I think there were a couple of things going on with me due to the low stage I reached. Initially I lost the ability to think, concentrate or make simple decisions. When I tried to read a book i'd get about two pages in and then find I had lost the plot and had to start again. Some of that was caused by brain damage either from the booze or the malnutrition. It took a long time, like two or three years for me to sharpen up, and it seemed, in hindsight, to improve according to how much I was challenged.
The other aspect was kind of fog and fatigue brought on by the merry-go-round in my head. That was a mixture of shameful memories from the past and consequences of selfish alcoholic behaviour in early sobriety. I seemed always to be in conflict one way or another. That of course kept me awake at night, on edge, fearful and tired. That problem left after about two months, the time it took me to get through to step five. It was quite a remarkable turn around - like overnight.