8 Ways To Get Rid Of Brain Fog After Drinking Alcohol

After two weeks of abstinence, the benefits of no longer drinking at harmful levels continue to become evident. “I’m feeling so much better about my life and my actions. I love life without alcohol. Every day that passes, I realize the cravings are fewer and farther between. I’m not so tired all the time.” By day eight of abstinence from alcohol, many begin to see the health advantages of quitting. “The recent nine months’ sobriety [has] done great good for my body. That said, I hope never to forget how much damage I felt in four days of drink.” “Most of my withdrawal symptoms are gone, but I still have sharp pains in my head, can’t sleep, and get night sweats.” “I am in my first hours of sobriety. I just took the quiz for withdrawal symptoms and scored 60% moderate to severe. Funny, because my average hangover is usually worse than this.”

• According to a 2010 analysis, 35–81% of people who seek treatment for a TBI are intoxicated.
• Some have the same symptoms as on day one and ask, “How long does this last?” The urge to relieve those withdrawal symptoms with a drink can be overwhelming.
• Anyone can forget things from time to time, however, people who consume heavy amounts of alcohol have a tendency to make more memory mistakes than those who do not drink at all or those who do not drink on a regular basis.
• Although there’s no definitive answer regarding their impact on brain fog, these programs often include practices like rehydration and replenishing electrolytes, which aid in restoring the brain after alcohol consumption.

Some are able to return to normal sleep patterns after a few days. Others struggle with insomnia and poor-quality sleep long after they quit drinking. The worst part of this was that the confusion and trouble thinking lasted an incredibly long time. Most of my withdrawal symptoms were gone within a week or two, but a handful stuck around for nearly a year. The brain fog was one of them (alongside trouble sleeping and depression).

What are the Stats On Rehab and Recovery?

Seek medical assistance if your physical symptoms last for a week or longer. The symptoms you’re experiencing may not be the result of alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Lots of people with alcohol use disorder need alcohol brain fog professional help to quit drinking. But you’ll need to be honest about how much you drink and how often. Sometimes, brain fog may go away on its own within a few days or weeks after quitting drinking.

Because he is a member of a support group that stresses the importance of anonymity at the public level, he does not use his photograph or his real name on this website. “I am feeling better each day goes by. I am also very happy I am able to stay sober, I never thought I would be able to do it. Cravings come and go, but the https://ecosoberhouse.com/ belief in God and prayers have helped me stay strong and sober.” “I was feeling great having got over the nausea, shaking etc. within the first week ,but now I am beginning to have what I can only describe as partial withdrawals all over again.” “I could easily sleep 12 hours a night and still feel tired the next morning.”

Alcohol Brain Fog

When it comes to alcohol’s effects on the brain, the consequences are profound. It slows down brain activity, leading to issues like memory loss, poor muscle coordination, and delayed reaction times. In more extreme cases, excessive alcohol intake can trigger blackouts, resulting in episodes of amnesia that leave individuals confused and possibly causing damage to the brain. When you decide to quit drinking alcohol, your body goes into a state of shock, leading to alcohol withdrawal. This sudden absence of alcohol can lead to various alcohol withdrawal symptoms, including alcohol withdrawal brain fog.

• Even low levels of consumption can harm your health; higher levels of consumption have worse effects.
• In time, the brain can begin to repair itself and what it lost, but heavy drinking can take a toll on a person’s cognitive abilities, including attention and memory, which are debilitated even when alcohol is in the bloodstream.
• If you have low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), you can feel dizzy, lightheaded, foggy or nervous and unable to concentrate.
• The increased liquid intake and stimulation of your circulatory system helps to hydrate faster than water alone.
• By managing stress through exercise, meditation, deep breathing, and journaling, you can clear the fog and enhance your mental clarity.

“My worst symptoms so far seem to be lightheadedness, minor irritability, and insomnia.” “I quit two days ago and have just had the unfortunate experience of a seizure, as well as many visual and tactile hallucinations. Massive sweats and tremors.” The term “fog” is perfect, because it felt like there was a thick mist settled across my mind. They weren’t completely inaccessible, but my ability to think clearly was severely impaired.

Mild Symptoms

Anyone can forget things from time to time, however, people who consume heavy amounts of alcohol have a tendency to make more memory mistakes than those who do not drink at all or those who do not drink on a regular basis. These mistakes can include recalling whether they had completed a task, such as locking the car or switching off the stove or forgetting where they put things. Quitting alcohol can also lead to long term anxiety from extended withdrawal symptoms, known as protracted withdrawal. This type of anxiety should be controlled with proper coping tips and recommendations from your doctor. You may not have turned to alcohol because you had anxiety, but everyone deals with day to day stresses, and when drinking these stresses are numbed, but not dealt with.

Also, be sure to drink plenty of fluids before, during, and after exercise, as dehydration can actually worsen brain fog. Just be sure to avoid sugary drinks as they can actually worsen brain fog. “You might hear the classic term ‘wet brain,’ and that’s a real thing,” said Pagano. Alcohol hinders a person’s absorption of thiamine and interferes with the enzyme that converts it into a usable form in the body. According to the CDC, binge drinking is defined as consuming four or more alcoholic drinks for women or five or more alcoholic drinks for men on the same occasion. By Buddy T

Buddy T is a writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism.