the brain and relapses - Al-Anon Family Group

danielle0516 · Senior Member

the brain and relapses

Mattie · ~*Service Worker*~

Alcoholism is considered a lifelong disease, which implies that the brain never goes back to being what it would have been if the alcoholic had never gone down the path of alcoholism. The way I understand it, it's like diabetes. The person can keep the disease from causing harm by continuing to treat it, but can't remove the underlying disease. I know that sometimes people with chronic diseases do become complacent and stop treatment, so it makes sense that alcoholism wouldn't be any different.

Debilyn · ~*Service Worker*~

It just is not that simple. Remember that using a drug is only one symptom of the disease. There is denial,self centeredness, manipulation, lieing.

If one is in recovery, my experience is they are going to meetings, following a program or sorta a map of how they want to live. Learning not to lie, not to be immoral, to ask for what they want and not manipulate.

Plus we have no idea what the disease or any other problems have done to their brain. Just becuz they are in recovery, they are not cured, they are still an A.

This is why you can usually tell when someone is heading to relapse, its a process in itself that the disease does. Oh I am better, oh I can have one little drink, oh I won't go to a meeting tonight,not gonna read my big book....

Wonder what relapse is like? on and on the disease tricks the A again unless they have a solid recovery program that is their life.

Just becuz one is A does not mean they don't have other problems that also affect them. Mental disorders,damage, some damage may heal, or may not., Again a whole bunch of variables.

good question. love,deb

DreamXL · Senior Member

My god mother after 30 years of sobriety when off like a rocket ship. I guess everyone is different, i have no idea really. I wondered how after all those years I mean 30 is a LONG time it could happen. I dont know, it was a choice like everything else in life ...........Its not like there are no other options in the world.

danielle0516 · Senior Member

Wow, after 30 years.. That's nuts. Thanks all for your replies. Makes sense. I have heard a lot that you see a relapse coming. ..

I can't remember what I've read about the brain with respect to does it repair itself at all with recovery.

I certainly see my husband's ability to think has improved, his thought process, his use of logic and reasoning. .. even the way he can simply communicate has drastically improved. Last week my husband visited me at work and we had a coffee with a good work friend of mine (who my husband also knows). In the past, in situations like this, I would dread them, my husband would make no sense (even when sober), would say stupid nonsensical stuff, couldn't reply to a direct question, someone would say or ask something and his reply made zero sense and had nothing to do with what the other person had just said. Now, my husband was .... normal. He carried on a conversation with my work friend perfectly. I was blown away.

danielle0516 · Senior Member

it's sad and unfortunate, not nuts.

GailMichelle · ~*Service Worker*~

Did you view the youtube video that John included in his post? (See the first STICKY listed on this board). It explains the brain damage that occurs and the time it takes to repair some of the damage.

danielle0516 · Senior Member

Thanks GailMichelle. Yes I did see that Time Magazine link. .. Seeing the brain activity/lack thereof...wow.

GailMichelle · ~*Service Worker*~

danielle0516 wrote:
Thanks GailMichelle. Yes I did see that Time Magazine link. .. Seeing the brain activity/lack thereof...wow.

Did you view the one titled "Physiology of Addiction" too? That's the one I was referring to. I can't open up the one from Time.

danielle0516 · Senior Member

Yep... I watched that one too. I really like the way she explains what happens in the brain, with all the analogies, it's easy to understand.

danielle0516 · Senior Member

Weird how the Time link didn't work for you. There's a slider you can slide to see the brain activity of a normal non addicted person, vs an addict with 10 days clean, vs an addict with 100 days clean.

Otie · Senior Member

Dear Danielle0516, I like to point that debilyn made.......there are many variables.

I also am doing a lot of reading on the subject and I find I have so many questions about "WHY".

Someone on the board has posted "worry about the WHATS because the WHYS will drive you crazy". I do want to know everything I can about the disease---but, so much is still unknown.

*****The one thing we all know is that the disease is prone to relapse--whatever the reasons or dynamics are*******

respectfully and sympathetically, Otie

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