Depending from stage bad habit , the main symptoms manifest themselves in different ways. There are several stages with their own manifestations and signs, as well as negative effects on the body. The fact is that alcohol as such, regardless of its type, poisons internal organs and vital important systems, disrupting their smooth functioning. This leads to the development of various chronic and pathological diseases , which provoke irreversible changes and death. So, let's look at what alcoholism is, what the signs are, stages and whether treatment is possible at home.

Symptoms initial stage are quite blurry, which sometimes makes it difficult to identify a problem in time. A person gradually begins to depend on alcoholic beverages, increasing the dose of alcohol and the frequency of its use. The first stage of alcoholism in women and men, the symptoms of which are similar, provokes intoxication of the body. First, altered reality syndrome occurs when alcohol tolerance is impaired. Later you will notice the following features:

• Disappear protective reactions against intoxication;
• Appear memory losses ;
• Formed psychological complex – feeling of dissatisfaction, bad mood without alcohol.

This is the period when the first signs of stage 1 can gradually increase, lasting from one year to several years. At this moment, the person retains his personality, social status, family and work, but the drinker’s body suffers. The liver suffers first , and then - increased flatulence, diarrhea, feeling of heaviness in the stomach. It develops in men and women and is characterized by pain in the left side of the abdomen and back, attacks of nausea, and loss of appetite.

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The second stage and its symptoms

At this stage, problems may appear after 5 years of steady drinking. The duration of this phase can range from 5 to 15-18 years. During stage 2 of addiction in men, the signs intensify and can manifest themselves as follows:

1. Pseudo-binges. They differ from ordinary binge drinking in the frequency associated with various socio-financial factors. For example, lack of money for the next dose of booze, the end of vacation, etc.;
2. arise persistent memory lapses which take on the appearance of complete amnesia throughout the entire period of intoxication;
3. Forming stand mental habit of drinking . manifested by the inability to think properly and perform usual mental work;
4. Physical dependence . The patient is depressed bad mood, aggressive, irritable.

At complete refusal from drinking alcohol, a person develops somatoneurological features – tremor, skin flushing, nausea, heart pain, dizziness. Signs of squirrel disease, liver disease, digestive system and heart disease appear. Watch a useful video on the topic:

The third stage and signs of the problem

On 3 stages alcoholism makes it more difficult to see the manifestations of the disease. The period during which the disease of this degree develops is is 5-10 years . As a rule, if you do not notice the signs of a problem at this stage, then everything ends in death. During this period, the alcoholic quickly achieves dangerous degree intoxication, while drinking smaller doses of alcoholic beverages than in previous years. Binges end with severe psycho-emotional and physical exhaustion of the body. As such mental symptoms the habit of drinking at this stage does not exist, which is possible due to the formation of deeper changes in the psyche.

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There is no danger to the body, the habit of drinking is typical for many people, but in the specified quantities and with the specified parameters of the patient, it does not cause any harm to the body. Many people relieve stress with alcohol on holidays and after work, but are not addicted to it.

The patient sees alcohol as a way out of difficult situations and resorts to high-grade drinks more and more often. This stage is dangerous because in any difficult situation in life, this stage can smoothly transition into the next one, which is much more dangerous to health.

At this stage, an addicted person can no longer do without alcohol, but is firmly convinced that he is able to quit at any time, but not today. Already here complications with the liver and other difficulties with organs and well-being may begin.

From this stage they can bring special treatment and a short rehabilitation course, plus support from relatives. This stage can provoke very serious problems with the liver and other organs, which will lead to illness for the rest of life.

This stage is not hopeless, but requires an extremely serious approach to treatment and a long period of rehabilitation, with regular medical procedures, many drugs and, often, expensive treatment.

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The following signs can be noted:

• Gain aggressiveness in behavior;
• Emotional instability – abrupt change mood , from joy to hysteria, depression, fun, anger and irritability;
• Human personality degrades;
• Mental capacity are decreasing.

Serious damage also develops internal organs– manifests itself cirrhosis of the liver, failure of this organ, epilepsy, toxic encephalopathy. The appearance changes, the person stops taking care of himself and gradually slides to the very bottom.

The fourth stage and its signs

Some addiction specialists distinguish between certain distinctive features stages of alcoholism number four. During this period, serious damage occurs to all parts of the brain, and irreversible changes in the central nervous system - schizophrenia develops against the background of illness, liver problems and liver failure, cerebral edema. Almost all internal organs work for wear and tear, and gradually fail. Signs last stage men and women have a common picture and parallels:

• The man is completely loses interest in life as such;
• There's something serious going on dissocialization;
• The only meaning of a drunkard's life is another dose of booze.

How many live in the last stage of the habit with signs of irreversible degradation and destruction of the body is difficult to answer. As a rule, within a few years a person dies from the body’s complete inability to cope with... heart attack or stroke.

How to determine beer alcoholism?

