Knowing whether you’ve reached a stage in your life where you need treatment for addiction can be confusing.
You may begin asking yourself how you even got to the point where you’re totally consumed by drugs and alcohol. How did 1, 2-3 bottles of beer once in a while lead to daily drinking and grew into a habit you cannot now control?
How did this addiction cycle get into you?
Was it an influence from your family? Or the company of friends you kept? Or the bad situations you couldn’t handle? Or maybe addiction to you is just another disease you couldn’t prevent.
You may not find the answers to these questions, but the Jellenick curve gives you a clear picture of addiction patterns in a glance.
The curve may be a new concept to you, but you’ll understand it once you finish reading this article. You’ll know at which point you are in the addiction cycle and why you need a rehab to help you with recovery.
The Jellenick curve is a simple presentation of an addict’s stages of alcoholism from the point of drinking a few bottles, to severe addiction and finally recovery.
Major Phases of addiction in the Jellineck Curve
- Crucial Phase
As shown in the beginning of the curve, this phase is characterized by occasional drinking at the early stages.
With time, when you engage in heavy drinking, alcohol dependency increases and you evolve from occasional drinks to constant relief drinks.
At this point, the curve shows tremendous decline as alcohol addiction signs also set in.
Some of the signs Include:
- Physical detoriation
- Neglect of family and friends
- Aggressive behaviours
- Absconding work, reporting late or reporting when drunk
- Loss of food appetite
- Dishonesty
- Moral decay
- Poor management of funds
You may start experiencing a guilty conscious about your bad behaviors and try to stop in vain. As the addiction worsens, you get more intoxicated and uncontrollable. This leads to the next severe stage called the chronic phase.
- Chronic Phase
This phase is at the bottom most of the curve. It is at this stage where you totally lose control over alcohol and it begins to control you.
The chronic phase is severe and may lead to development of alcohol related diseases such as liver cirrhosis.
Most addicts totally lose the ability to stop themselves from drinking, and rehabilitation becomes the only option to save their lives.
If you don’t admit that you need help at this point, and continue with your vicious addiction cycle, alcohol renders you powerless and can easily destroy your life.
For those who admit and become sincere about their need for help, the Jellenick curve suggests that all isn’t lost and the next step helps you restore your life.
- Rehabilitation
Most people who visit rehabs admit that they are at the bottom phase of the curve. This gives them an opportunity to learn more about alcoholism and begin the journey to self-transformation.
Rehabilitation centers have the potential to reverse your addiction as long as you stay committed to the programs.
It is through rehabilitation that you meet supportive counselors, and people who have gone through the same experience.
The Jellineck curve shows a lot of activities in the rehabilitation phase; from group therapies, return of self-esteem, and the hope for new beginnings among others.
Although there are usually a few cases of relapse after rehab, the Jellineck curve doesn’t show any back fall. The curve continues to rise through rehabilitation phase and shows no decline.
Bottom Line
Alcohol addiction has destroyed the lives of many families and friends over the years. The Jellineck curve gives the best description of alcoholism stages and helps you identify why you need a rehab.
Addiction treatment is easier when you are at the top of the curve than at the bottom. Therefore, don’t wait until you reach the chronic phase to seek help.
Recovery begins the moment you admit that you need help, and there’s no better place to find restoration than in a rehab with sober and supportive network.
Reference Articles
Understanding the Jellineck Curve
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