Understanding the stages of alcoholism and knowing that it is classified as an illness can not only help you take the appropriate steps towards getting alcohol treatment, but hopefully help break the stigma of the disease of addiction overall. The disease of alcoholism has stages and is known to be extremely progressive, so catching it early can save the alcoholic from detrimental damage to their health and organs.
The Ten Stages of Alcoholism
The alcoholism stages may vary, and many involve different signs and symptoms. The stages of alcoholism that are the most common are:
Stage 1: Social Drinking- There is no problem with social drinking and that is why is it labeled as the first stage of alcoholism, but its whether the soon-to-be alcoholic chooses to continue drinking when they’re friends are done or not.
Stage 2: Drinking to relieve some type of feeling such as stress- It’s understandable if someone has a long day at the office or is going through something really difficult, but coping with alcohol or any other substance is not healthy behavior.
Stage 3: Drinking more frequently or daily to relieve tension or pain-This shows that the alcohol abuse is starting to make more sense in the alcoholic’s mind, because it feels good to “drink away the feelings” that they are going through.
Stage 4: Starting to depend on alcohol- This stage is pretty self-explanatory; alcohol begins to become a crutch.
Stage 5: Starting to obsess over alcohol- The alcohol starts to become more than a crutch and the alcoholic starts to realize how badly they need to have a drink.
Stage 6: Alcohol is your first thought when you wake up- “There is no way I can wait until after work to have a drink, I’ll just have ONE right now.” The whole rationalization of “it’s five o’clock somewhere” starts to become a reality.
Stage 7: Drinking on a daily basis- The alcoholic may begin to drink everyday, and even sometimes, all day, everyday.
Stage 8: You start drinking alone- Drinking alone starts to sound more attractive than going out and drinking with your friends; it may be because his/her friends don’t drink like they do or they are starting to notice how much the alcoholic is drinking.
Stage 9: You begin to feel ill without having a drink- The withdrawals from not having a drink to support the tolerance the alcoholic has now formed can be extremely dangerous, and which is why this stage of alcoholism is where treatment should start being an option.
Stage 10: Full-blown alcoholism, and should start seeking alcohol treatment- call (866) 323-6590 to discuss treatment options or intervention services now!