There is such a thing as beer alcoholism , the symptoms of which are slightly different. This is a dependence on light intoxicating drinks that do not contain large amounts of ethyl alcohol, but cause no less harmful habit.

Signs of such dependence in women and men are not as obvious as in cases of abuse strong drinks. Such a person is no different in appearance from the vast majority of teetotalers. As a rule, such a habit is manifested by excessive consumption of low-alcohol drinks every day for a long period of time. The problem manifests itself differently in men and women:

• Regular use drinking during the day in small doses;
• Absent-mindedness, inability to concentrate without another dope;
• Closedness, prostration.

This type of addiction is dangerous due to the inability of the drinker to understand the seriousness of the situation. After all, even insignificant daily doses Ethyl alcohol destroys the body from the inside, causing enormous harm to humans.

How to identify alcohol addiction in a woman?

is a disease that must be eliminated at its very beginning. The fact is that the treatment of symptoms of this problem in the weaker sex is initial stages has great effectiveness. Due to the characteristics of the body, ladies are more susceptible negative impact alcohol and the habit of drinking forms faster.

One of dangerous types addiction to alcoholic beverages is considered beer or wine alcoholism in women, the signs of which can be seen even with the naked eye:

• The appearance of a sudden interest in drinking (wine, liqueurs, vermouth or beer);
• Causeless mood boost ;
• Change appearance – unkemptness, wild hair;
• Usage various means to mask the smell of alcohol ;
• Coarsening vote;
• Emotional instability nervousness, irritation.

If you have this knowledge and know what to look for (for example, you have seen photos and examples on the Internet), pay attention to changes in appearance, the condition of the skin, hair, teeth - all this will indicate the presence of a bad habit. Unlike male drunkenness, ladies abuse alcohol secretly, trying to best fit the image of a decent woman. But a long period of dependence on alcoholic beverages ultimately leads to To serious consequences . If the craving for drinking is not promptly influenced, the woman will lose her job, career, family, relatives and friends, as well as herself as an individual.

It is possible to determine the binge stage of the habit if there is daily drinking and the inability to exist normally without it. In this case, an increase in aggression and the formation of withdrawal syndrome indicate the need emergency assistance woman.

To combat the problem, you may need the help of a psychologist or narcologist. But first, you can offer the woman a test to determine the severity of the problem. Another useful video

Alcohol addiction is already long time is not an individual person's problem. Family, relatives, friends, colleagues suffer from his addiction. Alcoholism is a disease. It is much easier to prevent any pathology than to treat it, and then deal with the adverse consequences that arise.

Signs of alcoholism in men

There are at least ten signs of alcohol addiction in men. Combining them together, you can easily guess that this person is an alcoholic. Read how to get out of binge drinking and overcome this problem.

• Pathological attraction to alcohol. Manifests a craving for something a certain type alcoholic beverages or alcohol in in a general sense. Such a person will always find a reason to drink alcohol.
• Regular use. Has the drinking ritual become a daily and obligatory ritual? Are you sure everything is okay? In this case, what is important to a person is not the volume, but the fact of drinking alcohol, even if it is, for example, coffee with added liqueur.
• To relieve stress. Many alcoholics claim that alcohol helps them relax and stop thinking about the daily routine, which is too depressing.
• Company. Alcohol addiction forces a person to change. First, they change their internal foundations, which may not be so clearly visible. Afterwards, a change in interests and a change in social circle appears. Those people who are not averse to drinking become interesting. The once wonderful relationships with others fade into the background; they are given little importance during this period of life.
• Lack of interests. Things that were once important and interesting are no longer needed. The only joy in life is the fact of drinking with new acquaintances. Household and work responsibilities cease to be important and therefore neglect of them can very often be observed.
• Lack of control. Behavior and control over it change radically. Some may complain about life or be aggressive, while others will have fun no matter what.
• Lack of sense of proportion. It becomes very difficult to say no to drinking alcohol. At first it is difficult to give up the use itself, then to stop in the process of drinking. A person can drink “to the last drop” or until he feels sick.
• No shame. In the initial stages, a person experiences shame and remorse for what he has done. He got drunk, did things that were out of character for him, and didn’t look in the best light. Gradually, he begins to give a damn about this and the need to drink is justified in every possible way.
• Change in memory. One of characteristic features Alcoholism is loss or impairment of memory. After leaving the state alcohol intoxication a person cannot remember or remembers in parts what happened to him in a certain time period.
• Lack of body response. Alcohol in any dosage causes intoxication of the body. The latter is actively trying to cope with this condition by everyone possible ways, for example, is activated vomiting reflex. If it has become dull, then the intoxication is so massive that the body has stopped fighting it.

Stages of alcoholism in men

Experts identify three main stages of alcohol addiction, where each subsequent stage is a consequence of the previous one.

