What To Expect Cognitively In Early Sobriety
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Many of us won't experience cognitive problems from drinking, but around half of problem drinkers can have cognitive issues. The severity depends on various factors like age, health conditions, family history, and more. To quit drinking successfully, we must recognize its consequences and understand the situation accurately. However, heavy drinking alters the brain, leading to unclear thinking.
How Alcohol Affects Your Cognition
Alcohol harms different parts of the brain, affecting various functions. It impairs neurons, brain mechanisms, and neural pathways, increasing the risk of neurological disorders.
Damage level and recovery time depend on factors like drinking duration, amount, genetics, relapses, and lifestyle.
Initial months of sobriety bring positive changes, aiding momentum and cognitive recovery. Cognitive deficits include issues in memory, emotional processing, planning, social skills, and decision-making. Impaired memory prevents recognizing alcohol's negative effects, while poor planning and emotional processing make relapse likely. Attention, impulse control, and problem-solving are also hampered, hindering good decisions.
How Multiple Detoxes Impacts Your Recovery
Detoxing multiple times can worsen cognitive issues during sobriety due to stress. Support is vital to counter persuasive drinking thoughts. Lifestyle impacts aging and cognitive health. Managing chronic conditions, limiting alcohol, quitting smoking, maintaining healthy sleep, a balanced diet, exercise, stress management, and resilience are recommended. These practices not only promote longevity and cognitive health but also support sobriety.
Listen to episode 162 to learn more about your cognition in early sobriety:
Cite this article:
Tietz, G. What to Expect Cognitively in Early Sobriety. Sober Powered. 2023
