<p>Does anybody ever feel like this after drinking: becoming slower in thinking? </p>
<p>After drinking (i.e. the next day), I feel like my IQ just dropped 4-5 points. Then after a while, i start to think as fast as i used to. I don’t know, if this is just me or anything. Let me try to elaborate more: after drinking, my brain feels like it’s all “clogged” up. My cognitive functioning decreases in speed for the following weeks. After a certain respite of not drinking, lets say 2-3 months, my cognitive functioning returns to its normal pace. Sometimes, the recovery of my thinking ability comes back even better! I am able to think much better and faster…This sounds weird i know but i’m just describing this as i’m feeling it…obviously, there is nothing substantial i could make reference to describe the feeling of a loss of IQ or the feeling of a “clogged” brain. </p>
<p>Just a note: this is drinking from like one night with 5-6 months of respite from drinking. I’m not a habitual drinker or anything. Just rarely do i drink.</p>
<p>I get that way the day after if I’m really hung over, but that night/the day after that I’m fine. I think that’s just being hung over though while yours sounds like something else. You must be really sensitive to alcohol, I guess? I would recommend not drinking if it has that long of negative effects for you.</p>
<p>Your thinking to much, hell i could do my math homework drunk. Your just over analyzing the effects of drinking. Doctors drink, lawyers drink, police officers drink, businessmen do alot of drinking (most major deals are done over drinking). When the alcohol is out of your system and a good nights rest you should be fine, given your not hungover. Its all in your head, just relax and have fun. I’m not promoting to start drinking but it happens to most and as long as your responsible(NEVER DRIVE, know your limits, watch your surroundings/drinks, always wear a condom, dont do anything you wouldnt do sober…etc.) you’ll be more then fine.</p>
<p>^Nope. Apparently he needs “5-6 months of respite”. </p>
<p>Not normal at all, btw. Most people just sleep it off, pee it out, and/or throw it up, depending on how much they’ve had, and they’re fine sometime the day after. </p>
<p>I don’t drink because I don’t find the idea of being buzzed or unclear appealing. Neither do I really like the prospect of slowly pouring poison in my body to experience these effects.</p>
<p>Sometimes it’s fun to watch drunk people though. Other times it’s just gross and disappointing.</p>
<p>^Idk i just feel slower in thinking…i don’t drink often at all…once every 3-4 months. So maybe my body does not have much tolerance to the alcohol? this is why the recovery process is so long? </p>
<p>I’m not really sure if drinking really does damage me this much. It just feels like it does. I don’t think i like that feeling.</p>
<p>haha you feel an ‘IQ drop?’ that’s totally inane. </p>
<p>listen to your body. i think it’s all in your head, but just because it’s psychosomatic doesn’t mean it isn’t actually happening. if you feel like drinking effects you negatively, just don’t do it. i never feel like that, even after weeks of med-heavy marijuana usage.</p>
<p>I feel mostly hungover the next day (even drunk - I still can’t feel my face and that sort of thing…but that since has passed since I’ve drank more and more progressively). I feel a little slow in the morning, but then I boot up and am able to function normally given I drink a ton of water and pop 4-5 Advils. However, I’ve done work with the most splitting headache on the planet earth and done well. It’s all mental to a degree, but if you don’t drink often then I suspect it’s just that you’re sensitive to alcohol.</p>
<p>Go make up some oral rehydration solution (no joke). You feel like crap because you are dehydrated mostly. </p>
<p>Also, 5 advil?! Although I’m English and had to look that up, I would seriously not take any more than 2 advil after drinking. Why? Advil contains ibuprofen, which is an NSAID…‘dissolves’ the lining on your stomach on a good day, combined with the similar effect that drinking has will send you on the road to getting gastritis and the risk of peptic ulceration.</p>
<p>Um for example. I love reading books. So i read books with ease but after drinking i start to notice that the ease with which i read starts to go down…I have a harder time keeping what i just read in my short term memory…take more breaks within sentences…stuff like that </p>
<p>if it were for math, i can’t think clearly as i used to…i just can’t make the proper connectiosn…stuff like this</p>
<p>Over time, like after weeks, this gets better. But still, I’m worried it’s stinting my brain growth.</p>
<p>And im definitely a lightweight. 5’7" 120 lb</p>
<p>Your brain ain’t going to be doing much growing at your age, hopefully.</p>
<p>You may feel that way after going on a bender because your dehydrated and tired (booze reduces your REM sleep which is restorative) but drinking isn’t going to be the cause some weeks down the line.</p>
<p>NOOOOOOOOO! Do NOT ever take Tylenol right before, during, or after drinking! </p>
<p>Tylenol is very bad for your liver and should NEVER be combined with alcohol. Your liver will have to process both the Tylenol and the alcohol and it will be VERY difficult for it. There is a reason it says on the bottle not to take it if you drink 3 or more alcoholic drinks. You will also have a much worse hangover - trust me, it hurts like hell. You can take 2 Advil without doing too much stomach damage, it’s a lot easier on your liver and can be combined with alcohol better (but don’t take a lot of them). I don’t know why anyone takes large amounts of OTC painkillers. They’re not going to knock your pain out, they’re just going to take the edge off. They’re OTC for a reason, they’re weak. You want something stronger, get your hands on some opiates. </p>
<p>Nonsense. Taking 2 paracetamol the morning after drinking is not going to kill your liver.</p>
<p>In fact, if you overdose on paracetamol whilst drunk it is actually a protective factor, as you metabolise the alcohol preferentially over the paracetamol!</p>
<p>I know why people take lots of OTC painkillers…because they work :)</p>
<p>OP, it’s definitely in your head. It’s not physically possible for alcohol to affect your brain for that long, especially if you’re older. That is literally the answer. Your brain is barely growing at this point in your life; it’s not possible that it stunts it that much.</p>
<p>I sometimes feel that way the morning after drinking. It’s because I’m hungover and the alcohol’s wearing off. After 12 hours or so, though, I’m fine. And I’m somewhat of a lightweight.</p>