Brain Fog: What It Is, Causes, Symptoms & Treatment Leave a comment
A 2016 study suggested that stepping away from a task and taking a break can substantially improve your performance, focus, and degree of self-control. MacKinnon says that because there are so many different factors related to brain fog, there’s no one-size-fits-all way of treating it. I know some of the tips we provide seem very basic, but sometimes, the foundational basics are essential when it comes to alcohol recovery. A guide to the legal arrangements in place to help someone with alcohol-related brain damage (ARBD) who is struggling to manage their own affairs. Key information for professionals who are supporting patients with suspected alcohol-related brain damage (ARBD). If you’re a professional working with people with the condition, download our Quick Guide for Professionals.
Alcohol and Brain Fog: How Drinking Affects Cognitive Function
Because of this, the Food and Drug Administration recommends no more than 400 milligrams, or 4 to 5 cups, of coffee per day. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that you exercise for 30 minutes per day, any kind of movement counts. Treats like candy and chips can provide an immediate brain boost, but sticking to a balanced diet will help you perform more consistently throughout the day.
Think of it as retraining a muscle group for a specific type of physical exercise. Brain fog is one of the many consequences caused by excessive alcohol and substance abuse. Following addiction, this common symptom generally co-occurs with several other symptoms in the stage of recovery after acute withdrawal, known as Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS).
Healthy Withdrawal
After only one night of poor sleep, our cognitive functions and performance start to decline. We might find ourselves in that brain fog state, forgetting things more often or having difficulty concentrating. Consuming alcohol actually amplifies this effect, contributing to feelings of drowsiness and relaxation. Glutamate, on the other hand, typically stimulates increased brain activity and energy levels. It also helps control our cognitive abilities, such as learning and memory.
However, alcohol suppresses glutamate’s effects, leading to even slower music therapy and addiction brain activity. This decrease in brain activity not only affects us while we’re drinking, but it can result in brain fog the next day. It’s also why we might have difficulty concentrating or recalling certain things. Given alcohol’s short- and long-term effects on the brain, it’s perhaps unsurprising to learn that we can get that lethargic, dull mental state we refer to as brain fog after drinking. In fact, one study found that hangovers have a negative effect on cognitive functions, including visual, memory, and intellectual processes. Another study noted that people are generally less alert when they’re hungover.
There are different ways to manage brain fog, depending on its cause. Alcohol is both a stimulant and a depressant, which significantly impairs cognitive functioning. Once the levels of alcohol in your body decrease, withdrawing from the substance can cause fatigue, headache, vertigo, hangxiety, and other symptoms of brain fog. But you can take steps to improve your mental and physical health to reduce your risk of symptoms becoming bothersome.
How Does Alcohol and Brain Fog Impact Early Sobriety?
Limiting alcohol consumption or eliminating it entirely can help prevent brain fog. We can also enhance our cognitive health by getting adequate sleep, regularly exercising, eating a healthy diet, staying hydrated, and practicing stress reduction techniques. Feeling mentally drained happens to everyone from time to time, especially when experiencing sleeping difficulties.
Our daily research-backed readings teach you the neuroscience of alcohol, and our in-app Toolkit provides the resources and activities you need to navigate each challenge. However, even switching up the way you go about familiar daily tasks will challenge your brain and help pull you out of autopilot. For instance, try brushing your teeth with the opposite hand for a week, read a book that’s not your go-to genre, or take a different route to work.
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. In fact, many people with alcohol use disorder (AUD) who go through the detoxification process experience prolonged brain fog. This is largely because our body is working hard to clear a buildup of alcohol-related toxins while also battling cravings for more mirtazapine with alcohol alcohol, making it difficult to think clearly. Sometimes, brain fog is less related to slow brain function and due more to overactive brain activity, such as over-analyzing a simple situation or obsessing about a problem.
Prioritising nutritional health is high up on the totem pole for sobriety, so if you were to pick anything, start here. Alcohol addiction recovery does not end once a person’s brain fog fades. They should continue to seek counseling and move into a sober living facility. If they relapse, they can always return to inpatient care or try a new sobriety strategy out. Pursuing cognitive behavioral therapy is one part of alcohol addiction treatment.
- While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that you exercise for 30 minutes per day, any kind of movement counts.
- They may find conversations hard to follow, or they may not be able to pay attention to presentations.
- But a person who did not previously experience brain fog may experience it during or after withdrawal.
Carbon 60 is an antioxidant that may help reduce oxidative stress in the body. One 2019 study showed that reaching for a cell phone did not allow the brain to recharge as effectively as other types of relaxation. Have you ever felt like you just couldn’t get yourself to focus on a task, no matter how hard you tried? We’ve partnered with C60 Power, known for its 99.99% pure Carbon 60 products, to create your go-to guide for fighting brain fog. Just quality information famous fetal alcohol syndrome to help you live your most limitless sober life. Many different thoughts may flood into their mind, and a person may not know where their thoughts are coming from.
For example, blueberries may help prevent neurodegeneration, and avocados are rich in monounsaturated fats that protect brain cells. A consistent flow of nutrients will keep your brain sharp throughout the day. We’ve all made the connection between sleep and tiredness, but the effects of sleep deprivation on the brain and body are extensive. If you’re trying to cope with drinking too much, talk with your healthcare professional. His goal is to help people take control of their addiction, reset their cravings, unscramble their broken brain circuitry and use actionable strategies that work ten times better than anything else.
Causes of Alcohol Brain Fog
But, if all you’re experiencing is a little bit of fogginess, it might be worth it to test out a few lifestyle changes. In these cases, how quickly brain fog goes away depends on several factors, such as the severity of alcohol misuse, how long we’ve been drinking, and our overall health status. While brain fog sometimes goes away on its own within a few days or weeks after quitting drinking, it can persist for extended periods for some people, particularly those with severe alcohol misuse. These people usually require professional medical attention to be treated effectively. During prolonged and excessive alcohol use, the damage inflicted upon brain cells becomes more severe.
Understanding what alcohol brain fog is, its causes, and how to overcome it is crucial for anyone grappling with alcohol-related issues. This article aims to shed light on this often-overlooked aspect of alcohol consumption and its long-term effects on cognitive function. It’s crucial to recognize that the impact of alcohol on the brain doesn’t cease immediately after stopping alcohol consumption. The residual effects can continue to affect cognitive functions and overall mental clarity.