Stage	Clinical manifestations
Stage 1. Difficult to detect. The duration is 1-10 years.	Personality deformation. Changing priorities, personal environment. Sleep-wake cycle disturbances, disorders gastrointestinal tract, job change of cardio-vascular system. Alcohol resistance. Gradually increase the dose consumed. The emergence of a pathological craving for alcohol-containing drinks.
Stage 2. External changes. Significant personality deformation, noticeable to others.	Mental disorders. May appear as epileptic seizures, periodically occurring hallucinations. Memory change. Decreased cognitive abilities. Lability of the emotional background. It can manifest itself as both aggression and depression. The dominant is alcohol. The appearance of a painful hangover after drinking.
Stage 3. The final stage of alcoholism. The body is not able to fight this condition on its own; qualified help is required.	Indifference to the surrounding world. The main interest is alcohol. Frequent binges. Minimal doses of alcohol can lead to severe alcohol intoxication. More pronounced mental changes. Pathologies associated with the main organ systems of the body are identified.

Male alcoholism

Most often, men drink alcohol in order to temporarily get rid of the constant burden of responsibility. They are usually responsible for the financial support of the family, which explains the enormous workload. It is alcohol that helps you relax and temporarily forget about existing problems.

Also common problem men - inability to manage their emotions. The constantly accumulating tension must be relieved and come out, but males try to remain calm and keep everything to themselves until the last moment. When the problems that pile up become unbearable, they can go on a binge and give free rein to their emotions.

Often affects hereditary factor. Alcoholism is often a genetically determined disease.

Consequences of alcoholism in men

No matter how strong the body is, the consequences of alcohol addiction will not keep you waiting. They can be divided into two large groups:

• physiological;
• psychological.

Physiological consequences

Associated with the functioning of organs and systems of the body. Most frequently encountered problems:

• Impotence. Associated with a violation hormonal levels men, which occurs due to changes in normal testosterone production.
• Pathology of the gastrointestinal tract. Most often gastritis is detected and peptic ulcer stomach and duodenum. The symptoms are very characteristic - a pain reaction that occurs at least 30 minutes after eating.
• Arterial hypertension. Alcohol can damage the walls of blood vessels, which leads to a gradual change in their structure and disruption of innervation. As a result, arterial hypertension develops.
• Liver pathology. The liver is the main processing plant of our body. During a massive alcohol attack, its cells are damaged and undergo necrosis. Normally functional tissue is replaced by one that cannot perform basic functions. Violated functionality both the liver itself and other organs and systems.
• Decreased immunity. By affecting the immune status, the body becomes susceptible to many infectious diseases.
• Heart diseases. Associated with the direct effect of alcohol on the walls of blood vessels, which in the future is the main cause of serious pathologies, for example, myocardial infarction.

Psychological consequences

This group is represented by the development of the following reactions:

• Delirium of persecution. Manifests obsessive feeling constant control and surveillance.
• Hallucinations. They can be both visual and auditory. It is difficult to distinguish from real events.
• Encephalopathy. Associated with impaired blood circulation, resulting in insufficient nutrition of the brain. The result is a disorder of the basic functions of the body.

Symptoms of alcoholism in men

The symptoms of alcoholism are very diverse. The most common are presented as follows:

• Aggression. They observe a tendency to hot temper, assault, and loss of self-control.
• Memory impairment. Its progression is observed over time when drinking alcohol.
• Changes in cognitive abilities. Degradation is noted, mental capabilities are minimal.
• Susceptibility to diseases. Associated with change immune status body.
• Tremor. The main reason is the toxic effect of alcohol on brain structures.
• External changes. Appear over time and are characterized by hyperemia and swelling of the face.

The first signs of alcoholism in men

Main initial signs alcohol dependence in males are:

• pathological craving for alcoholic beverages;
• inability to control the amount consumed;
• loss of control of one's actions;
• sensitization of the body to large doses of alcoholic beverages.

External signs of alcoholism

One of the manifestations of alcoholism is a change in appearance. They are presented:

• Flabbiness skin. It occurs as a result of a violation of the synthesis of collagen fibers.
• The appearance of small capillaries on the skin of the face - cheeks, nose, neck. They gradually burst, which leads to the appearance of peculiar spider veins.
• Swelling. Due to a violation of water-salt metabolism, a puffy face, swollen limbs are revealed, and bruises appear under the eyes.
• Change in skin color. They acquire a yellowish tint, which is associated with impaired liver function.
• Blueness of lips. Associated with poor circulation and tissue ischemia.
• Deepening of the voice. Deformation of the vocal cords occurs, resulting in a change in phonation.
• Neurological disorders. It is expressed by changes in coordination of movements, tremors of the limbs, and traumatization.

Signs of alcohol addiction

Pathological dependence on alcohol manifests itself:

• a change in a person’s personality, a lack of criticism of oneself;
• cravings for alcoholic beverages;
• inability to control your actions;
• disruption of the functioning of all organs and systems of the body;
• changes in memory, impaired ability to remember, loss of certain moments in life;
• emotional instability, lability of emotions;
• denial of the existing problem;
• the body becoming accustomed to increased doses of alcohol;
• changes in the mental sphere (hallucinations, delusions, epileptic seizures);
• neurological disorders.

