Alcoholism: symptoms and treatment. stages of alcoholism

29 July 2022

Alcoholism can rightly be considered a problem of humanity. However, not everyone can accurately say when and how this disease can manifest itself. Meanwhile, alcoholism, like any other disease, has several stages.

In total there are 4 stages of alcoholism. Not only the duration and effectiveness of the treatment, but also the final result will depend on the degree of abandonment and the situation of the patient's environment.

After all, many who have recovered even after a few years revert to old habits.

It is not a matter of treatment, but of the poor approach to the main cause of this problem, the lack of knowledge of the characteristics of the patient's character, as well as the insufficient psycho-emotional support for family and friends.

The initial stage of alcoholism: causes and treatment

Treatment of the initial stage

Also, do not miss the effect of alcohol on all human organs. Therefore, understanding the problem will help to investigate about:

Diseases of the liver and pancreas (heaviness, nausea, vomiting, pain and cramps, bloating, indigestion);
vegetovascular disease (swelling of the veins, heaviness in the legs, swelling and pain after a day);
Hypertensive diseases (sudden jumps in pressure, loss of strength, severe headaches, nausea);
Nervous disorders (headaches, convulsions, swelling, irritability, sleep disturbance, hand rattle, aggressiveness, irascibility).

How to determine the stage of alcoholism? You can not figure this out on your own, without the help of a qualified specialist. The first signs should alert you. Early diagnosis and treatment are the foundation for successful productive treatment.

The second stage of alcoholism: what are the symptoms and methods of treatment

The patient reacts sharply to criticism and comments from the outside, is aggressive and direct in his expressions.

The degrees of alcoholism and its treatment vary from case to case. One will need more psychological help, the second will need difficult conditions and limits beyond which he will not be able to cross. However, one thing becomes obvious: one cannot do without outside help. The second stage of alcohol dependence is treated through an integrated approach:

Medicated cleansing of the body. An important step that allows you to get rid of accumulated toxins. The intoxication of the body in this case is high, and the drugs allow you to cope not only with the side effects of drinking a large amount of alcohol, but also accelerate the process of decomposition of ethanol in the blood plasma;
Aversive Treatment: Drugs are administered intravenously to develop aversion to alcohol. Such medications often do not cause discomfort in a non-drinker. But the simultaneous intake of alcohol and such a drug causes vomiting, nausea, severe headaches and rejection at the subconscious level;
Help from a psychologist. After all the manipulations with the patient's body were performed, the brain was freed from the effects of ethanol, it is time to proceed to the main stage of treatment - psychological assistance and adaptation to normal life.

The duration of such treatment is an individual characteristic of the patient. At this stage, it is important to identify the main causes of alcohol cravings.

After all, the effect of drugs will not reduce the psycho-emotional dependence on relaxation, which can be obtained by drinking alcohol.

This stage and its effectiveness completely depend on the professionalism of the doctor and the readiness to accept the result of all relatives. Only in this case it is possible to avoid the recurrence of the disease.

The third stage of alcoholism: the problem of society and not only

The third stage of alcoholism is no longer a problem only for the patient's family and close circle. This is a problem of the whole society: a person degrades himself, violates all existing norms and rules of communication, does not respond to comments and requests from loved ones, is a "burden" factor for the family. Indeed, often the third stage of alcoholism forces a person to refuse work, neglect the wishes of relatives and friends. This means that such a patient cannot provide the purchase of expensive alcoholic beverages. As a result, funds, expensive equipment, and food are stolen from the home. Also, the third stage of alcoholism is accompanied by such additional features as:

Deformation of appearance: thin arms and legs, large torso and abdomen, burgundy or gray skin with obvious blockages of veins, swelling in any condition in all limbs and under the eyes, loss of teeth, blackening;
The psyche is disturbed: inadequate reaction to simple things, unwillingness to make contact, aggression for no reason, unwillingness to change anything;
Alcohol is the basis of the diet, replacing all healthy human nutrition. How much a person can drink depends in part on their setup;
speech distortion;
Paralysis of certain parts of the body, most often the face, arms, legs;
Health problems: hepatitis, chronic pancreatitis, cancer, food indigestion, urinary and fecal incontinence;
Alcohol resistance (less doses, but more often).

Drinking alcohol before and during pregnancy

Treatment of alcoholism at this stage is a difficult and not always effective task. This is due, first of all, to the complete deformation of the human psyche, the re-evaluation of its values and priorities in life.

