Strategies for Busting Up Brain Fog Cleveland Clinic

Excessive alcohol consumption can have long-lasting effects on neurotransmitters in the brain, decreasing their effectiveness or even mimicking them. Some people with a history of excessive alcohol use develop https://ecosoberhouse.com/ nutritional deficiencies that further damage brain function. A doctor may also prescribe a sedative drug, such as a benzodiazepine, to help reduce withdrawal symptoms such as restlessness or agitation.

Daily drinking can cause disruptions in sleep as well, so quitting suddenly can be a shock to the system. After six days of sobriety, these people report vastly different experiences with sleep and other alcohol withdrawal symptoms. It’s also alcohol brain fog important to note that if an individual experiences brain fog after quitting drinking, it’s possible that they may experience other withdrawal symptoms as well. These can include anxiety, depression, irritability, and sleep disturbances.

Duration of Alcohol Withdrawal

Alcohol’s most severe long-term consequences are brain damage and nerve cell death. Unlike in other parts of the body, some nerve cells (particularly those in the frontal cortex and cerebellum) are not replaced once destroyed. Long-term drinking affects the functions of the brain that control inhibitions, decision-making, problem-solving, and judgment.

Once a person recovers from their brain fog, they should continue their addiction treatment. Alcohol addiction recovery does not end once a person’s brain fog fades. They should continue to seek counseling and move into a sober living facility. If they relapse, they can always return to inpatient care or try a new sobriety strategy out. Into Action Recovery Centers takes pride in providing a high level of treatment and a holistic approach to recovery for those who suffer from addiction.

The Essentials of Alcohol Brain Fog

Additionally, it’s essential to avoid alcohol and other substances that can worsen brain fog symptoms. A recently released study by the RAND research group revealed the many ways that sleep deprivation negatively affects brain function. Consistently running on lack of sleep decreases the brain’s ability to solidify memory and clear out toxins, as well as lowers your ability for higher cognitive functions, such as basic multitasking. Alcohol can damage the brain, but most cases of brain fog do not come from brain damage.

• The shrinking of any portion of the brain is worrying, but the damage done by alcohol is especially concerning because some of the shrinkage is probably due to cell death.
• Brain fog or mental fog is a term used to describe the feeling of mental confusion or cloudiness.
• From 2 months to 5 years of abstinence people make
  incredible cognitive gains and get very close to a full restoration of normal functioning.
• People who binge drink, drink to the point of poor judgment, or deliberately become drunk many times each month have a much higher risk of alcohol-related brain damage.
• Changes in these regions may indicate a reduction in their ability to respond to external stimuli, which may hamper information processing.
• Additionally, it’s essential to avoid alcohol and other substances that can worsen brain fog symptoms.