Brain Fog: Causes, How It Feels, Managing It

If you are still experiencing withdrawal symptoms after three days, talk to your healthcare provider. The journey to recovery from alcohol addiction and brain fog can sometimes require additional support. Medication, such as Naltrexone and Acamprosate, can help reduce cravings and prevent relapse, offering a powerful tool in the fight alcohol withdrawal brain fog against addiction. 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.

Life After Addiction

This timeline and duration may vary from one person to another. Different factors will impact it, including your age, medical history, and the severity of your AUD (e.g., how frequently or how much you’ve been drinking). If you drink heavily for weeks, months, or years, you may have unwanted physical and mental symptoms when you try to stop. These symptoms, also known as withdrawal, can be mild or serious. Risk factors for alcohol use disorder include a family history of problems with alcohol, depression and other mental health conditions, and genetic factors. The most effective way to prevent alcohol withdrawal syndrome is to avoid drinking or drinking only in moderation.

• By managing stress through exercise, meditation, deep breathing, and journaling, you can clear the fog and enhance your mental clarity.
• You may also choose to attend self-help groups, receive extended counselling, work with a coach who specialises in alcohol addiction or use a talking therapy such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
• Alcohol-induced brain fog is a state of confusion, lack of focus and mental obscurity that can occur after drinking alcohol and during withdrawal.

A Timeline for the Restoration of Cognitive Abilities after Quitting Alcohol

Eating a balanced diet and staying hydrated are essential for maintaining brain health and keeping brain fog at bay. In late 2011, he was hospitalized with pancreatitis and was told that if he didn’t stop drinking, he wouldn’t see his next birthday. « I still put it off and was trying to slow down on my own, like, ‘All right I’m only gonna let myself take two pills today. I’m only gonna drink this much of my bottle and make a mark on the bottle,’ » he recalled. « And it would work a couple days—and then somebody throws a party. » « It was easier for me to say that I’m doing it for her because, at that time, I didn’t feel like I was sort of worth much, » he recalled of the early days of their relationship.

How long does it take for your brain to go back to normal after drinking?

Alcohol has a numbing quality that can subdue emotions in the short term, while ultimately intensifying them over time. If you’ve been consistently drinking, once you remove alcohol from your system, it’s possible you will feel a rush of the emotions you’ve been suppressing. While this can be really challenging at first, learning to process and manage emotions without alcohol is what will ultimately facilitate healing and growth. The fear of failure and judgment can also be especially intense in early sobriety. A helpful way to process emotions is to share them with others who are navigating similar challenges. You can share in Monument’s 24/7 anonymous forum or one of our 60+ moderated alcohol support groups each week.

“There were all sorts of brain symptoms with it […] it affected all organs of the body. Although the Parenthood alum knows that « one of the things that you’re not supposed to do is get sober for somebody else, » his relationship with now-wife Melanie Lynskey was a major reason that led him to swearing off alcohol. « Mama, I’m so sorry I’m not sober anymore / And Daddy please forgive me for the drinks spilled on the floor / To the ones who never left me / We’ve been down this road before I’m so sorry, I’m not sober anymore, » she sang. « Feeling thankful for the freedom that comes with breaking addictions and dependency on substance, » he added. « Sobriety, clarity, and spiritual connectedness feels real good. »

Doctors usually use a type of drug called benzodiazepines to reduce alcohol withdrawal symptoms. A doctor can often diagnose alcohol withdrawal syndrome by taking a person’s medical history and doing a physical exam. A hangover occurs when a person drinks too much alcohol at one time.

Preparation for quitting alcohol