Have I permanently ruined my brain?

BeautyFromPain

I'm a 20 year old female and I've got some real concerns about my brain.

I used to be a binge drinker, 2-3 nights a week from the ages of 16-19. I also smoked from the ages of 16-19 as well. I have now cut both out completely. At my worst last year I tried to OD, taking 3 months worth of antidepressants, 1 months worth of sleeping pills and a pack of panadol. I didn't tell anyone, didn't go to ER, didn't tell my parents or my GP- I was too scared they would commit me. I vomited for 2-3 days pretty much nonstop and for the next 2 weeks I only woke up for 1-2 hours each day, was so fatiged I had to sleep the rest of the day.

I feel as though I've done some serious damage to my brain. Right now I can't think straight, I've got some serious 'brain fog', my short term memory has gone to absolute ****, I can't concentrate, and I can't work out complex (or sometimes simple) problems. This is very concerning to me, as I was once an extremely bright person. For school exams, I have been studying for months on end and then still end up forgetting everything I studied the next day.

I'm not looking for empathy or attention, I was in an extremely dark place at the time and if I had known my life would turn around so majorly I would not have done it. Just looking for some insight, if anyone has any? What should I do? Should I tell my doctor, and see if there are any tests they can run? Is there another way to improve memory, or change it back to how it was before this happened?

Ruger2506

there are exams that one can take to assess cognitive ability and memory function among other things.

I have known guys who I was sure smoked themselves stupid. I think it is possible. If it is a concern I would suggest you go get it checked out.

Will your INS cover it?

lmelangley

I think you should definitely speak with your doctor. It was last year, and you sound like you're in a much better place now, so I wouldn't worry about being committed. But, you're going to need a professional to assess what damage was done and how best to try to repair it.

meeper123

doc now!

PLUMSGRL

alcohol does kill brain cells. brain cells are not replenished. however you can retrain your brain, but it does take work.

http://www.lumosity.com/app/v4/personalization

best site I know of to work your brain, and lay down neural pathways to get your brain working again.

good luck

mensasu

Another resource is Dr Daniel Amen and his work on brain health. This is just one link with info http://www.anewdayanewme.com/ANewDayANewMe/dr-daniel-amenyou-can-reverse-the-aging-process-in-your-brain/

Cait_Sidhe

This sound like a question for a doctor. Not random strangers on the internet. Whatever advice you get, just remember that none of us are qualified to give you advice on this and it may be harmful in the long run.

Posts by members, moderators and admins should not be considered medical advice and no guarantee is made against accuracy.

LetMeBeFrankWithYou

As a former hard-core "pot head" (among other things), I can relate. Drugs (of all kinds) will damage your brain in some way, shape or form. The good news is the resilience of the human body and it's ability to heal itself. There may be parts of your brain that are fried and will remain so for the rest of your life. BUT, your brain has the ability to "re-wire" itself. It will take time, but you can recover. I know this first hand. And thank God you've realized what you were doing to yourself.

ThePhoenixRose

There are definitely tests to measure cognitive ability. There's probably no way they'll be able to gauge where you were before all that, but they can assess you now and you can get help. Something like occupational therapy may help you. I had a stroke, and while I don't he any lasting physical problems, I do have issues with my short term memory. They can't "teach" you how to get it back, but they can show ways to live with it, since ya can't really fix it.

Good luck!

chicadejmu

Definitely see a dr and be brutally honest about everything you did. Explain what you're looking for and hopefully they will be able to help.

stephmo86

I'm sorry you went through all that. Please go to your doctor. Get checked out so you know what's going on in your brain chemically and physically. Maybe you can return to the doctor who prescribed you the antidepressants, at least they'll know some of your history. Good luck, I hope you feel better.

Crystal_Pistol

Neuropsychological evaluation PRONTO.

munchkinhugs

This sound like a question for a doctor. Not random strangers on the internet. Whatever advice you get, just remember that none of us are qualified to give you advice on this and it may be harmful in the long run.

^ What elisabat said.

See a doctor about it if you feel like your brain function has f*d up since you tried to OD.

As for this comment (refer below), if the doctor says you've screwed your brain up but there's treatment and you're seriously concerned - insurance probably won't matter.