REFERENCE! A characteristic feature of an alcoholic is drinking alone. Often he does not need company to satisfy the needs of the body, which the latter demands more and more insistently each time.

Causes of alcoholism in men

Many people think about what are the factors in the development of alcoholism. Why does this happen to one person, but never happen to another person. The reasons for the development of alcohol addiction in men have been fairly well studied by researchers and are divided into the following groups:

• biological;
• psychological;
• social.

Biological reasons

This group includes features of the formation of the human body. These may be inborn errors of metabolism (improper metabolism leads to the rapid formation of addiction), mental illness history (depression, dissociative disorders), genetic predisposition (descendants of alcoholics are more susceptible to alcohol addiction in the future).

REFERENCE! The dependence of the development of alcoholism on age is noted. Alcohol addiction develops faster in youth than in older age.

Psychological reasons

Here it is worth noting the specific features of the personality itself. These include emotional background, lability, psychological instability, weak motivation, lack of any life goals, psychoorganic disorders, problems with communication in society.

Social

Forms its own micro- and macroenvironment. Often determined by mentality. One of the features of this is the consumption of alcoholic beverages on holidays, after a hard day at work, and on weekends.

Alcoholism is a disease characterized by pathological addiction from drinking alcohol or alcohol-containing drinks. This pathology can be treated quite well these days by medication and with the help of psychotherapy. If you identify symptoms of alcohol addiction in your loved ones, you should consult a specialist. The doctor will be able to assess the scale of the disaster and carry out the necessary diagnostic procedures, define the scheme further treatment, which can gradually help a person return to normal image life.

10.11.2017 Narcologist Mikhail Konstantinovich Transition 0

External and behavioral signs of alcoholism in men and women

Alcoholism - serious illness, which negatively affects all internal organs and also affects a person’s appearance. First of all, the following signs of alcoholism appear on the face:

• Skin laxity;
• Loss of muscle tone;
• Yellow tint eyeballs;
• Blueness of the skin;
• Swelling of the face and limbs;
• “Stars” on the cheeks and nose.

In just 2-4 years regular use alcohol products, physical and anatomical changes in an unfavorable direction begin to occur in the body.

Recognizing an alcoholic by external signs is not difficult. There is a special table of the stages of addiction; it indicates the symptoms of the development of pathology at each stage. Signs of alcoholism on the face appear earlier in women than in men.

The longer the abuse continues alcoholic drinks, the stronger they are and the larger their dose, the easier it is to recognize drinking girl. Her appearance gives her away. As a result of this, it is very difficult for her to get a job, make new acquaintances, and even communicate with old acquaintances.

A woman stops monitoring the condition of her clothes and hairstyle. Her figure, voice, and gait change. Hair and nails become brittle. The skin loses its elasticity and takes on an unhealthy tint.

Changes in clothing and hairstyle

One of the first signs of alcohol addiction is untidiness in clothing and hairstyle. No self-respecting girl would allow herself to appear in public like this. This is beneath her dignity.

A woman who drinks may appear in public in dirty, torn clothes. There is a feeling that she is dressed hastily. Her shoes are unkempt. It may even be worn out of season. For example, summer sneakers at the end of November and the like.

A greasy, disheveled hairstyle also indicates the presence of an addiction. Roots that have not been painted for a long time are often observed. In addition, with alcohol addiction, hair becomes lifeless and falls out.

Changes in skin and hair condition

External signs chronic alcoholism in women they manifest themselves in the form of deterioration in the condition of hair and skin. This occurs as a result of an imbalance in the water balance in the body. To eliminate toxic substances from the body, the kidneys take all the water from other organs. As a result, things happen pathological changes.

• The outer layer of the skin dries out, it loses its elasticity, flakes off, and its healthy tone disappears. Early deep wrinkles and sagging appear.
• Hair, from lack useful substances, become dull and brittle. Split ends appear. Gray hair and bald patches will not take long to appear.

Changing voice and figure

Another symptom of alcohol dependence in women is a deepening of the voice. Hoarseness characteristic of the pathology occurs. Often a woman's voice can be confused with a man. This occurs as a result of the fact that when abusing alcoholic beverages, female body male hormones begin to predominate.

The woman's figure becomes angular. The gait becomes awkward. Such pathological changes are associated with dystrophic changes V muscle tissue. They occur due to lack nutrients in organism. Muscles lose tone and become flabby. On advanced stage alcoholism, the woman involuntarily begins to stoop, her shoulders drop down, her head and neck protrude forward.

The figure loses its feminine lines. The waist disappears, the belly appears. Externally, severe thinning becomes noticeable lower limbs. A “staggering” gait is observed not only in a state of alcoholic intoxication, but also in a sober state. To eliminate the external signs of alcoholism in girls and women, they need to quit drinking. Symptoms of female alcoholism on the face

Changes in behavior

The signs of alcoholism in women and men are very similar in behavior. Regardless of gender, the circle of hobbies narrows. All patients are interested in is drinking. A woman is looking for the slightest excuse to drink. Be it a happy event or a sad one. Regardless of the situation, as soon as a woman realizes that she will be able to drink, it causes her great delight.

