billck1

Hi All,
Hope you are doing well.
I found these words on a blog and thought they may help someone as they made me feel good as I can identify;

Most experts say it takes 1-2 years for the brain to get back to some degree of normal functioning. I drank moderately for 46 years (many times it was weeks with no alcohol consumption) and quit 16 months ago. It is only very recently where I go a whole day with no anxiety or depression, but the brain is righting itself now and what a relief! A year ago many nights with no sleep or only a couple of hours, severe anxiety, etc. Amazing how the simplest things now look so remarkably beautiful instead of the negative outlook that goes with alcohol. I can see why many alcoholics who are sobering up feel they have more psychiatric issues than alcohol withdrawal issues. Don't fool yourself- they are caused by withdrawal...and quitting smoking does make the brain start to heal a lot quicker. It has for me at least.

Hope that helps.

orderfororder

That's good to hear, since anxiety and depression are something I struggle with a lot when I'm sober. The highs and lows can be quite intense.

2ndhandrose

Thank you, billck1

This was my experience, too.

I am so happy to know that I never have to go through that again.

Sober rocks!

ThomPom

It took me around 2 months to lower anxiety, about 4 month to build at least some basic emotional new pathways and around 6 month to get my thinking back to functional. Just throwing in my numbers for reference.

tekink

It took me about 13 months to start feeling good and balanced. Coming on 20 months now I’m so glad I stuck it out!