Will your INS cover it?

slkehl

I don't know anything about the long term effects on your brain, but just posting to say that I'm SO glad you're doing better!

Ruger2506

As for this comment (refer below), if the doctor says you've screwed your brain up but there's treatment and you're seriously concerned - insurance probably won't matter.

Will your INS cover it?

it will if we have to pay for it.

cblevitron

As a recovering addict (prescription pills), all I can offer is my own experience. I have the same issues with processing information and memory as you do, and I largely attribute it to my drug abuse. See a doctor. That's the only way to know for sure. There are ways to help rebuild your memory.

sh4690

Not wanting to frighten you, but in those two weeks that you were really tired after OD'ing, you may have in fact (worse case scenario) stopped breathing temporarily and have acquired a mild brain injury from lack of oxygen.

But there could be a whole range of things that could be wrong with you, it might not even be physical, it might be a psychological deterrent. Best bet is to speak to a doctor about getting a cognitive assessment if you are worried about anything. Be honest with your doctor (if they don't already know) about what you did, and the after effects because they may well indeed want to send you for in-depth tests to see if there is any irreversible damage.

To be honest I would be more concerned about the damage potentially done to your liver after taking that concoction of pills....

vfnmoody

Okay: done is done. Just plain clean living may help to bring back some cognitive function that has been lost..
I would worry about going forward from where you are right now.
The more you study and try to learn the more you will learn.
If your brain has changed than you may need to learn new techniques to learn things. These techniques may be different than what worked for you before. In many ways your brain is like anything else; it can be trained to do what you need it to.

kristenstejskal

Hello!
I am also a young alcoholic (I'm 22 now) and drank heavily up until January. My dad is also an alcoholic who has been to rehab several times, and the last time he went (which worked! he's been sober 9 months!), he was in a medical rehab (associated with a hospital and combining the biological and neurological components with the holistic approach of AA). While he was at the medical rehab, we attended the family program and learned a ton of great information! I think some of it pertains to you and I both!

When an alcoholic quits drinking, s/he often goes through whats known as P.A.W.S.- Post Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome. P.A.W.S symptoms can include "brain fog", forgetfullness, inability to concentrate, and mood swings among other things. P.A.W.S can last up to 3 years after the alcoholic quits drinking, but it does go away. I imagine since you are young, it would go away more quickly. I experienced P.A.W.S for only a few weeks after I quit drinking, but my dad is still experiencing it after 9 months. He drank HEAVILY (20+ drinks/day) for over 40 years. Right now, he literally has to write everything down on sticky notes so he doesn't forget. He sometimes even forgets what he has said to us.

P.A.W.S can be very scary because it mimics the cognitive effects of intoxication. It can also be discouraging because we quit drinking in the hopes that things would get better for us, and then we have to deal with this *kitten*?! Trust me, I understand, I'm a college student...I know its rough. Someone earlier said that brain cells don't come back...And that is true, to an extend. Any brain cells that are dead will not "come back to life". HOWEVER!! Neuro-pathways that carry information in the brain that were pruned (essentially meaning they died) while we were drinking will be regenerated during extended periods of sobriety. So there is hope!

I hope this gives you some encouragement Message me if you have any questions or if you need support

emtron500

I just wanted to add that I think you should feel safe talking to a doctor about this. Make it clear that you are feeling much better and no longer have any desire to hurt yourself and just want to get better and feel normal. They will probably want you to get psychiatric treatment (which is probably not a bad idea, but which you can refuse) but you shouldn't worry about being committed against your will. Definitely go in, tell somebody the whole story, and stop stressing out about it by yourself!

TheMommyWifeLife

talk to your doctor sweetheart! and pray. Put your faith in God that everything will be okay

ThePhoenixRose

HOWEVER!! Neuro-pathways that carry information in the brain that were pruned (essentially meaning they died) while we were drinking will be regenerated during extended periods of sobriety.

