Author: Gary Jackson

Alcohol Effects in the Brain: Short and Long Terms

Sobriety brings the gift of learning new ways to effectively spend your time. Engaging in new activities is a great way to give your brain a workout. In particular, learning a new language or how to play an instrument is the equivalent of rigorous cardiovascular exercise for your brain. However, you don’t have to rely solely on nuts for your brain food.

You may also want to consider taking a nap during the day if you are feeling particularly tired. This organ is responsible for filtering toxins from the blood and converting nutrients into energy. Additional tips include listening to music, practicing mindfulness exercises, and focusing on the positive as much as possible. There are several popular apps for a brain workout, including Fit Brain, which features exercises that target emotional intelligence and self-awareness. However, even switching up the way you go about familiar daily tasks will challenge your brain and help pull you out of autopilot.

What are the Stats On Rehab and Recovery?

According to a 2017 review, muscle myopathy is common in alcohol use disorder. In addition, about 40 to 60 percent of people who experience chronic alcohol misuse also experience alcohol-related myopathy. Pursuing cognitive behavioral therapy is one part of alcohol addiction treatment. Many people find staying in an inpatient facility helpful because they can avoid the places they used to drink in. They can meet new people and learn stories about how to live a sober life.

If someone experiences brain fog in the weeks after their withdrawal, they may have a mental health problem. 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. Brain fog occurs when a medical condition impedes a person’s ability to think clearly. It is not a medical condition in and of itself, so a doctor cannot diagnose a patient with brain fog.

Long-Term Effects of Alcohol

But someone can make a full recovery and start withdrawing from alcohol. The key is to practice a few different remedies and get help from licensed alcohol treatment counselors. Alcohol misuse damages the brain over time, which leads to dementia.

• “For starters, alcohol slows down the neurotransmitter GABA, and that’s what drives the sluggish movement, slurred speech, and slower reaction time in someone who’s intoxicated,” said Pagano.
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• The cerebellum is the part of the brain that controls coordination and balance.

“But in reality, life can get better when you’re making better choices and you’re able to fully savor your experiences, rather than seeing them through a haze.” While alcohol can act as a social lubricant and may provide “liquid courage” for people who are otherwise anxious or shy, Pagano warned against relying on it too much. “If drinking allows you to engage in behavior you wouldn’t engage in otherwise, maybe you shouldn’t be doing it,” said Pagano. “And if you always use it to have a good time, you won’t learn how to be okay in social situations without it.” No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.