Alcoholism - Last Stage

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There are four alcoholism stages.  The fourth and last stage of alcoholism is characterised by a chronic loss of control regarding drinking behavior.  In the earlier stages of alcoholism, the alcoholic had a choice whether he or she would take the first drink.

In the last stage of alcoholism, however, an alcoholic no longer has a choice: he or she must drink in order to function on a daily basis.

The Regrettable Characteristics of Alcoholism in the Last Stage

Alcoholism Stages.  The fourth and last stage of alcoholism is characterised by an almost total loss of control concerning drinking behavior.  In the earlier stages of the disease, the person may have been successful in maintaining a job.

Now, however, drinking starts earlier in the day and usually continues throughout the day.

Very few, if any full-time jobs can be maintained once a person is in this emotional and physical state.  In the earlier stages of dependency, the alcoholic had a choice whether he or she would take the first drink.

Once the alcoholic had the first drink, he or she usually lost all control and would then continue drinking.  In the last stage of alcoholism, however, alcoholics no longer have a choice:  they must drink.

During the last stage of alcoholism, benders are typical.  That is, in this stage, the alcoholic gets helplessly drunk and may remain in this condition for days at a time.  The unattainable goal for the alcoholic at this time is to find the feeling of euphoria they once experienced.

In this stage, they alcoholic manifests an utter disregard for everything, including food, shelter, family, and job.  These occasional flights into oblivion are best described as drinking to get away from the problems caused by drinking.

In the second or third alcoholism stages the alcoholic's hands may have trembled slightly on mornings after getting drunk.  In the final stage of alcoholism however, alcoholics get "the shakes" whenever they try or are forced to abstain from drinking.  These tremors are an indication of a severe nervous disorder that now affects the entire body. 

The Shakes and the DTs

When "the shakes" are combined with hallucinations, the result is known as "the DTs" or delirium tremens, a potentially fatal form of alcohol withdrawal if the alcoholic does not receive medical attention.  After an attack of the DTs, many alcoholics promise to never drink again. 

Sadly, most of them do not and can not fulfill their promise, and so they eventually return to drinking, and the process starts all over again.

The Need to Hide the Booze

In the final stage of alcoholism, having an easily accessible supply of alcohol close at hand (to avoid "the shakes") becomes the most important thing in the life of the alcoholic.  During this stage, the alcoholic will do almost anything to get the alcohol they require.  Once the alcohol is secured, the alcoholic will usually hide their bottles so that they can get a drink whenever they need it, which usually means any hour of the day or the night.

Alcoholism Last Stage Symptoms

The following represents some of the key symptoms of the 4th stage of alcoholism:

• the possibility of alcoholic psychosis
• indefinable fears
• the realization of being out of control
• benders, or lengthy intoxications
• continual loss of control
• the collapse of the alibi system
• obsession with drinking
• unreasonable resentments and hostility toward others
• vague spiritual desires
• "the shakes"
• auditory and visual hallucinations
• moral deterioration
• nameless fears and anxieties such as feelings of impending doom or destruction
• the "DTs"
• impaired thinking
• devaluation of personal relationships
• persistent remorse
• loss of tolerance for alcohol  

Alcoholism - Last Stage:  Conclusion

Alcoholism - Last Stage.  The fourth and last stage of alcoholism is characterised by an almost total loss of control regarding drinking behavior.  In the earlier stages of the disease, the person may have been successful in maintaining a job.  Now, however, drinking starts earlier in the day and usually continues throughout the day.

As a consequence, few, if any, full-time jobs can be maintained once a person has reached the last stage of alcoholism.  In the earlier stages of the disease, the person actually had a choice whether he or she would take the first drink.  Once the alcoholic had the first drink, however, he or she usually lost all control and would then continue drinking.  In the last stage of alcoholism, unfortunately, an alcoholic no longer has a choice: he or she must drink in order to function.

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