With alcohol dependence, her behavior manifests itself sudden changes in a mood. The feeling of euphoria can quickly change to depressive state. Drinking people show excessive aggression. They are irritable, especially if they can't get a drink.

When a woman drinks rarely and in small doses, after a feast she experiences vomiting and nausea. In the morning she has a severe headache and finds it difficult to do anything. Drinking woman to get drunk you need large quantity alcohol. However, she does not experience any symptoms. alcohol intoxication. The next day, after drinking, she is ready to continue the “banquet”.

Alcoholism face

If you look at a photo of an alcoholic’s face before and after the development of the disease, you can see significant changes. It feels like there are two different people. And of different age categories.

Signs of alcoholism on the face of men and women appear the same. They are characterized by bags and bruises under the eyes. Yellowness of the sclera and other symptoms of alcohol dependence.

Redness

In the photo of an alcoholic you can see that his face is red. Moreover, such a manifestation is observed not only in a state of intoxication, but also in an adequate form. This occurs as a result of the fact that a large accumulation of ethyl alcohol in the blood leads to an increase in intravenous pressure. Vascular tone deteriorates and their integrity may be compromised. As a result, reddish bruises may be observed at the sites of injury.

When certain vessels rupture, blood flow may be disrupted. As a result, fluid stops flowing to some areas of the face. An alcoholic develops a blue nose. And also the dead color of the lips.

Swelling

Acetaldehyde, the result of the decomposition of ethyl alcohol, leaves the human body through the kidneys, liver, lungs and pores on the skin. These organs require plenty of water to function. The person begins to consume a lot of fluid.

Symptoms of dehydration do not go away immediately. As a result, water accumulates in large volumes in the body, and the face swells. In people who drink alcohol rarely, in moderate quantities, the pathology quickly goes away.

A person with an addiction has a disturbed water-salt balance. The fluid from the body does not have time to be removed in time and is concentrated in large quantities. The face of a chronic alcoholic acquires persistent swelling. The upper and lower extremities also swell.

Frontalis muscle tension

A dependent person can be easily identified by this characteristic. This condition is usually called “alcoholic face.” It becomes elongated and drooping. Due to the fact that in outer corners wrinkles appear in the eyes, they become sunken.

After a certain time, the folds from the corners of the eyes grow along the entire bridge of the nose and diverge from it in an oblique direction. The nostrils become wider. The nose swells and enlarges.
As a result, the nasolabial fold in upper area falls inside. And in the lower zone it is smoothed out. Lips become plump. Over time, the changes reach the neck, its muscles hypertrophy.

Yellowness of the eyeball

External signs of an alcoholic also affect the eyes. They take on a yellowish tint. This happens as a result large cluster in the body bilirubin is a toxic substance. This process indicates disturbances in blood circulation and liver functionality.

Yellowness of the eyeballs may be a sign of severe liver disease. Such as cirrhosis or hepatitis. If such a symptom occurs, you must immediately contact medical institution for help.

Circles under the eyes

U drinking man Intoxication of the body occurs regularly ethyl alcohol. As a result of this, and also due to constant swelling, spots appear under the eyes. dark circles. They cannot be eliminated even with the help of cosmetics.

Under the influence of alcohol, the eyelids weaken. This also provokes the appearance of circles under the eyes. To eliminate such symptoms, you need to stop drinking alcohol.

Gray or greenish skin

With alcohol addiction, the patient begins to eat poorly. His body does not receive enough useful elements. As a result, a metabolic disorder occurs.

As a result, vitamin deficiency begins. The skin takes on an unhealthy gray or green tint. The more advanced alcoholism is, the stronger this disorder manifests itself.

Regardless of the symptoms of alcoholism, the pathology must be treated. To eliminate unpleasant consequences addictions must be eliminated. Alcohol slowly but surely kills.

The diagnosis of alcoholism in Russia is determined by the presence of the following symptoms in the patient:

• lack of gag reflex when taking large quantity alcohol;
• loss of control over the amount of drinking;
• partial retrograde amnesia: the patient does not remember what happened the day before, during or after drinking alcohol;
• presence of a morning hangover;

Stages of alcoholism

Prodrome

Prodrome- the zero stage of alcoholism, in which there is no disease yet, but everyday drunkenness is present. A person drinks alcohol according to the situation, usually with friends, does not get drunk to the point of loss of memory or other severe consequences. As long as the prodrome stage has not turned into alcoholism, a person can easily stop drinking alcohol for any time.

In the prodrome stage, a person is often indifferent to whether drinking will happen in the near future or not. Having drunk in company, a person usually does not demand further drinking and then does not drink on his own. But, with daily drinking, as a rule, after 6-12 months the prodrome stage passes into the first stage of alcoholism.

