Alcohol addiction, or alcoholism, is considered a disease with physiological and behavioral effects. Such an addiction can manifest in many ways, depending on the severity of addiction and the frequency at which alcohol is consumed. Regardless of the severity of the addiction, anyone who relies heavily on drinking is said to have an alcohol addiction.
Alcohol addiction is not a condition that develops suddenly; it is a disease that develops gradually over time as the frequency of drinking increases steadily. Common symptoms of alcohol addiction are:
Alcohol addiction recovery can take anything between weeks to years. There are a total of six stages, and understanding what goes on at each stage helps in overcoming alcohol addiction or helping a dear one go through alcohol addiction recovery.
The six stages that one goes through during alcohol addiction recovery are as follows:
1. Pre-contemplation
This is the first stage, wherein people see the negative effects of alcohol addiction but do not intend to change their behavior. People go on the defensive at this stage and are reluctant to even acknowledge that they have an addiction issue. They may lie or make excuses for their addiction.
2. Contemplation
In the contemplation stage, people start to recognize that they have a problem. They may be like a cat on the wall about wanting to and not wanting to change. They may decide that they are going to seek treatment but they may not set any date for that. People remain at this stage for a long time.
3. Preparation
At this stage of alcohol addiction recovery, people stand firm on their decision to change and take meaningful steps towards it. Although they still drink at this stage, they keep expressing their desire to quit drinking soon.
4. Action stage
At the action stage, people have chosen an approach to sobriety and begin executing it. The first step is to detoxify. Withdrawal from alcohol can be life-threatening, so detox in a medically manageable environment is the first step toward withdrawal. Once detox is done, people can work toward psychological, social, and behavioral problems. This is a mentally and physically taxing stage.
5. Maintenance
Once the recovery program is complete, the maintenance stage begins. This stage spans 6 months to several years. During this stage, people’s behavior changes and they develop new skills to avoid relapse.
6. Termination
At this stage of alcohol addiction recovery, the addiction has been conquered completely. The alcoholic is sober and has no craving for alcohol at this stage. However, many people working in the recovery arena argue that alcohol addiction is a disease that requires lifelong treatment.
While some people go through each stage successfully, it may not be smooth sailing for others. Many people keep moving back and forth between stages.