Alcohol and Treatment
Alcohol and Treatment - Three Stages of Alcoholism
Alcoholism, often termed as a family illness, is a disease where alcoholic beverages are consumed at a level that affects the physical and mental health of an individual. It is called a family disease as the victim is not the only sufferer, rather the addiction has an effect on the entire family. Therefore it is very important for the family members to collect all the information about the ill-effects of Alcohol and Treatment.
Alcoholism can be divided into three stages-the early stage, the middle stage and the late stage. The stages of alcoholism can take years to develop. The development of these stages depends on the willingness of the victim to give up their life to alcohol. The different stages of alcoholism are:
- Early stage
During this stage the victim starts depending on alcohol to control their moods. They drink to get away from their problems. They recognize alcohol as the easiest solution to their problems. There is a gradual increase in tolerance for the person consumes more and more alcohol to achieve the desired mood. It is very difficult for family members to identify this stage as the victim can consume large amounts of alcohol without being impaired. At this stage the body becomes adept to the levels of alcohol consumed by the victim. However as the frequency increases the body also loses its capacity to adapt.
- Middle stage
The need for alcohol becomes intense gradually. The need drives the individual to the exclusion of practically everything around them. The amount of alcohol needed to achieve the desired mood decreases. The victim now can easily become intoxicated. The person starts consuming large amounts of alcohol uncontrollably. The body loses its ability to deal with such large quantities of alcohol. The body stops its natural process of detoxification. In this stage the victim secretly consumes alcohol to avoid family members' interference. They fail to judge the amount of alcohol their body can accept.
This is also the stage where the victim secretly recognizes that there is drinking problem and recognizes the ill-effects of Alcohol and Treatment needed. However the victim is at denial mode. They fail to believe that they have a problem to avoid internal conflicts with their conscience. Blackouts and other physical problems occur frequently at this stage. This is also the stage where the addiction of the person can easily be recognized by the family members.
- Last stage
Alcoholism at this stage destroys the internal organs of the person. They become sick frequently and suffer from malnutrition. Vitamin B-1 deficiency is common in alcoholics and can result in loss of mental alertness, appetite, fatigue and emotional instability. The social standing of both the victim and his/her family members' are at a huge loss. The continuation of heavy drinking can ultimately lead to the death of the person. Therefore at this stage there is an added urgency of recognizing the problems of alcohol and treatment which will best suit the alcoholic.
The need for a proper Alcohol and Treatment is being felt by everyone. Therefore if you recognize any of the stages of alcoholism in a person then contact your nearest rehab center.