First stage of alcoholism

First stage of alcoholism characterized by a change in the body's sensitivity to alcohol (development of alcohol tolerance). A person begins to drink more alcohol.

The main signs of the first stage of alcoholism:

• The gag reflex disappears. The patient switches to drinking alcohol alone (in the evenings, on weekends, “before dinner”). The attraction to alcohol becomes obsessive, sometimes at the most inopportune moment - at night or on the road. The type of intoxication changes - when drinking a significant amount of alcohol, memory loss appears.
• At the first stage, scandals often arise in the family, problems at work, loss of interest in various aspects of life: politics, literature, hobbies, etc. If it is impossible to drink alcohol, the craving for alcohol temporarily goes away, but if you drink alcohol, control over the amount of alcohol consumed becomes dulled.

Second stage of alcoholism

Second stage of alcoholism: endurance (tolerance) to alcohol increases significantly, a person discovers that, unexpectedly for himself, he can take very large doses alcohol. Even after consuming a small dose of alcohol, the patient ceases to control the amount of alcohol consumed. When drunk, he often behaves unpredictably, pretentiously, and sometimes even dangerously for himself and others.

Symptoms of the second stage of alcoholism:

• When the second stage of alcoholism occurs, a hangover appears: in the morning after drinking alcohol the day before, you feel sick, there is definitely a physiological dependence. The desire to drink becomes more and more noticeable and obsessive. A person is aware of the harm, but does not fight, submits to desire. There is a loss of control, and cases of pathological intoxication may occur.
• A hangover in the second stage is accompanied by an irresistible urge to drink alcohol in any way. This occurs against the background of a gloomy, tense and depressive mood combined with nausea, increased blood pressure, rapid heart rate, increased body temperature, trembling of the limbs (tremor) and a painful hostility towards any external stimuli, even to the light.
• The second stage of alcoholism is characterized by a change in a person’s personality: the patient becomes deceitful, sometimes disinterested in his social status. Hot temper, anger, assault appear, and signs of decreased intelligence are noted. In a state of intoxication, self-control is lost, there is no feeling of shame, embarrassment for what has been done, and poisoning with alcohol substitutes is possible due to loss of active attention.

Third stage of alcoholism

Third stage of alcoholism:- this is the binge stage of alcoholism, in which endurance for alcohol decreases, drinking alcohol becomes almost daily.

Signs of alcoholism in the third stage:

In the third stage, binges with a certain rhythm begin to appear. Visible personality degradation and mental changes often occur.

All of the above is accompanied by diseases of the liver (alcoholic hepatitis or cirrhosis of the liver), stomach (alcoholic gastritis), pancreas (alcoholic indurative pancreatitis), heart (alcoholic cardiomyopathy), brain (alcoholic encephalopathy), peripheral nervous system (alcoholic neuropathy), etc. . Violations of internal organs increase and can become irreversible. Irreversible changes in the nervous system often occur, leading to paresis and paralysis, to conditions where hallucinations last a long time (Kandinsky-Clerambault syndrome).

In the third stage, such complications are observed alcoholic illness, How alcoholic delirium jealousy and alcoholic delirium, the so-called “delirium tremens”. Delirium ends with dementia or even the death of a person. Alcohol is especially dangerous if you have diabetes. Take care of your family and friends!

Alcoholism has long ceased to be a problem for an individual. The whole family, all loved ones and society suffer from the personal addiction of each alcoholic. Like any disease, alcoholism is better prevented. But this enemy is too insidious; only specialists can easily recognize its beginning. However, it is never too late to start the fight to save a person from alcoholism, and the sooner it is started, the greater the harmful consequences that can be avoided.

A husband, son, brother, father - an alcoholic always falls as a heavy burden on the shoulders of people, due to family or other attachments who are not indifferent to him. Much is said about female alcoholism. About what it's like serious disease, how quickly women become alcoholics, and how difficult, almost impossible it is to cure it. Everyone seems to have gotten used to male alcoholism and considers it commonplace. But if you react in a timely manner and take measures, you can stop the development of the disease at the very beginning, at the first stage.

By the way. At least ten signs that a man has become dependent on alcohol are so obvious that an attentive person, based on their totality, can clearly guess that he is an alcoholic.

Ten signs of male alcoholism

1. Pathological attraction. It refers to alcohol in general, or to a specific type of it (beer, whiskey). A person cannot help but drink, and under any circumstances makes a choice in favor of drinking alcohol, justifying it with reasons, positive or negative events.

   

2. Regularity. If a person drinks occasionally and does not consider the procedure obligatory, then this is not alcoholism. But then he starts drinking once a week, three times, every day. The dose in this case does not matter, even if it is a glass of liqueur with coffee, which a man cannot do without.

   

3. Shifting responsibility. A person drinks to make life better, or because it is bad. These two sides of the coin are the same - there is a shift of responsibility for one’s life onto alcohol.

