5 Stages of Alcoholism: Signs, Symptoms, and Treatments

For some, it can be a slip; for most, it will be a complete reversion backward, and it will get worse than it was before. Like the substance use or mental disorder patient, the family often believes the problem is solved because treatment is completed. The family usually thinks it is okay for their loved one to return home directly from treatment.

When you replace addiction and mental health with any other medical problem, re-listen to these conversations, and listen to family excuses and objections, it makes absolutely no sense. Alcohol detox can vary based on the severity and duration of the person’s alcohol use. For example, a person who has been drinking heavily for a prolonged period may experience more intense and prolonged withdrawal symptoms than someone with a shorter or less intense history. Physical health conditions, genetics, and support systems also impact the detox timeline, meaning each individual’s recovery experience can differ. Detoxification is not only a physical process but also an emotional and psychological one.

How do Nutrition and Exercise Support Alcohol Recovery?

Severe symptoms, such as hallucinations or DTs, generally occur within 48–72 hours and require immediate medical attention. Each person’s detox experience can vary, but understanding the general timeline can help in managing expectations and planning for support. Then comes intervention, detox, therapy, and the work to stay strong during long-term recovery. During this stage, the focus shifts to stabilizing both physically and emotionally. Clients often attend individual and group therapy sessions, learning tools to manage cravings and cope with triggers. This phase is critical in helping individuals establish a foundation for long-term recovery.

Tips for Maintaining Sobriety During Recovery

• Alcohol recovery is a multifaceted process aimed at helping individuals overcome alcohol dependence and achieve a healthier, sober lifestyle.
• Feeling the consequences and taking accountability is a big reason people take action and get help.
• When someone stops drinking alcohol after a prolonged period of frequent use, the brain goes into overdrive and responds with a series of symptoms collectively known as withdrawal.
• As long as the intended patient feels they are receiving positive consequences from their negative behaviors, they stay in this stage.

They can also administer medications that alleviate severe withdrawal symptoms, improving the overall comfort and safety of the individual. The initial phase of alcohol withdrawal begins approximately six hours after the last drink. During this period, individuals might start to feel mild symptoms such as anxiety, headaches, and insomnia.

• Ultimately, the goal is to empower individuals with the tools and support needed to navigate the complexities of life without reliance on alcohol, thus securing a sustainable, sober lifestyle.
• In addition, your liver’s fat will have increased, making it easier for your body to get rid of toxins.
• While naltrexone is generally well tolerated, nausea and headaches are the most common side effects.
• The family does not realize that their behavior and roles prevent their loved one from wanting help, asking for help, and, most importantly, getting help.
• This can make it feel like you can’t control your thoughts or desires.
• True Self Recovery offers personalized treatment plans, medical detox, therapy, and long-term recovery programs to support you at every stage of alcohol recovery.

The utilization of technology can improve access to care and provide alternative options for those hesitant to seek in-person treatment. This aspect of recovery also involves some pruning of old friendships with people who enabled or encouraged your alcohol abuse. It’s not always easy to change the parameters of a relationship or cut it off altogether, but it may be necessary to allow healthy relationships to flourish. The longer you drank uncontrollably, the more damage alcohol did to vital systems and organs. However, you can reverse some of the damage through a combination of healthy habits. For example, multiple studies have demonstrated an inverse relationship between aerobic exercise and substance abuse.

2. Contemplation

Chronic alcohol use causes liver damage, including conditions like fatty liver disease, hepatitis, and cirrhosis. From the initial phase to the post-acute phase, each stage presents unique challenges that require careful management and support. Medical supervision and appropriate treatment options are crucial for a safe and successful detox process. Various support options are available for long-term recovery, including peer support groups, counseling, therapy, and inpatient rehabilitation.

When a family would like to learn more about how to change the situation and move it in the right direction, we are here to help and guide you in the right direction. When your loved one stays the same, they resume substances after treatment. There is a strong correlation between sobriety for the loved one with a substance use disorder and family recovery. A healthy family in recovery is a strong predictor of outcomes for the loved one needing addiction and mental health help. The best thing a family can give themselves is closure; they do all they can to help themselves and their loved ones in a healthy, productive way. Anything beyond that keeps the family in an illusion of control over themselves and their loved ones.

