Alcoholism, like other addictions, shows up in a way that’s quite personal and can be hard to identify not just for others but even for the person struggling with it. At first, spotting symptoms in the early stages of alcohol addiction (pre-alcohol and warning phases) is tricky and might not raise any red flags.
In the beginning stages, people with growing addictions might still seem like occasional drinkers. This makes it hard to notice any problems right away.
So, what are the signs of addiction, and how can we recognize alcoholism?
Experts in medicine, psychology, and addiction treatment use a classification system that breaks down the symptoms of alcoholism into four stages. These stages show how the addiction progresses.
The first stage is the pre-alcohol phase, where the symptoms are mainly psychological and hardly noticeable to outsiders. Here, an alcoholic might drink just like anyone who has a drink now and then at parties or gatherings. The difference is in their mindset. For them, drinking is especially enjoyable and relaxing, so they start to see it as a way to improve their mood or reduce stress. They might even subconsciously look for more chances to drink.
Next comes the warning phase. In this stage, memory gaps happen after drinking heavily. People should be considered addicted at this point, and they might experience other signs. An alcoholic might start feeling guilty about their drinking, but they still may not admit to themselves that they have a problem.
The critical phase is more advanced and serious. An addict loses control over their drinking. They usually know they have an addiction and get very defensive about it. They see any criticism of their drinking as an attack, react negatively, and try to prove they don’t have a problem by saying they can quit anytime. Short periods of not drinking are just tests of willpower and always end with drinking again. Major symptoms in this phase include organizing life around drinking and neglecting work, family, and social life. Cravings also start showing physically.
The chronic phase is the final stage of alcoholism. Here, any guilt or hesitation loses out to the overwhelming need to drink. The time of day, occasion, or type of alcohol doesn’t matter. Drinking starts to take a heavy toll on health, dulling intellectual functions, reducing mobility, and causing frequent headaches or vomiting due to temporary withdrawal from alcohol.
Recognizing these symptoms can help you support a loved one struggling with alcoholism.