   

4. Another company. Beginning alcohol addiction forces a person to change. First, the changes are internal, invisible to the prying eye. But they can be tracked, for example, by how a man begins to choose a company. All non-drinkers various reasons relatives, friends or colleagues fade into the background, regardless of their personal qualities and depth of relationships. An alcoholic prefers the company of those who don’t mind having a drink. Soon they become best friends, communication with others in free time practically stops.

   

5. Indifference. Hence, from the constant desire to drink and spending time with new surroundings in this activity, indifference to all other matters arises, including family and work responsibilities. An alcoholic can easily neglect them, considering gatherings with friends or a subsequent hangover to be a sufficient justification for this.

   

6. Losing control. The alcoholic begins to lose control over his behavior and the surrounding situation. He may behave inappropriately and gradually each addict develops his own style of behavior when drinking alcohol. Some cry and complain about life, some have uncontrollable fun, and some show aggression. All these reactions are not normal, but occur due to the fact that alcohol gradually destroys the subcortex.

   

7. Loss of sense of proportion. If a person becomes an alcoholic, he cannot say “stop.” In the initial stages, he cannot stop his desire to drink. Then he doesn't wash to stop in the process. An alcoholic will drink until he runs out of alcohol or until he drops “dead.”

   

8. Loss of shame. It's terrible, but an alcoholic knows no shame. At first, the person feels ashamed for getting drunk and losing control, doing something inappropriate, or simply not looking very presentable when drunk. Gradually, this feeling dulls, and the state of intoxication begins to justify all actions. The process of personality degradation begins.

   

9. Memory losses. Another sign by which you can distinguish an alcoholic from a person who drinks but is not addicted. If your acquaintance, relative, friend reports that he does not remember what happened yesterday when he drank a certain amount of alcohol, there is reason to sound the alarm. At the same time, a person the day before while drinking may not seem very drunk, walk, talk, dance, or behave like he is slightly drunk. But if he does not remember himself and the events, or remembers them fragmentarily, it means that alcohol blocks the memory reaction and causes temporary amnesia.

   

   Temporary amnesia after drinking alcohol is one of the signs of alcoholism

10. Absence or disappearance of the gag reflex. No matter what anyone says about the fact that all people’s bodies are different, if a person is healthy, then alcohol poisoning his reaction is unambiguous - the body is trying to get rid of toxic substance, which got into it in dangerous quantities. If the gag reflex is dulled or disappeared, intoxication occurs and comatose sleep occurs. This is a typical state of the body that has stopped fighting alcohol.

    

By the way. An alcoholic, unlike a person who drinks but is not addicted, can drink alone. He does not need company to take the dose of alcohol that his body increasingly demands.

External manifestations of alcoholism

Table. External signs of alcoholism

Manifestation of a sign	Description
Violation of the integral structure of collagen fibers of the skin.	Regardless of age, the skin begins to look loose and sagging.
Violation of the capillary structure of the epidermis.	Small capillaries on the face, in particular on the cheeks, neck, and nose, burst, forming “stars” and causing redness.
Violation of the water balance of the skin.	The face, hands, and other parts of the body swell, being in this state constantly. “Bags” form under the eyes.
Changes in skin pigmentation.	The face, neck, and also the eye sclera acquire a yellowish tint - this means disturbances in the functioning of the liver and gall bladder.
Changing lip color.	The lips turn pale, as if they are fading. A bluish coating appears on them - this is a sign of incipient thrombus formation.
Change in color of the conjunctiva.	The vessels of the conjunctiva dilate, the whites of the eyes turn red and remain red all the time.
Deformation of the vocal cords.	It is expressed by a deepening of the voice, it becomes hoarse, and extraneous wheezing appears.
Tendon spasm and deformation.	Tendons, most often on the hands, become deformed and shortened. A tremor begins. Fingers become crooked.
Neurological disorder.	Expressed by loss of coordination, frequent injuries, falls.

By the way. Refusal to recognize oneself as an alcoholic is characteristic of the vast majority of people addicted to alcoholism. Even if all the signs are present, the man finds excuses and excuses, assuring others that he is not an alcoholic. If you insist and talk about the dangers of drinking, a person begins to get angry and stops communicating on these topics.

Why does alcohol addiction occur?

How to avoid becoming an alcoholic? For many people who think about their lives and their future, this question is relevant. Where is the line between drinking in a pleasant company and a serious illness that is not so easy to get rid of?

The causes of alcohol addiction in men have been well studied modern medicine and even classified into groups.