Often, such an addict does not set any goals for himself except the extraction of the next serving of alcohol.

However, the first three stages of alcoholism can only be treated if this problem is addressed correctly.

What stages are difficult to treat?

What stages of alcoholism are difficult to treat

An important sign of the third stage of alcoholism is the danger to human life: 80% die even after treatment due to many years of intoxication of the body and irreversible processes of changes in internal organs. Depletion of heart tissue, vascular deformity, chronic diseases of the liver, kidneys and pancreas (in women, also the reproductive system) create dangerous conditions for a quality future life of the cured. Supporting the most affected organs after treatment is the main task.

The last stage of alcoholism: no options

the last stage of alcoholism leads to death

Alcoholism is an insidious disease. She sneaks up on you at the moment when it seems like the whole world is up in arms against you. Often the early stages of an alcoholic illness are skipped over, not perceived as a real problem. And then the progression and speed of development of complications is inevitable. Years may pass from the moment of transition from the first to the fourth stage.

When the first signs are not identified and skipped over, the complexity of the cure increases every day. Alcoholism at the stage of development of the fourth degree is more of a sentence. Life counts for months and weeks.

The body is completely exhausted and the organs can no longer cope with the basic functions of metabolism. But not a sentence exclusively for the sick.

This is a diagnosis for those who could not help in time, give a helping hand, not perceiving the disease as a problem.

Unfortunately, in the fourth stage, it is no longer possible to help. The patient is not amenable to persuasion or hospitalization. Worst of all, the Stage 4 person in front of you has nothing to do with the person you've met.

His brain is so distorted by alcohol that it is impossible to recognize in a person you met. Complete degradation of the subconscious, basic instincts are replaced by new ones (drinking). Even a professional psychologist and hypnosis will not help to get rid of the problem.

Alcoholism is a disease. It is important to remember this. Remember and know what can be done to avoid the unenviable fate of an alcoholic, from whom all relatives and friends have turned away, having crossed him out of the world of the living in advance.

Alcoholism

Alcoholism is a disease that occurs with the systematic abuse of alcohol, characterized by mental dependence on intoxication, somatic and neurological disorders, personality degradation. The disease can also progress with alcohol withdrawal.

In the CIS, 14% of the adult population abuse alcohol and another 80% drink alcohol moderately, which is due to certain drinking traditions that have developed in society.

Factors such as conflict with family members, an unsatisfactory standard of living, and an inability to fulfill oneself in life often lead to abuse. At a young age, alcohol is used as a way to feel inner comfort, courage, and overcome shyness. In middle age, it is used as a way to relieve fatigue, stress, and get away from social problems.

Constant resort to this method of relaxation leads to persistent addiction and the inability to feel inner comfort without alcohol intoxication. Depending on the degree of dependence and symptoms, several stages of alcoholism are distinguished.

stages of alcoholism

The first stage of alcoholism.

The first stage of the disease is characterized by an increase in the doses and frequency of alcohol intake. There is a syndrome of impaired reactivity, in which tolerance to alcohol changes. The body's protective reactions against overdose disappear, in particular, there is no vomiting when drinking large doses of alcohol.

With severe intoxication, palimpsests are observed - memory lapses. Psychological dependence is manifested by a feeling of dissatisfaction in a sober state, constant thoughts about alcohol, raising the mood before drinking alcohol.

The first stage lasts from 1 to 5 years, while the attraction is controllable, since there is no physical dependence syndrome. A person does not degrade and does not lose the ability to work.

Complications in alcoholism of the first stage are manifested mainly in the liver, alcoholic fatty degeneration occurs.

Clinically, it almost does not manifest itself, in some cases there may be a feeling of fullness in the stomach, flatulence, diarrhea. A complication can be diagnosed by an increase and dense consistency of the liver.

On palpation, the edge of the liver is rounded, it is somewhat tender. With withdrawal, these symptoms disappear.

Complications of the pancreas are acute and chronic pancreatitis. At the same time, abdominal pains are noted, which are localized on the left side and radiate to the back, as well as decreased appetite, nausea, flatulence, and unstable stools.

Often, alcohol abuse leads to alcoholic gastritis, in which there is also no appetite and nausea, pain in the epigastric region.

Second stage

Second-stage alcoholism has a progression period of 5 to 15 years and is characterized by increased altered reactivity syndrome.

Alcohol tolerance reaches its peak, the so-called binge drinking occurs, its frequency is not associated with the patient's attempts to get rid of alcohol addiction, but with external circumstances, for example, lack of money and inability to get booze.

