There’s a reason that a night of drinking can lead to a rough hangover the next morning. This is because alcohol abuses both the mind and body during use, inhibiting all measures of self-regulation and control that make our daily lives comfortable and pleasant. Alcohol can damage the brain over time and reduce its ability to produce the chemicals that trigger excitement or a sense of accomplishment, often leading to depression which in turn cycles someone back to alcohol.
The good news is that our bodies are miraculous creations that can heal over time! Once someone stops drinking, the alcohol will be fully out of their system within 24-48 hours meaning the healing process can begin. Note, the period of quitting and detox does come with side effects in the form of withdrawal symptoms which is why medically assisted detox has such a great impact on the success of addiction recovery.
The Healing Clock Starts Once the Last Drink Is Done
Think about the process of getting over a hangover. You wake up with a splitting headache, you feel sick to your stomach and you’re ready to pick a fight with anyone that crosses your path out of sheer discomfort and irritability. What you’ve experienced can be viewed as a tiny set of withdrawal symptoms as your brain and body attempt to recover from the previous night’s drinking session.
Long-term use and alcohol addiction can make this process take weeks or months with some individuals never being able to recover all of the lost brain power no matter how long they remain sober. Without the proper support, this lack of total healing can drive users to relapse and start consuming alcohol once again. Falling back on alcohol can lead to even heavier drinking which can end up with frequent blackouts and loss of memory.
Brain Chemistry and Functions That Can Heal
Don’t let the idea of severe withdrawal symptoms and long periods of healing put you off of seeking or advising someone to seek out alcohol addiction treatment. The months put into the process are nothing compared to the lifetime of battling addiction many who abuse alcohol face, and it all starts within the first week of the last drink.
After the first week of sobriety, our brains are able to better conduct high-level communication between the various regions of our brains. Individuals may notice quicker thinking, an easier time holding conversation, recovered memory recall and restored fine motor skills. Even though alcohol takes such intense control over the body and brain, there’s always hope to overcome the addiction and live a life independent from alcohol consumption.
This hope is what drives so many to seek out addiction treatment for their alcohol abuse. America’s Rehab Campuses shares this same hope as well as the drive to provide every client that walks through the door with the life they’ve always wanted, free of addiction. For more information or a confidential consultation, don’t hesitate to reach out to our recovery specialists online or over the phone.
