In 2022, as many as 13.8% of Kentuckians reported binge drinking behavior, which is four or more drinks on one occasion for women and five or more for men. While not everyone who binge drinks develops an alcohol use disorder (AUD), binge drinking is a telltale sign that your drinking is no longer casual.
Alcohol consumption can impact every aspect of life, from your health to your ability to support yourself and your family. At Altruism Counseling, we understand that AUD exists along a spectrum. That’s why we believe in educating the public on the different stages of the condition. Today, we’ll examine the stages of alcoholism.
American scientist E. Morton Jellinek was one of the first people to conduct a scientific study of AUD. His research has become the basis for our understanding of the condition. Through his research, he developed a theory called the Jellinek Curve. In this model, he identifies the stages of AUD and recovery.
Because of this research, we understand that AUD is a multifaceted condition with a wide range of symptoms. This condition exists along a spectrum and doesn’t look the same for everyone. Depending on where you are along that spectrum, your experiences will differ.
During the pre-alcoholic stage of AUD, you probably don’t know you have a difficult time controlling your alcohol consumption. There aren’t any obvious signs, making it very difficult to identify.
At this stage, you’re a social drinker. You consume alcohol while you hang out with friends in socially acceptable settings. You use alcohol as a tool to relax or relieve stress. You’re not experiencing many negative consequences associated with drinking.
You may not have many warning signs of AUD. Severe hangovers after drinking and struggling to remember the night before could be signs that your drinking is becoming more intense. You also need to keep track of why you’re drinking. Drinking to reduce anxiety or quell negative feelings long-term could lead to AUD.
One of the best ways to catch AUD in its early stages is to talk to the people who are with you when you drink. See if your drinking aligns with your friends’ drinking, and discuss any patterns they might see. The sooner you identify potentially troubling behaviors, the easier it will be to make the necessary changes to reduce or end your drinking.
In early-stage alcoholism, you begin drinking heavily and blacking out when you drink. It is at this stage that the changes to your relationship with alcohol will become obvious to your friends and family. Your loved ones may even approach you with their concerns. When they do, you find yourself playing down your drinking habits or lying to put them at ease.
You probably don’t drink every day, but when you do drink, you drink a lot. You drink specifically to become drunk as fast as you can. You still drink in social settings, but it has started to trickle into the rest of your life. You drink to relax after work, to make playing video games more enjoyable, or just to fill up the time.
Your alcohol consumption is starting to affect your health at this stage. You have intense hangovers and often have to spend the next day nursing them. You’re trying to keep up with other responsibilities, but you’ve probably missed a couple of alarms and had trouble getting out of bed on time.
By the time you reach the third stage, your AUD is apparent to you and those around you. If you haven't already, you’re having trouble taking care of your responsibilities at work and home. Your AUD symptoms are getting in the way of your daily activities, and you’re giving up on hobbies you once enjoyed to drink instead. Your social life has also been affected. While you once drank with friends, you’re now avoiding them so you can spend more time drinking.
In the middle stage, you’re showing visible signs of addiction. You’ve likely gained weight and have a difficult time keeping up with personal hygiene.
You have also developed a tolerance for alcohol. This means you have to drink more and more alcohol to feel the same effect. When you do try to stop drinking, you experience some withdrawal symptoms, which can include shaking, sweating, nausea, and insomnia.
In the end-stage AUD, alcohol takes over everything in your life. You drink every day and cannot stop safely. You’ll also experience more severe symptoms, like seizures and hallucinations.
Withdrawal is not the only negative health effect you’ll experience. Your alcohol has likely led to liver damage, which could result in liver failure. You’re also at risk of developing cancer.
Even in the last stages of AUD, Jellinek theorized that there is always hope for recovery. Recovery will empower you with the skills you need to live a life free of alcohol. Recovery looks different depending on where you are on the Jellinek Curve. Outpatient treatment could be sufficient if you’re still in the early or middle stages. Most people in the 4th stage need help with detox, which could require inpatient treatment.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a vital tool for successful recovery. In CBT, you’ll learn about the relationship between your thoughts, feelings, and actions. You’ll learn to identify the root causes of your AUD and develop healthy coping mechanisms. 12-step programs, like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), are also useful tools for developing a sense of community and support to successfully manage AUD.
AUD happens when you have a physical and psychological dependence on alcohol. Depending on what stage of AUD you’re in, your symptoms will look a little bit different. You’re also unique, and your warning signs could look different than other people’s.
If you’re concerned that you have AUD, here are a few signs you should watch out for:
One of the biggest warning signs of AUD is not being able to stop drinking despite multiple attempts to do so. If you have tried to stop drinking and can’t seem to stay away, there is a good chance that you’re living with AUD. Recovery is still possible with the right support.
It can be difficult to self-identify when you need to seek recovery from drinking. Here are clear signs that you would benefit from attending a treatment program.
These are not the only symptoms of AUD. If you’re experiencing other symptoms of AUD, treatment can give you the skills to reclaim your life from AUD. Do not wait for AUD to worsen to find treatment.
Whether you’re in the first stage of AUD or the end stages, you could still benefit from alcoholism treatment. A good treatment program will empower you to develop the skills you need to succeed in recovery. It’s never too late to find help.
At Altruism Counseling Services, we give you the support to become your best self. That’s why we offer individual and group counseling to help you get to the root causes of SUD. We also offer DUI classes at one of the lowest rates in the state. Please call us today at 859-310-6505 or connect via our contact page.
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