The sedative effect of alcohol is replaced by an activating one, memory lapses from drinking large amounts of alcohol are replaced by complete amnesia of the end of intoxication. At the same time, daily drunkenness is explained by the presence of a mental dependence syndrome, in a sober state, the patient loses the ability to work mentally, and mental activity is disorganized. There is a syndrome of physical dependence on alcohol, which suppresses all feelings except the craving for alcohol, which becomes uncontrollable. The patient is depressed, irritable, unable to work, after taking alcohol these functions return to their place, but control over the amount of alcohol is lost, which leads to excessive intoxication.

Treatment of alcoholism in the second stage should be carried out in a specialized hospital, a narcologist or a psychiatrist.

A strong rejection of alcohol provokes somatoneurological symptoms of alcoholism such as exophthalmos, mydriasis, hyperemia of the upper body, trembling of the fingers, nausea, vomiting, intestinal indulgence, pain in the heart, liver, and headaches.

There are mental symptoms of personality degradation, weakening of the intellect, delusions. Often there is anxiety, night anxiety, convulsive attacks, which are harbingers of acute psychosis - delirium tremens, popularly called delirium tremens.

Complications of alcoholism of the second degree on the side of the liver are represented by alcoholic hepatitis, often in a chronic form. The disease is more common in a persistent than progressive form.

Like first-degree complications, hepatitis is rarely manifested by clinical symptoms. It is possible to diagnose a complication by gastrointestinal pathology, heaviness appears in the epigastric region of the stomach, right hypochondrium, mild nausea, flatulence is observed.

On palpation, the liver is compacted, enlarged, and slightly tender.

Alcoholic gastritis in the second stage of alcoholism can have symptoms that masquerade as manifestations of withdrawal symptoms, the difference is repeated painful vomiting in the morning, often with an admixture of blood. On palpation, there is pain in the epigastric region.

After prolonged bingeing, acute alcoholic myopathy develops, weakness, swelling in the muscles of the hips and shoulders appear. Alcoholism often causes nonischemic heart disease.

third stage

Alcoholism of the third stage is significantly different from the previous two, the duration of this stage is 5-10 years. This is the final stage of the disease, and, as practice shows, most often it ends in death. Alcohol tolerance decreases, intoxication occurs after small doses of alcohol. Binge eating ends with physical and psychological exhaustion.

In a drunken state emotional instability is manifested, which presents the symptoms of alcoholism, joy, irritability, anger that are replaced in an unpredictable way.

The degradation of the personality, the decrease in intellectual abilities, the inability to work, lead to the fact that an alcoholic, who does not have money for alcohol, uses substitutes, sells things, steals. The use of substitutes such as denatured alcohol, cologne, polish, etc. leads to serious complications.

Complications in alcoholism of the third stage are usually represented by alcoholic liver cirrhosis. There are two forms of alcoholic cirrhosis: compensated and decompensated form.

The first form of the disease is characterized by persistent anorexia nervosa, flatulence, fatigue, slightly apathetic mood. There is a thinning of the skin, white spots and spider veins appear.

The liver is enlarged, dense, has a sharp edge.

The patient's appearance changes a lot, there is a sharp weight loss, hair loss. The decompensated form of liver cirrhosis is differentiated into three types of clinical symptoms.

These include portal hypertension, leading to hemorrhoidal and esophageal bleeding, ascites, fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity. Often there is jaundice, in which the liver is greatly enlarged, in severe cases, liver failure occurs, with the development of coma.

The patient has an increased content of melanin, which gives the skin a jaundiced or earthy tint.

Diagnosis of alcoholism

The diagnosis of alcoholism may be suspected from a person's appearance and behavior. Patients look older than their years, over the years the face becomes hyperemic, skin turgor is lost. The face acquires a special kind of stubborn promiscuity, due to the relaxation of the circular muscle of the mouth. In many cases, there is dirt, carelessness on the clothes.

The diagnosis of alcoholism in most cases turns out to be quite accurate, even when analyzing not the patient himself, but his environment. Family members of a patient with alcoholism have a series of psychosomatic disorders, neurotization or psychotization of a non-drinking spouse, and pathologies in children.

The most frequent pathology in children whose parents systematically abuse alcohol is congenital cerebral insufficiency. These children are often excessively mobile, unfocused, destructive, and aggressive in their behavior.