Alcoholic Dementia: Overcoming Addiction

Plus, self-care routines can help incorporate time for self-compassion, mindfulness, and rest into your journey. Your Care Team wants you to succeed, and is dedicated to supporting you in making the best decisions for yourself. As human beings, we are constantly undergoing changes, so our goals and alcohol recovery timeline will too. As time goes on, you and your therapist may decide to meet every other week instead of weekly. You and your alcoholism recovery stages physician may meet less frequently about your medication.

If someone were in the pre-contemplation stage, their response would be utterly different from that of someone in the contemplation stage. Someone in pre-contemplation would sincerely be caught off guard at the suggestion of a problem. They would not get angry and take your head off like your loved one probably has. Anger comes from fear; this anger your loved one exhibits in the contemplation stage when confronted or asked questions is another reason your family is in a holding pattern. The approach is not only unhealthy and ineffective; it is all about you.

In this article, we will explain each stage and point out how the stage applies not only to addiction but also to mental disorders and families. We will also touch on what is required to move out of a stage and onto the next stage. During early recovery, individuals work to build routines that support sobriety. Developing coping mechanisms, such as regular exercise, hobbies, and social support, plays a crucial role in maintaining motivation and avoiding high-risk situations. This phase is about restructuring daily life to reduce dependence on alcohol.

Ways on How to Stop Addiction for Good

The stages of alcohol recovery begin with detoxification and progress through various phases, including precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance. Each stage represents a different level of commitment and understanding toward overcoming addiction, emphasizing personal growth and support. The benefits of alcohol recovery include improving physical health, enhancing mental health, achieving better sleep quality, strengthening interpersonal relationships, saving money, and many more. Starting on alcohol recovery offers numerous benefits that significantly enhance various aspects of an individual’s life.

We have more than 50 years of treatment expertise, and have treated more than a million patients in that time. We know what works and strive to formulate the most effective plan for each individual. In theory, it’s the point at which the person can confidently say they have conquered their addiction. They are fully sober, have no cravings for alcohol and do not have a significant risk of relapse. A person in the contemplation stage wants to get help, but has not made a concrete decision to do so.

Working with your Care Team will ensure your decisions are personalized and informed, and that you have resources at your fingertips whenever you need them. Difficulty getting long, restful sleep is also common in the early days of the alcohol recovery timeline. As your body adjusts to routines without alcohol, this will improve.

The acute alcohol withdrawal timeline and process looks different for everyone, and the symptoms can range from uncomfortable to potentially dangerous. These symptoms of acute alcohol withdrawal can include alcohol shakes, nausea, delirium tremens, hallucinations, and more. The benefits that come from recovering from alcohol addiction include a wide range of physical, psychological, and social improvements that enhance overall quality of life. These benefits are supported by scientific research and clinical observations, showing long-term recovery leads to healthier living, emotional stability, and restored relationships. The most effective ways to stay sober during alcohol rehab include adopting proactive strategies that reduce the risk of relapse, increase self-awareness, and build long-term resilience.

The recovery timeline is often broken into short-term and long-term phases, with each period presenting distinct challenges and objectives. Understanding these differences can help in setting realistic goals for recovery and preventing relapse. During the phases of addiction intervention, they show support and help push toward getting real help. Their job is to keep the person safe and as comfortable as they can. However, the timeline for alcohol withdrawal varies from person to person.

If we were to ask a room full of people who and what the problem was, they would all point at the intended patient and reference the substance use or mental disorders. The room would not be wrong because the behaviors and substance use are a problem. The room would not be correct either because the family roles that form under the substance user are at least equally destructive to the family and the intended patient. Families then hide behind the belief that their loved one has to want help or hit bottom, so they wait. The family does not realize that their behavior and roles prevent their loved one from wanting help, asking for help, and, most importantly, getting help. People using substances all want help; that is why they are using substances.