There are three stages of alcoholism. As many people know, alcoholism can take years to develop. Alcoholism begins when drinking starts affecting the physical and mental health of the drinker - they have crossed that invisible line into alcoholism.
In the early stages of alcoholism the drinker has started to drink for new reasons. They drink to change their mood or maybe to help daily stress or a problem. At this point friends and family don’t know he or she has become an alcoholic. Chances are neither does the drinker.
By the middle stage the drinker progresses to no longer needing a reason to drink and may even create reasons to justify having a drink. Now he or she is drinking way over socially and legally tolerable limits. They drink until reaching a point of control loss or even blackouts. Drinking may have led to a DUI. With signs being apparent, friend and family are aware of a problem with drinking. Should they try to intervene, the drinker becomes angry when the issue of drinking is mentioned and many times denies there is a problem. The drinker feels they can stop any time they want to and may even try. Alcohol has become such a part of the physical and mental part of the drinker’s life that should they try to quit, the craving and desire to keep drinking is overwhelming.
The advanced stage of alcohol is undeniable. Friends and family are now hurt and angry at the destruction the drinker has brought upon themselves and those around them. The drinker has inflicted permanent damage to their internal organs and may have lost their jobs or much, much more. Trying to convince the drinker to stop drinking now is usually pointless as these efforts go ignored by the drinker.
Once in the advanced stage, it will take a event of enormous proportions to get the drinker to decide they genuinely want to stop drinking. At this point the drinker will find that if they do attempt to stop their addiction, they will experience extreme withdrawal symptoms.
Quitting alcohol is a tremendous challenge. There are many success stories of people who were able to overcome their addiction to alcoholit can be done. But for all of the success stories, there are those who battled alcohol and wanted to win that were unable to beat the strong hold alcohol has. The most important thing to remember is that you can do it and no matter what obstacles come, never give up.
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