End stage alcoholism
It is reputed that ‘alcoholism is the disease that tries to convince you that you don’t have it.’ As much as the ‘high’ is exhilarating, it is short-lived and has more cons than pros.
Research from the World Health Organization (WHO) proves that 5.3% of all deaths, globally, are caused by the harmful consumption of alcohol. This equates to about 3 million deaths annually.
In addition, premature deaths and disabilities, primarily to members of the age group 20-39 years of age, are attributed to alcoholism.
So where do we draw the line? At what stage does alcohol indulgence become harmful?
Technically, alcohol use disorder (AUD) can be divided into 4 main categories. These are:
Stages of alcoholism
Pre-alcoholic stage
This is also known as the normal drinking stage because it is often indifferent to social drinking to the casual eye.
It is characterized by experimental desires to try new forms of alcohol or drinking due to emotional or mental motivations, that is, to suppress physical pain, depression, anxiety, or stress.
As the stage progresses, the drinker develops a tolerance for alcohol. This means that they may not necessarily drink quite often but in large amounts at a time.
Early-stage alcoholism
The transition between premature alcoholism and early-stage alcoholism is marked when the drinker shows increased episodes of binge drinking and experiences alcohol-induced blackouts.
You know you’re in the early stage when you feel the irresistible desire for alcohol.
Early-stage alcoholics often lie about their drinking patterns and may tend to spike drinks with alcohol. More often than not, their productivity is affected and may breed poor performance at their workplace or in academics.
As people begin to notice the drinking problem, the drinker is in denial.
Middle-stage alcoholism
The middle stage is triggered by strong cravings and painful symptoms of withdrawal since the body has adapted to an alcohol-rich environment. The withdrawal symptoms may include shaking, excessive sweating, nausea, insomnia, and headaches.
A middle-stage alcoholic would plan their day around drinking. Drinking starts early, gets them through the day, and most certainly, ends the day. There is little to no control over their drinking and neglect of responsibilities.
End-stage alcoholism
This is the last stage of alcoholism. It is the most severe and dangerous form of AUD.
In this case, alcohol addiction is full-blown, therefore, drinking is perpetual and any attempts for its withdrawal may lead to shaking, seizures, dilated pupils, and delirium tremens, commonly known as alcohol withdrawal syndrome, which when left untreated can be fatal.
What does end-stage alcoholism look like
As the final stage of alcoholism before death, the drinker experiences long-term mental and health complications. It is not uncommon for alcoholics at this stage to lose their jobs, families and eventually become homeless.
End-stage alcoholism brain damage
Some of the mental signs of end-stage alcoholism include:
- Depression
- Paranoia
- Loneliness
- Dementia
- Violence
They leave the individual in a dark place and may even attempt suicide. Moreover, extreme situations can lead to wet brain condition, also known as Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome (WKS).
Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome is a common brain disorder caused by long-term heavy drinking. It refers to the acute (Wernicke’s encephalopathy) and chronic (Korsakoff amnesic) stages of thiamine (Vitamin B1) deficiency.
Wet brain may cause damage to the brain’s thalamus and hypothalamus resulting in irreversible confusion, hallucinations, and poor muscle coordination.
Physical symptoms of end-stage alcoholism
- Liver cirrhosis – food metabolism slows down in the early stages of liver disease. As a result, alcohol is absorbed back into the bloodstream. This causes the liver to harden and form scarring tissues, that is, cirrhosis.
- With cirrhosis comes fatigue, bleeding, itchy skin, jaundice, and fluid retention in the abdomen.
- High blood pressure can also result from liver cirrhosis.
- Esophageal varices – these are enlarged veins in the esophagus, attributable to blood flow obstruction, which may be fatal when they leak blood and eventually rupture.
- Cardiovascular problems related to high blood pressure.
- Cancers linked with the mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, and colon.
- Weight loss.
How long does end-stage alcoholism last
At this point, many body organs are failing, and thus predisposing the alcoholic to a slow, painful death. But can end-stage alcoholics recover? Yes, depending on the amount of damage that has already occurred.
Although death is inevitable, the drinker might have a chance of a better life once they decide to quit drinking and seek medical attention. Call it learning to dance in the rain.
A medically supervised detox can help alleviate the drinker’s condition when done early and control withdrawal symptoms.
A rehabilitation program is also necessary where one is introduced to drug therapy, counseling, and proper nutrition. For middle to end stages of alcoholism, inpatient rehabs are highly recommended. Otherwise, it is okay to opt for outpatient rehabilitation.
Nonetheless, an addition of behavior therapies and support groups could go a long way to help the recovering alcoholic maintain sobriety.
What happens in case of a relapse?
In one way or another, a relapse may happen. Don’t panic. Relapses are a normal part of recovery. Although you may feel resentful, regret and hopeless when it happens, it is possible to embark on the journey to a drug-free life.
In conclusion, the path to recovery is never easy. But the addict must first want to recover. This makes it a teensy bit easier. By all means, an end-stage alcoholic may likely recover, or at the very least, experience a better, quality life.
