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4 Theoretical Stages Of Addiction Development

When a person is struggling with alcohol addiction, he may not tell you the truth about how much he drinks. He may not even tell you the reason that made him become addicted to consuming alcohol and can even deny that he has a problem. This can make him very difficult to receive help, or for loved ones to notice his addiction. If you feel that someone you know is going through the same, you can look for alcohol recovery programs in California and get the immediate treatment that he or she needs.

Theoretical stages of addiction development

Although not every person struggling with alcohol addiction goes through these stages, they can be a helpful checklist to assess alcohol consumption and prevent problems that are likely to arise. To understand the complex disorder of alcohol consumption, the following discusses the theoretical stages of addiction development:

Pre-Alcoholic: This is the first stage and it involves general experimentation with alcohol. This is also a critical stage as it is the first phase that a person starts to drink. When alcohol tolerance develops, the person begins to drink more and more regularly as a coping mechanism for anxiety, stress, or other emotions.

Early Stage: This probably can be considered as the transitional stage where the development of a cyclical pattern of alcohol abuse starts. Drinking becomes more regular; and in most cases, a person begins to use occasions and social gatherings as an excuse to drink. Some people also start consuming alcohol to cope with the negative consequences caused by drinking such as hangovers. It is at this stage, that blackouts may also occur.

Middle Stage: The middle stage is also a very crucial stage. It is when a person begins to drink frequently. Some people even start off their morning with a drink. People who are in this stage may be struggling with worsening relationships with friends and family, and even bad experiences that change their behavior and impact them negatively. Many times, they feel health impacts such as hangovers or feeling sick more often when not drinking.

Late Stage: This is a final phase when a person loses control over the consumption of alcohol. Individuals at this point have to take alcohol as the body begins to require its presence in order to feel normal. If they do not consume alcohol regularly, they may experience withdrawal symptoms and intense cravings.

In addition, people struggling with alcohol addiction can look for alcohol rehabilitation in California. Consulting a life coach can also help a person get back on track and indulge in creative activities. Family and friends associated with an alcohol addicted person should always be available to give an ear to their problems and to keep the chances of relapse at bay.

Author: The author is a blogger and the article talks about the 4 theoretical stages of addiction development.


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