of alcoholism. One protective factor is knowledge and understanding of the disease and its three stages. During the middle stage of alcohol addiction, negative consequences start to pile up.

Stage 2: Early AUD

As we have worked to understand addiction and the treatments that are valuable today Jellinek’s idea that stages exist within Alcohol Use Disorder continues to be helpful today. The next stage of alcoholism begins when an individual starts to become dependent on alcohol. An individual battling an alcohol use disorder (AUD) typically goes through a series of five stages. They begin by experimenting with alcohol and then progress to regular drinking, problem drinking, dependence, and finally, addiction. If any of these symptoms are things you or a loved one has experienced, your drinking habits may already be cause for concern.

Someone who is severely addicted to alcohol and is experiencing these symptoms of end-stage alcoholism will need professional assistance to overcome their alcohol use disorder. No matter if you’re in early stage 5 Tips to Consider When Choosing a Sober Living House or late stage of excessive alcohol use disorder, there’s always hope. When you opt for an addiction treatment program to overcome alcohol addiction, you choose for you and your family a better future.

Stage Three: Problematic Alcohol Abuse

However, just because you have the gene doesn’t mean you will automatically have an alcohol use disorder. Genes combined with lifestyle and environmental factors make a difference. Do your best to be a non judgmental presence in their life when you speak to them about their drinking. It may be tempting, and even factual,  to say something like “Your drinking is ruining our marriage! As you talk through these issues with your loved one, remember that it is important that you be both honest and kind. AUD is a chronic relapsing disease that impacts brain chemistry and the nervous system.

• The first time someone uses alcohol could be when they are still a child—or over the legal age of 21.
• Because of this, they had a certain amount of self-awareness that would prove useful for research purposes.
• You may also begin to notice drinking has become their preferred way to unwind after a long day of work or a difficult week.
• Alcohol addiction is characterized by a physical and psychological need to drink.