Table. Reasons for the development of alcoholism in men

Group of reasons	Characteristic manifestations
	They depend on the characteristics of the formation of the body of a particular individual. These include specific metabolic disorders - improper metabolism leads to the rapid formation of dependence. Presence of diseases - depressive syndrome, schizophrenia. Injuries, in particular traumatic brain injuries. Age – addictions form faster in youth. Genetics - children of alcoholics are more predisposed to alcoholism than the descendants of healthy citizens.
	Specific personality traits of a particular individual. Emotional background and characteristics. Psychological instability and instability. Psychoorganic syndrome. Complexes, communication problems, poor motivation, lack of personal goals and growth.
	The group of these reasons is entirely formed by society, or rather, by its loyal and encouraging attitude towards alcohol in the first stages of its adoption. The alcoholic traditions of our society not only allow, but recommend drinking alcohol on holidays, to relax after working day, on the weekend. Especially men.

Important! If to social reasons who secretly force alcohol on all males, if at least one more group of reasons is added, biological or psychological, the person almost certainly becomes an alcoholic.

Stages of alcohol dependence in men

Global stages of alcoholism, from incipient addiction to a state when a person requires urgent urgent Care, to avoid fatal outcome or serious irreversible damage to the body, are divided into three large stages.

First stage

Doctors call it vague. It lasts from one to ten years, and the signs of alcoholism appear indirectly, irregularly, and not all. At this time, any alcoholic, unless he has medical education and is not able to professionally analyze the state of his body; he mistakenly believes that everything is under control. Yes, he loves to drink, but this is not a pathological addiction, not an urgent need, you can stop easily and at any time.

By the way. As a rule, not only the alcoholic, but also his close circle is unaware of the onset of addiction. Drinking “for appetite”, “to relax”, “on holidays”, “to raise tone”, “to cheer up”, “out of grief” - becomes the norm for a person.

However, alcohol taken in regular doses already begins to have a destructive effect on the body, gradually leading to personality changes.

Life routine changes. Sleep patterns, meals, even work hours are “adjusted” to the next alcohol intake. Physical ailments appear. At the first stage it may be food poisoning, headaches, bowel problems, increased blood pressure and sexual problems.

Second stage

A person, under the influence of alcohol, becomes more loyal to alcohol, gradually transferring it to the category of necessary, priority needs. At the second stage, the attraction to alcohol dominates over all other desires. It becomes difficult to fight with him, which, however, an alcoholic does not do. Arises hangover syndrome. It becomes regular and is perceived as a normal post-state. How many “witty” proverbs have people come up with that if it’s bad this morning, it means it was good last night.

The dose that a person can drink increases. At the same time, the alcoholic remains alive, which gives rise to bravado and self-confidence.

Important! Already at the second stage, the alcoholic’s body adapts so much that it can exceed lethal dose drinking alcohol, certain medicine(for a middle-aged man it is one liter of strong alcohol) up to one and a half liters or more.

Personal deformation continues. The patient has a complex of various disorders:

• irritability, aggressiveness;
• frequent mood swings, imbalance;
• memory loss, lack of concentration;
• lack of priorities and life goals;
• monotony of life and desires, which are limited to the possibilities of drinking alcohol;
• gradual weakening of mental abilities;
• mental disorders;
• rudeness of character.

All these are signs of the second stage of the disease, which develops rapidly and steadily, causing more and more irreparable damage to the body.

The second stage is accompanied by diseases of the cardiovascular system, gastritis and ulcers, hepatitis and other serious diseases.

Third stage

The first sign of the culminating third stage is withdrawal syndrome. The hangover gets so bad severe forms that an addicted person can only overcome it by immediately taking a dose of alcohol. Arises vicious circle, getting into which the alcoholic “does not dry out”, that is, he drinks almost constantly.

At stage 3, the alcoholic “cures” a hangover with alcohol, thereby falling into a vicious circle and begins to drink constantly

Important! In fact, alcohol does not fight a hangover in any way, but only dulls the negative sensations and reactions of the body. At the third stage with severe hangover can only be fought with medical intervention.

Mental disorders are becoming more serious, and the period of their onset is increasing.

The rate of alcohol consumption is falling - one or two glasses are enough for a man to become intoxicated. And even after a small portion, a full-fledged hangover syndrome occurs.

Intellectual abilities, memory, and intelligence are rapidly declining. The man becomes indifferent, apathetic, only alcohol is of interest.

Aggression manifests itself in cases where it is necessary to obtain alcohol. To get alcohol, a person is ready to do anything.

Often a man loses his job or moves to a lower-skilled position. Most lose family, friends, loved ones, and begin to drink alcohol almost continuously.

Serious diseases of the liver and kidneys, problems with the heart, blood vessels, the development of tumors, loss of immunity - these are just some of the diseases associated with the third stage of male alcoholism. It's coming more and more often alcoholic coma, delirium tremens- conditions from which only doctors can remove the patient. If you do not provide help to a person in time, he can die at any moment.

To become a “complete alcoholic”, you need to go through all three stages of alcoholism, although the pace varies different people may be very different. Some will overcome the first and second stages in a few years, while others will need decades. But the result is always the same - if an alcoholic is not provided with specialized help, treatment is not started, sooner or later he will go through all the stages, come to the last line and die from alcoholism.

Video - Signs of alcohol addiction at men