Author: Gary Jackson

The Stages of Alcoholism Explained Early, Middle and End-Stage

We have known a large number of alcoholics who have incredible work ethics because being a good worker is the one thing they know they’re good at…well, they will say that and drinking. Alcoholism can also lead to meanness when sober due to the impact it can have on relationships. When a person is an alcoholic, they are often consumed with drinking and may not have time or the inclination to engage in meaningful relationships. This can lead to a person becoming isolated and resentful, which can lead to them being mean when sober.

AUD causes widespread problems for both the individual who suffers from it and everyone who cares about them. Drinking too much can cause damages that range from the physical, to the psychological, to the emotional for everyone involved. They may not have been con artists before they started drinking but they come to have remarkable skills. They will pick a fight with you because they want to leave and they will have you believing it’s your fault. They may have had integrity before their addiction kicked in but it will be conspicuously absent from their lives as they spiral. There is often one exception to this rule for each alcoholic – one thing they do especially well and it will most generally be their sole source of self esteem.

The Link Between Alcohol and Anger

While every person’s alcohol addiction is unique, alcohol affects people in similar ways. Most people with an alcohol use disorder progress through three typical stages. Lessons that we have learned on our own paths to sobriety have given us the unique insights needed to develop a successful treatment process. Granite’s focus is on the long-term treatment of substance use disorders. The 2015 study concluded that people who tend toward alcohol abuse are more likely to be angry than those who are sober. This is exacerbated by the fact that the higher the level of anger, the more alcohol they consume.

Effects of Alcohol Use Disorder

With the right help, individuals with alcoholism can learn to cope with their condition, manage their moods, and lead healthier, happier lives. Alcoholism can lead to a person being mean when sober due to the effect it has on their emotions and mental health. It can also be caused by withdrawal symptoms and the impact it can have on relationships.

To observe their behavior is to conclude a belief that the world must owe them something. The active alcoholic wallows in self-pity and concludes that they are a victim of life. As they demand more from the world they expect less and less from themselves. Alcoholics think, act, believe, and feel based on distorted perceptions or themselves and the world around them. There is no moderation, no middle ground, no compromise, and no gray area in their worldview.

LOVED ONES AS SAFE TARGETS

They have made significant changes that have allowed them to find peace in removing alcohol from their life and to have emotional stability. They may have stopped drinking, but their life may be exactly the same, leading them to be jealous of others who are drinking or to struggle with emotional or mental health issues. It is clear that alcohol can have a powerful effect on the behavior of people with alcoholism, causing them to become mean and uncharacteristically aggressive when sober. This can be extremely difficult for those affected, as well as their friends and family. It is important to remember that alcoholism is a real, serious illness and that those affected need support and understanding.

They may begin drinking early in the day and plan their day around their drinking. In social situations, they may be unable to stop drinking when others do and find that they can’t handle as much as they previously could without becoming drunk. Blackout episodes, where the individual does not remember what they’ve said or done while drinking, may occur. But some people who drink face a risk of developing this chronic and progressive disease, which affects roughly 1 in every 8 Americans and contributes to about 88,000 deaths annually.

How Is Alcoholism Treated?

It needs to be noted that it is not unusual for there to be times where there is a relapse into the old addictive behavior. A large percentage of those in recovery have been through a cycle of recovery and relapse. Fortunately, with an organized basis of recovery, most of these individuals will pursue recovery again with a greater chance at successfully remaining sober. It is a continuous journey that relies on a regular schedule of interactions with others in recovery through meetings and relationships with sponsors and new peers. For many, sober living facilities and homes provide the appropriate environment that helps them avoid situations where they might be tempted to go back to their addictive behaviors.

1. Dopamine is naturally released into our bodies whenever we participate in any activity that makes us happy.
2. This syndrome encompasses a range of aggressive behaviors, including verbal and physical aggression, impulsivity, and irritability.
3. The truth is that there is a lot of pain underneath the surface of any person with a substance use disorder, and alcoholics are no different.
4. Some are meant to make you think and some are meant to be taken very literally.
5. To varying degrees, alcoholics live in denial of their destructiveness (self and others) and this further distorts what they are able to make sense of.

What to Expect From Treatment

Alcoholism can also have a profound effect on a person’s emotions, including making them mean when they are sober. Alcoholism can have a wide range of effects on an individual, including physical, mental, and social. Physically, alcoholics may experience liver damage, high blood pressure, heart problems, obesity, and other health issues. Mentally, alcoholics may struggle with depression, anxiety, memory loss, and difficulty concentrating.

Putting blinders on a horse leaves it with no peripheral vision – such is the worldview of the alcoholic. They may attend to many things, but in order to do so they must turn their attention away from one thing and toward another. As one area of their life declines they will often focus their attention on it and take it to an extreme. As this happens, another part of their life declines and gradually their life becomes dictated by “firehouse management” – every course of action becomes based on the most pressing problem. This is an inevitably downward spiral, though some alcoholics manage to maintain it for a very long time.