Brain Fog...
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Brain Fog...
On reflection, one reason I abused alcohol was to stop my mind racing about work, kids, house, money etc..and to just numb out and 'switch off', especially at night.
Problem is, I've realised since about January I have lost the ability to really focus on anything that requires anything too mentally demanding and it's got me worried.
I appreciate we're all different in the degrees to which we drank and for how long, and that there is a PAWS price to pay for drinking too much for too long, but is this negative consequence short, medium or long term?
Have you experienced it? Is there anything to do other than rest, exercise and good nutrition to get the woolly-headed fog thing to lift a bit?
Would love some SR insight into this; I'm puzzled as to why stopping exposure to a central nervous system depressant slows your brain down even more - bit of a paradox, hope the answer isn't fewer brain cells than before :-/
Shoshie
Problem is, I've realised since about January I have lost the ability to really focus on anything that requires anything too mentally demanding and it's got me worried.
I appreciate we're all different in the degrees to which we drank and for how long, and that there is a PAWS price to pay for drinking too much for too long, but is this negative consequence short, medium or long term?
Have you experienced it? Is there anything to do other than rest, exercise and good nutrition to get the woolly-headed fog thing to lift a bit?
Would love some SR insight into this; I'm puzzled as to why stopping exposure to a central nervous system depressant slows your brain down even more - bit of a paradox, hope the answer isn't fewer brain cells than before :-/
Shoshie
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Location: East Coast USA
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Foggy brain syndrome, as I called it, lasted about six months. When we withdraw our bodies go through so much (physically, mentally, emotionally, systemically). I found that hydration levels affected the degree to which I experienced it.
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I've no answers but it's happened to me as well. I can't do anything that stretches my brain. I spend a lot of my time staring into since or forgetting what I've come into a room for!
I'm resting lots and today, actually, I started to feel more switched on. I'm doing crosswords, writing shot stories and short bursts of reading.
I've got a week off work and I'm sitting through my entire flat- Decluttering as I go, in the hope it helps me find things and stop going over old ground.
This is the second time I've quit and I feel a little worse, mental alertness wise, than the first time (although I was very accident prone and suffered a series of illnesses last time)
Are you taking multi vitamins and staying hydrated?
S x
I'm resting lots and today, actually, I started to feel more switched on. I'm doing crosswords, writing shot stories and short bursts of reading.
I've got a week off work and I'm sitting through my entire flat- Decluttering as I go, in the hope it helps me find things and stop going over old ground.
This is the second time I've quit and I feel a little worse, mental alertness wise, than the first time (although I was very accident prone and suffered a series of illnesses last time)
Are you taking multi vitamins and staying hydrated?
S x
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Originally Posted by SoberLeigh 
Foggy brain syndrome, as I called it, lasted about six months. When we withdraw our bodies go through so much (physically, mentally, emotionally, systemically). I found that hydration levels affected the degree to which I experienced it.
S x
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Originally Posted by SoberLeigh
Foggy brain syndrome, as I called it, lasted about six months. When we withdraw our bodies go through so much (physically, mentally, emotionally, systemically). I found that hydration levels affected the degree to which I experienced it.
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Originally Posted by Shoshie8
Hey SoberLeigh, Was hoping it wouldn't be as long, but it's understandable. And I will watch my hydration levels, I'm rubbish at remembering to drink enough water so that's a great tip. Thanks! x
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Originally Posted by Sazzle
Ugh. 5 more months to go, lol. But thanks for this info!
S x
S x
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I hit a wall at 4 months, I was on here complaining a lot about feeling blah and meh…It still waxes and wanes. I also got clean from benzos when I got sober and I hear that the recovery from that is pretty protracted.
I remind myself that I only want to do this once, that every step further away from alcohol is a step towards a new life. I am glad that my addiction specialist told me early recovery is two years. I know it may sound daunting but in a lot of ways it has alleviated my anxiety about being all that right away. I do find I need to keep an eye on my caffeine, I am trying to use it to jolt myself into gear. I actually googled why caffeine doesn't affect me this morning, as it seems like it used to have a much much more pronounced effect when I was drinking. ???
Hang in there, it gets better. First I had a good afternoon, then a good day sporadically, then it was 3 or 4 days. Keep moving forward!