In addition to congenital pathology, the development of the child is also affected by the traumatic situation in the family. Children have logoneurosis, enuresis, night terrors and behavioral disorders.

Children are depressed, prone to suicide attempts, often have difficulty learning and communicating with their peers.

In many cases, pregnant women who abuse alcohol experience the birth of an alcoholic fetus. Fetal alcohol syndrome is characterized by severe morphological disorders. Most often, the pathology of the fetus consists in the irregular shape of the head, the proportions of the body, the sunken spherical eyes, the underdevelopment of the jaw bones, and the shortening of the tubular bones.

alcoholism treatment

We have already briefly described the treatment of alcoholism in terms of its stages. In most cases, relapse can occur after treatment.

This is due to the fact that treatment is often aimed at eliminating the most acute manifestations of alcoholism. Without adequate psychotherapy, without the support of loved ones, alcoholism reappears.

But as practice shows, psychotherapy is an important component of treatment.

The first stage of the treatment of alcoholism is the elimination of acute and subacute conditions caused by intoxication of the body. First, binge eating is interrupted and withdrawal disorders are eliminated. In the later stages, therapy is carried out only under the supervision of medical personnel, since the delirium syndrome that occurs when drinking is stopped requires psychotherapy and a series of sedatives. The relief of acute alcoholic psychosis is to quickly put the patient to sleep with dehydration and support for the cardiovascular system. In cases of severe alcohol intoxication, alcoholism treatment is carried out only in specialized hospitals or in psychiatric departments. In the early stages, antialcoholic treatment may be sufficient, but more often when alcohol is abandoned, there is a neuroendocrine regulation deficit, the disease progresses and leads to complications and organic pathology.

The second stage of treatment is aimed at establishing remission. A complete diagnosis of the patient and therapy of mental and somatic disorders is carried out. Therapy at the second stage of treatment can be quite peculiar, its main task is to eliminate somatic disorders, which are key in the formation of pathological desire for alcohol.

Non-standard therapy methods include the Rozhnov technique, which involves emotional stress therapy. A good prognosis in treatment is given by the hypnotic effect and the psychotherapeutic conversations that precede it.

During hypnosis, the patient is instilled with an aversion to alcohol, a nausea and vomiting reaction to the taste and smell of alcohol. The aversive verbal therapy method is often used.

It consists in fixing the psyche by the method of verbal suggestion, responding with a vomiting reaction to drinking alcohol, even in an imaginary situation.

The third stage of treatment involves the extension of the remission and the return to a normal lifestyle. This stage can be considered the most important in the successful treatment of alcoholism. After the previous two stages, the person returns to his old society, to his problems, friends, who in most cases are also addicted to alcohol, to family conflicts.

This has a greater effect on the recurrence of the disease. In order for a person to independently eliminate the causes and external symptoms of alcoholism, long-term psychotherapy is required. Autogenic training gives a positive effect, they are widely used for group therapy.

The training consists of the normalization of autonomic disorders and the elimination of emotional stress after treatment.

Behavioral therapy is used, the so-called lifestyle correction. A person learns to live in a sober state, to solve her problems, acquiring the ability of self-control. A very important step in restoring normal life is the achievement of mutual understanding in the family and understanding of their problem.

For successful treatment, it is important to make the patient want to get rid of alcohol dependence. Compulsory treatment does not give the same results as voluntary treatment.

But still, refusal of treatment requires the local narcologist to forcibly refer the patient for treatment at the LTP.

Therapy in the general medical network does not give positive results, since the patient has open access to alcohol, drunken friends visit him, etc.

In the event that alcohol abuse began in adulthood, an individual approach to the choice of therapy is required. This is because the somato-neurological symptoms of alcoholism appear long before the onset of addiction and mental disorders.

Mortality in alcoholism is more frequently associated with complications. There is a decompensation of vital organs caused by prolonged drinking, states of withdrawal, intercurrent diseases.

20% of elderly patients with alcoholism have signs of epilepsy, acute Gaye-Wernicke syndrome is slightly less common. Attacks of both diseases during intoxication can be fatal.

The presence of alcoholic cardiomyopathy significantly worsens the prognosis. Continued systematic consumption of alcohol leads to mortality.

Less than 25% of patients with this complication live more than three years after diagnosis. A high percentage of deaths from alcohol poisoning are due to suicide.

This is facilitated by the development of chronic hallucinosis, alcoholic paraphrenia, jealous delusions.

The patient is unable to control delusional thoughts and commits unusual acts in a sober state.