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Alcohol is a depressant that’s broken down by the body into many compounds, one of which is acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde causes many changes in the brain, such as memory loss, poor muscle coordination, and slowed reaction time. The liver does its best to break down all the extra acetaldehyde, but it can’t keep up with the amount of alcohol you are drinking. That means some acetaldehyde sticks around to keep changing your brain makeup! It’s not clear how long it takes for your brain to be back to normal after quitting, but some studies say at least a few days, and others say up to six months. It is important to remember that your body is going through a lot when you first stop drinking alcohol.
Most people who have dealt with alcohol addiction have some idea of what brain fog feels like because it is very similar to how you might feel after a round of heavy drinking. Even a mild binge can lead to hangovers that create foggy thinking. During brain fog, you may experience any or all of the following symptoms. The alcohol withdrawal symptoms begin when you stop drinking alcohol following an extended period of alcohol abuse. Both alcohol cravings and alcohol withdrawal symptoms contribute to cognitive problems in recovery.
Our brains don’t do well at multitasking, that’s why choosing one very tiny goal at a time offers you the best chance of success. It has to be practical, manageable, and as easy as you can make it. Think about one healthy food swap you can make, like dark for milk chocolate, or adding a protein and berry smoothie to your breakfast every day.
Alcohol abuse creates a complex imbalance of dopamine in the brain. Rational decision-making and impulse control are crucial in fighting addiction, and luckily these powerful functions of the brain will return as you begin to heal. We help our clients establish skills that improve resilience, self-confidence, and a deeper connection with the gifts of recovery. Brain fog can clear with a combination of techniques and daily practices. People with an AUD have a protracted withdrawal phase due to the alcohol’s potent effects on neuroreceptors, which can last up to 26 weeks after alcohol cessation. The researchers tested their memories after the first hour by showing them images and asking them to recall the details two minutes, 30 minutes and 24 hours later.
The more you drink, the more you damage these critically important areas of the brain. It also increases dopamine in our brain’s reward system while at the same, decreasing dopamine receptors. Drink heavily enough for long enough and the brain begins to adapt to these blocked signals, and not in any kind of healthy way. Additionally, I had zero interest in having a remotely complex thought and struggled to function some days on even a basic level. Monument, you can connect with a therapist specialized in helping people cut back on drinking, such as myself.
But a person who did not previously experience brain fog may experience it during or after withdrawal. Brain fog during withdrawal does not differ substantially from brain fog during addiction. Still, several studies link heavy alcohol use to learning and memory problems. It’s unclear whether blacking out causes serious long-term damage, but heavy alcohol use and risky behaviors while blacked alcohol brain fog out can have serious long-term health effects. Short-term effects of alcohol abuse — such as coordination problems, slurred speech and blurry vision — fade when alcohol is metabolized, which can take hours or days. We do know that women are more likely to experience other effects of alcohol, such as liver cirrhosis, heart damage, nerve damage and other diseases caused by alcohol.