I remind myself that I only want to do this once, that every step further away from alcohol is a step towards a new life. I am glad that my addiction specialist told me early recovery is two years. I know it may sound daunting but in a lot of ways it has alleviated my anxiety about being all that right away. I do find I need to keep an eye on my caffeine, I am trying to use it to jolt myself into gear. I actually googled why caffeine doesn't affect me this morning, as it seems like it used to have a much much more pronounced effect when I was drinking. ???
Hang in there, it gets better. First I had a good afternoon, then a good day sporadically, then it was 3 or 4 days. Keep moving forward!
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Location: Welshman living in Cork, Ireland
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I know it sounds a bit "dippy hippy", but I really would give meditation and mindfulness a go. It's not instant gratification, as we addicts crave, but nothing good in life is.
Perservere and it will help, I believe.
There are loads of books/web sites on it/
I practice every morning at least, and more if I feel myself becoming tense.
, but I really would give meditation and mindfulness a go. It's not instant gratification, as we addicts crave, but nothing good in life is.Perservere and it will help, I believe.
There are loads of books/web sites on it/
I practice every morning at least, and more if I feel myself becoming tense.
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Originally Posted by Sazzle
I've no answers but it's happened to me as well. I can't do anything that stretches my brain. I spend a lot of my time staring into since or forgetting what I've come into a room for! I'm resting lots and today, actually, I started to feel more switched on. I'm doing crosswords, writing shot stories and short bursts of reading. I've got a week off work and I'm sitting through my entire flat- Decluttering as I go, in the hope it helps me find things and stop going over old ground. This is the second time I've quit and I feel a little worse, mental alertness wise, than the first time (although I was very accident prone and suffered a series of illnesses last time) Are you taking multi vitamins and staying hydrated? S x
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Originally Posted by Nonsensical
Ginseng and Gingko Biloba help a bit. So does caffeine, but I have ADHD, so that may be why those things help me. Good luck! Having a racing mind is no fun!
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Originally Posted by jaynie04
I hit a wall at 4 months, I was on here complaining a lot about feeling blah and meh…It still waxes and wanes. I also got clean from benzos when I got sober and I hear that the recovery from that is pretty protracted. I remind myself that I only want to do this once, that every step further away from alcohol is a step towards a new life. I am glad that my addiction specialist told me early recovery is two years. I know it may sound daunting but in a lot of ways it has alleviated my anxiety about being all that right away. I do find I need to keep an eye on my caffeine, I am trying to use it to jolt myself into gear. I actually googled why caffeine doesn't affect me this morning, as it seems like it used to have a much much more pronounced effect when I was drinking. ??? Hang in there, it gets better. First I had a good afternoon, then a good day sporadically, then it was 3 or 4 days. Keep moving forward!
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Originally Posted by Sparkos
I know it sounds a bit "dippy hippy", but I really would give meditation and mindfulness a go. It's not instant gratification, as we addicts crave, but nothing good in life is. Perservere and it will help, I believe. There are loads of books/web sites on it/ I practice every morning at least, and more if I feel myself becoming tense.
, but I really would give meditation and mindfulness a go. It's not instant gratification, as we addicts crave, but nothing good in life is. Perservere and it will help, I believe. There are loads of books/web sites on it/ I practice every morning at least, and more if I feel myself becoming tense.Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,126
It's a very common phenomena and varies in degree. I was totally out of it for the first few months, as in having difficulty reading a sentence or even following a news report on television. Many doctors prescribe Vitamin B supplements to help.
In hindsight, as I near 3 1/2 years of sobriety, I am grateful for the intense brain fog. It scared the crap out of me, and mine was intense for about six months. I needed that fear to remind me that one drink or on drug would subtract from what little, slow progress I was making.
And it was a very slow progression to mental acuity. I feared it was permanent. I've since found that I have to be careful with all medication. Even an antibiotic or a non-prescription sleep aid can send my brain into dysfunction, not being able to spell, or speech issues.
Of course, I was a benzo-booze hound, and brain farts are very common in benzo recovery.
Again, don't panic about it and try to view it as a not so subtle reminder that your brain is healing from a lot of abuse and a step backwards -- drinking or using -- will reverse the improvement tenfold.
In hindsight, as I near 3 1/2 years of sobriety, I am grateful for the intense brain fog. It scared the crap out of me, and mine was intense for about six months. I needed that fear to remind me that one drink or on drug would subtract from what little, slow progress I was making.