Not true. The neuropathways cannot regenerate. They will, however, create a new "route" to do the same job. Once they're dead, they're gone. The brain is amazingly powerful though, and will find a new way to work.

avir8

There's nothing wrong in seeking professional help, you may be better now, but the problem obviously didn't go away spontaneously, what you did was a serious cry for help, hopefully you get the help you need.

eireannyoung

I am positive that you will make a full recovery! You are quite young, and your brain isn't even finished with some major growth, so it will repair better than it would if you were much older. Still, neuroplasticity (the brain's ability to adapt, rewire, rebuild, and heal) happens at any age and after almost any stress that you put it through.

I had major brain trouble for a long time, not due to alcohol but due to similar stressors. I had many days where I was sure that I could never recover, but the human brain and body are miracles of the universe and I was proved wrong! I've never been so happy to be wrong

Here's what I did that helped me speed up my recovery:

Diet:

The most significant thing that helped me was cutting out all grains. I didn't realize until a few weeks after I'd stopped eating them, that I am psychologically intolerant to grains and that I can think so much more clearly without them. Of course your mileage may vary, everyone is different, but there's no harm in trying "Paleo" or something similar (GAPS diet/SCD, etc) for a week or so, to see how you feel. Low-carb diets can actually be really beneficial for healing the brain, though at least for me it wasn't sustainable for the long term. I eat a lot of potatoes and fruit for carbs, but when I was much lower carb I think that it sped up my healing process.

I found that too much sugar gave me brain fog and increased depressive episodes, so I try to only get it from fruit and the occasional chocolate bar. It's best to have fruit and other sugars with a good source of protein and/or fats.

Juicing in the morning was really good for me for a while, especially juicing large amounts of greens such as spinach.

Another really important thing I did was increase my intake of healthy fats (including healthy SATURATED fat! Saturated fat is excellent for the brain and nervous system.) Fish/fish oil, coconut oil, meat, olive oil, eggs, etc.

Exercise:

I went for a 30 minute brisk walk each day, which lifted my mood and got my brain more motivated and ready to tackle the day. The walk worked best in the morning, right after a little something to eat.

Smoking:

Not sure if you smoke cigarettes or not, but I thought I'd add this because it made such a difference with me. After six years of smoking more than a pack a day, I finally quit smoking at the end of July this year. Not only did my physical energy improve, but my brainpower got so much sharper! Quitting smoking also eased residual anxiety/depression that I had.

Herbs:

These herbs improve brain function. I found that tinctures worked best for me, but some prefer capsules or tea. Anyway they are: ginko biloba, panax ginseng, siberian ginseng, rhodiola rosea (my favorite!), licorice, rosemary, gotu kola (another favorite!), muira puama, mucuna pruiens, evening primrose oil. YMMV.
And, since you mentioned binge drinking, here's some for improving liver function, which indirectly affects your brain health: dandelion root, milk thistle, schizandra berry.

Vitamins:

I usually get all my vitamins from food, but some vitamins were very helpful for me for a while. They were: b-complex with extra b-12, a quality multivitamin, fish oil, and magnesium.

Nootropics:

I didn't actually get around to using these, but I've heard wonderful things about these supplements, especially piracetam and anaracetam. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nootropic

Good luck and don't worry, you will be fine!

munchkinhugs

As for this comment (refer below), if the doctor says you've screwed your brain up but there's treatment and you're seriously concerned - insurance probably won't matter.

Will your INS cover it?

it will if we have to pay for it.

Maybe it's just me, but I'd be willing to spend some of my savings on making sure my body (brain included) is as healthy as possible if it ever came to that.
*knocks wood*

billsica

As an internet expert, you did ruin your brain, permanently.
Fret not, most peoples brains are ruined anyways, and your only using 10 percent of it. So you can blow up the other 90 percent and be alright.

for example, you own a car, but only the horn and wipers work. Thing just sits in your driveway all busted up, but you can honk at the neighbors cat, and watch the wiper blades go back and forth.

PomegranatePriestess

Hello!
I am also a young alcoholic (I'm 22 now) and drank heavily up until January. My dad is also an alcoholic who has been to rehab several times, and the last time he went (which worked! he's been sober 9 months!), he was in a medical rehab (associated with a hospital and combining the biological and neurological components with the holistic approach of AA). While he was at the medical rehab, we attended the family program and learned a ton of great information! I think some of it pertains to you and I both!

