Serious chronic diseases include an irresistible craving for alcohol or alcoholism. The disease develops gradually. A long latent course of the disease poses a serious danger to the patient. During this time, psychological dependence develops into physical dependence. Ethanol is integrated into metabolic processes and the body perceives it as a vital substance. For this reason, independent attempts to quit drinking usually end in failure. Treatment for alcoholism requires specialized medical care.
Stages of alcoholism and their signs
Absolutely everyone is susceptible to alcohol addiction, regardless of social status, gender, age, race. According to most experts, the disease is the result of the influence of genetic, behavioral, and environmental factors.
The course of the disease depends on the individual characteristics of the person, but absolutely all patients cannot imagine their life without alcohol. Specialists distinguish 3 stages of alcoholism, each of which is characterized by specific manifestations.
The first stage of alcoholism
At the first stage, psychological dependence on alcohol develops. With the help of alcoholic drinks, the patient tries to relieve stress, dull internal pain, fill the spiritual emptiness. When sober, the patient is absolutely dissatisfied with his physical condition and mood. He sees the only way out of this situation in another drink.
At the first stage of alcoholism, the frequency of alcohol consumption, its quantity and strength increase. The duration of the initial period of the disease is up to 5 years.
Signs of the first stage of alcoholism
Characteristic features The first stage of alcoholism are:
- exclusively positive memories of alcohol;
- constant readiness to drink;
- secret drinking of alcohol for any reason and for the purpose of relaxation;
- regular replenishment of alcohol supplies in the house;
- When drinking alcohol, the desire to have a snack disappears.
At the physiological level, the body’s tolerance to ethanol increases. The state of euphoria that develops when consuming the first doses of alcohol is increasingly difficult to achieve. To achieve this, the patient needs to increase the amount drunk.
Signs of the first stage of alcoholism refers to sleep deterioration. The patient sleeps lightly, often wakes up. Later, anxiety appears, and memory lapses occur. A characteristic manifestation of the initial stage of alcoholism is “dose collapse”. An adequate state is maintained only after the first dose, after a second one – deep intoxication occurs.
Treatment of alcoholism stage 1
In the patient’s body at stage 1 serious changes have not yet begun, the internal organs are practically not damaged. First of all, this concerns the nervous and digestive systems. Treatment of alcoholism at stage 1 can be carried out in familiar home conditions. The main stages of stabilization of the condition:
- Stopping a drinking binge and relieving hangover symptoms .
- Combating post-withdrawal symptoms.
- Maintaining remission and preventing relapses.
The second stage of alcohol addiction
At this stage, chemical changes occur in the brain. The addiction is fixed at the physical level. In the absence of the next dose of alcohol, the patient experiences withdrawal syndrome. The second stage of the disease progresses for 5-15 years.
Main features
At stage 2, the patient is no longer able to control alcohol consumption. He attempts to get rid of the addiction. To do this, the addict tries to change jobs and places of residence. The characteristic signs of this period include:
- general weakness;
- decreased libido;
- lack of appetite;
- aggression, irascibility, deceit;
- searching for reasons for alcohol consumption.
Treatment of alcoholism at stage 2
At this stage of addiction, complex treatment is carried out in a hospital. Complete abstinence from alcohol is the main condition for long-term remission. Treatment of alcoholism of the 2nd stage includes the following stages:
- Detoxification.
- Drug treatment aimed at maintaining the functionality of damaged internal organs.
- Psychotherapy, coding from alcoholism
- Social adaptation.
The third stage of alcohol addiction
At the third stage of alcohol addiction, the body’s tolerance to alcohol is significantly reduced. Even with small doses, deep intoxication occurs. This is the final stage of the disease. The patient degrades, falls into long binges. The duration of stage 3 is 5-10 years. In most cases, it ends fatally.
Signs of addiction at stage 3
Personality degradation, as the main sign of stage 3, is manifested in a decrease in intellectual abilities, weakening of memory, and immorality. Behavior is characterized by euphoria with vulgar humor, which is replaced by attacks of aggression.
Other signs of stage 3 alcoholism:
- deterioration of health;
- decreased performance;
- drinking alcohol in the morning.
Treatment of the disease at stage 3
The chances of restoring the alcoholic’s body at the final stage of the disease are small, but they exist. A positive outcome of therapy depends on the degree of damage to internal organs and the patient’s desire to recover. Unconditional refusal to drink is the main condition for achieving remission.
Treatment of stage 3 alcoholism is carried out in a hospital setting and includes the following activities:
- withdrawal from binge drinking ;
- relief of withdrawal symptoms;
- supportive therapy;
- psychotherapy at all stages of treatment, coding for alcoholism ;
- administration of drugs that cause aversion to alcohol ( injection for alcoholism );
- social adaptation.
In cases where the patient actively fights the disease and regularly undergoes treatment for concomitant diseases, he has a chance to live to old age.
You can’t give up in case of a relapse. You need to start all over again. Persistence, patience, faith in healing are the conditions for a positive outcome of the disease.