In my younger days, I used to be able to articulate ideas concisely, think clearly and enunciate (most) words. Over the last few years, I’m finding myself basically doing the opposite.
My thinking has become less clear and more broken. My ideas are like a shattered picture, it’s all there, just jumbled. In my mind I can put it together so that it makes sense to me, but I have great difficulty in articulating these ideas so that it makes sense to others. Some times, I have to explain things 2 or 3 times in different ways before it makes sense.
Also, I feel like I talk with marbles in my mouth, i have to repeat words because i am unable to say them correctly, it’s quite embarrassing.
I know alcohol abuse will diminish cognitive ability, but you never think it will happen to you.
It’s hard for me to know how much of it has been due to alcohol or just pregnancy brain that later became mommy brain. But yep, I definitly have gotten dumber over the years. LOL
When I was a drunk I very narrow field of view in life, since getting sober theres a lot more to take in and it has definitely made me question my mental acuity.
Hell trying to explain simple math with my daughter was a chore at first, but it’s been getting easier as I remember more and can relate more of the information I learned long ago.
Alcohol use does cause the brain to shrink. Additionally, alcohol use at an early age does cause much more long term effects. The good news, most of the damage can and will be reversed. There is study after study that support that your/our cognitive ability does return. Put together some long term sobriety, and you’ll see the differences!
I feel like I’m one of few that preaches vitamins on this forum lol… don’t forget to take those. Restore those deficiencies alcohol abuse has caused. That affects everything. I don’t think it would hurt mentioning it to you MD as well.
The mind sure can come back. After stringing together a couple months of sobriety mine came back with a vengeance. All the neurons firing again with no balance.
Still a work in progress. Working a program of recovery has made all the difference.