When an alcoholic quits drinking, s/he often goes through whats known as P.A.W.S.- Post Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome. P.A.W.S symptoms can include "brain fog", forgetfullness, inability to concentrate, and mood swings among other things. P.A.W.S can last up to 3 years after the alcoholic quits drinking, but it does go away. I imagine since you are young, it would go away more quickly. I experienced P.A.W.S for only a few weeks after I quit drinking, but my dad is still experiencing it after 9 months. He drank HEAVILY (20+ drinks/day) for over 40 years. Right now, he literally has to write everything down on sticky notes so he doesn't forget. He sometimes even forgets what he has said to us.

P.A.W.S can be very scary because it mimics the cognitive effects of intoxication. It can also be discouraging because we quit drinking in the hopes that things would get better for us, and then we have to deal with this *kitten*?! Trust me, I understand, I'm a college student...I know its rough. Someone earlier said that brain cells don't come back...And that is true, to an extend. Any brain cells that are dead will not "come back to life". HOWEVER!! Neuro-pathways that carry information in the brain that were pruned (essentially meaning they died) while we were drinking will be regenerated during extended periods of sobriety. So there is hope!

I hope this gives you some encouragement Message me if you have any questions or if you need support

This is a great response, and probably exactly what BFP was hoping to get by sharing something so personal here. I hope you are right, and it's just PAWS.

BFP: I agree with the people who said you should be honest with your doctor about what happened. You're in a much better place now, thankfully. I believe you can make a full recovery with the right treatment.

gpstrucker

Yep, consult your physician.

But look on the bright side, worse case you could always become a politician.

BeautyFromPain

As for this comment (refer below), if the doctor says you've screwed your brain up but there's treatment and you're seriously concerned - insurance probably won't matter.

Will your INS cover it?

it will if we have to pay for it.

I don't think you guys will be paying for it, as 99% of this website is from a different country than I live in...
Comes to my next question : what is INS? Is it health cover/medical insurance?

EmmaJean7

Hey there. So I might get different people's opinion on this.. But that's ok I'm posting bc I care and I want to help. For sure what everyone said about seeing a doctor is wise. But I also want to add another point to this thread
We are humans and make mistakes in the past that we regret and want to forget/take back. It's encouraging to see you've made good life choices and things are turning around for you! There is a God who made you and loves you and doesn't want you to be in pain. That's why He came as Jesus to the earth and died as a sacrifice for all our past sin and shame. But He is resurrected and lives! And anyone who calls on his name I saved from sin death game everything and we are 100% reconciled back to God. All that shameful past things are wiped clean because He chose to give his own life up so we wouldn't have to lie through these things. There is a vers in the bible that says "by His stripes we are healed". No only does Go want to wash away our past that we may regret the things we did, but also JHe wants to give us hope, life, joy, but most of all to feel loved. He also heals. I personally have been physically healed by the Lord twice, one of those times I was bitten by a snake (a Venemous cotton head). A Christian Lai hands on me and prayed and the Holy Spirit of God heale my leg/foot. That's just one small story I've been on mission trips where I've seen blind eyes restored and deaf ears opened by the power of God. Why? Because He loves us, and wants us to know that He cares. You may not even read this post. Maybe you will. I encourage you if you feel like this post pulls on something in your heart, please feel free to message me and I would love to pray with you o answer any questions you have. He says in hHis word if we ask anything believing in His name He will give it to us. I certainly believe without a doubt in my being God heals the mind and brain damage that was done by pas mistakes. Thats what He is like, a good Father, and He is so for you. So am I like I said any prayer or just to talk ask questions please feel free to message me.

BeautyFromPain

As for this comment (refer below), if the doctor says you've screwed your brain up but there's treatment and you're seriously concerned - insurance probably won't matter.

Will your INS cover it?

it will if we have to pay for it.

Maybe it's just me, but I'd be willing to spend some of my savings on making sure my body (brain included) is as healthy as possible if it ever came to that.
*knocks wood*

I would if I could afford it, except for the fact that my whole savings account has gone towards my car repayments/rego/insurance at the moment.