The chronic phase is the bottom of the Jellinek curve, which is appropriate because it represents the addict hitting rock bottom. Things that happen in the chronic phase include:
Obsession with drinking
Drinking with other chronic users
Feelings of recognizing that there is an issue and wanting to get help
Ongoing cycles of wanting to stop drinking followed by binge drinking
The chronic phase can last quite a while, and it can take multiple attempts to get help before the person truly starts to move toward the upper curve.