And it was a very slow progression to mental acuity. I feared it was permanent. I've since found that I have to be careful with all medication. Even an antibiotic or a non-prescription sleep aid can send my brain into dysfunction, not being able to spell, or speech issues.
Of course, I was a benzo-booze hound, and brain farts are very common in benzo recovery.
Again, don't panic about it and try to view it as a not so subtle reminder that your brain is healing from a lot of abuse and a step backwards -- drinking or using -- will reverse the improvement tenfold.
Phoenix Rising Again
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 3,079
Oh my goodness, yes! I'm dealing with the same thing. I've had some other weird things going on to and in this post http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...ensations.html EndGame explains this phenomenon pretty well. I'm right there with you.
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Join Date: Jan 2014
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interesting topic.... I'm creeping up on 3 months and have been feeling really overwhelmed, stressed out and somewhat incapable of keeping up with even the basics.
I had been blaming it on work, kids, relationship, life demands. But actually, those things haven't really changed. Been there all along. So, maybe I'm experiencing something similar.
Also, I'm finding that where previously my response to a lot of life's issues and demands had been to just kind of ignore it and numb those concerns - now that I'm NOT doing those things I have plenty of clarity to see all the backlog and the piles of things that need to be done and am paying attention to it at least to the extent that I'm not just IGNORING things. In some areas, trying to make headway (like catching up on 4 years of taxes not done). In some areas... just seeing how MUCH I have to do (like dozens of projects around the house that have been lagging for three years).
Maybe part of this journey is just working our way through the consequences of our inattentiveness and lack of focus for a long time in our haze of addiction and now that we're starting to see more clearly and pay attention, we feel "foggy" because we're just overwhelmed. I know that I have been feeling like I wake up and from the time my eyes open until I pass out wearily at night from the day's efforts that I have nothing but stress and concern and worry - even while keeping a pretty positive attitude about it.
I hadn't really been thinking about the connection to my recovery and how that may be contributing.
I had been blaming it on work, kids, relationship, life demands. But actually, those things haven't really changed. Been there all along. So, maybe I'm experiencing something similar.
Also, I'm finding that where previously my response to a lot of life's issues and demands had been to just kind of ignore it and numb those concerns - now that I'm NOT doing those things I have plenty of clarity to see all the backlog and the piles of things that need to be done and am paying attention to it at least to the extent that I'm not just IGNORING things. In some areas, trying to make headway (like catching up on 4 years of taxes not done). In some areas... just seeing how MUCH I have to do (like dozens of projects around the house that have been lagging for three years).
Maybe part of this journey is just working our way through the consequences of our inattentiveness and lack of focus for a long time in our haze of addiction and now that we're starting to see more clearly and pay attention, we feel "foggy" because we're just overwhelmed. I know that I have been feeling like I wake up and from the time my eyes open until I pass out wearily at night from the day's efforts that I have nothing but stress and concern and worry - even while keeping a pretty positive attitude about it.
I hadn't really been thinking about the connection to my recovery and how that may be contributing.
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Originally Posted by FreeOwl
interesting topic.... I'm creeping up on 3 months and have been feeling really overwhelmed, stressed out and somewhat incapable of keeping up with even the basics. I had been blaming it on work, kids, relationship, life demands. But actually, those things haven't really changed. Been there all along. So, maybe I'm experiencing something similar. Also, I'm finding that where previously my response to a lot of life's issues and demands had been to just kind of ignore it and numb those concerns - now that I'm NOT doing those things I have plenty of clarity to see all the backlog and the piles of things that need to be done and am paying attention to it at least to the extent that I'm not just IGNORING things. In some areas, trying to make headway (like catching up on 4 years of taxes not done). In some areas... just seeing how MUCH I have to do (like dozens of projects around the house that have been lagging for three years). Maybe part of this journey is just working our way through the consequences of our inattentiveness and lack of focus for a long time in our haze of addiction and now that we're starting to see more clearly and pay attention, we feel "foggy" because we're just overwhelmed. I know that I have been feeling like I wake up and from the time my eyes open until I pass out wearily at night from the day's efforts that I have nothing but stress and concern and worry - even while keeping a pretty positive attitude about it. I hadn't really been thinking about the connection to my recovery and how that may be contributing.
So it's a bit more than dealing with the consequences of inattentiveness - got that to look forward to /ha ha. I am going to go for a really long walk tomorrow to see if that shifts the cobwebs.
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