Sober living

7 Strategies for when your mind has gone to mush

By February 10, 2021August 4th, 2023No Comments

The brain is actually made of lots of tiny parts called neurons. When you were born, you had many more of these neurons than you do today. As you grow and learn your brain trims these neurons to make just the right connections and circuits. Part of the reason it is so important for brains to be soft is because they need some flexibility to work. The brain can change itself—the actual connections and the way it functions—and helps us make different thoughts and memories throughout our lives. In order for you to become infected with Lyme disease, a tick has to be attached to you for at least 36 to 48 hours.

Mushrooms are a much-loved ingredient in cuisines around the world. They are nutritious and especially rich in antioxidants, which protect cell health. Researchers are now asking whether mushrooms can also protect against cognitive decline. The brain is not only soft, but it has kind of bumpy, grooved, or wrinkly surface. If you were to unfold the brain, it would take up quite a bit of space. Some people have estimated it would cover an area the size of one to two pages of a newspaper.

Wet Brain: What Is Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome?

It turns out the three-pound organ between your ears is mostly made up of water and fat. Multi-tasking is really just divided attention and constantly switching back and forth puts a rather large strain on the brain. When we mindfully work on one thing at a time, we can concentrate far better and often enter a state of flow. Start by switching off distracting notifications, put away that second screen and allow your brain the luxury of focusing on just one thing. We have biological limits and there comes a point where working longer hours, sleeping less and squeezing in more simply doesn’t work. Instead, it makes us more mushy-brained, more reactive and more prone to making poor decisions.

disease where brain turns to mush

When our body has an infection by a virus or bacteria, it fights against it by producing more cells and substances. This is called molecular mimicry, and the self-directed friendly-fire starts causing our nerves to stop working properly,” he says. Because the pressures of 21st century living can be intense and relentless, the number 1 skill we must all learn is to become experts at self-care.

Recognizing Signs of Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome

Going from this active independent person to not being able to use the stairs on my own was devastating. In some cases, the breathing muscles can be affected and one needs to be cared for in an intensive care unit with breathing support as the disease is being treated. In 1990, researchers first became aware that this type of amoeba can cause disease in people, according mush brain to a study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases in November. In a person with dysarthria, a nerve, brain, or muscle disorder makes it difficult to use or control the muscles of the mouth, tongue, larynx, or vocal cords. Our mushy brains do all kinds of things for us, including helping you read this very sentence and ask big questions about our world.

disease where brain turns to mush

The relief I felt after my conclusive diagnosis was immeasurable. Before then I felt like I was getting worse every day, and that my life was over,” says an emotional Muriuki. After lots of research and some recommendations from friends, Muriuki sought consultation with Dr Sokhi. It was then that he finally got a conclusive diagnosis for Miller Fisher syndrome. Dr Dilraj Sokhi, head of neurology at Aga Khan University Hospital, says in such cases, it is a bacterial or viral infection that could set off a problem in the nerves.

Brain Diseases: Trauma

However, black-legged ticks are often so small (one-eighth of an inch) that they are difficult to find. Unfortunately, you may not even be aware that a tick is on your skin until initial symptoms appear. These black-legged ticks pick up harmful bacteria by feeding on the blood of mice and deer, and  then spread those bacteria to humans. Normally, ticks will attach to your skin and can be found on body parts such as the armpits or scalp. Once the tick has attached to your skin, the bacteria can infect your body.

  • In some cases, the breathing muscles can be affected and one needs to be cared for in an intensive care unit with breathing support as the disease is being treated.
  • However, research on brain fog may help scientists better understand the relationship.
  • But it’s more common in East Asian countries, especially Korea, Japan and China.
  • In Chiari malformation surgery, doctors remove a small section of bone at the back of your skull to make room for part of your brain (cerebellum) and relieve pressure on your brainstem, cerebellum and spinal cord.
  • Your support helps to ensure everyone’s free access to NORD’s rare disease reports.

But fear not, you shouldn’t be terrified of your tap water. In healthy people with good immune systems, an infection is extremely rare. There have only been around https://ecosoberhouse.com/ 200 reported cases of infection worldwide, although around 70 of those cases were in the US alone, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In some cases, people with Lyme disease can experience heavy brain fog and exhaustion. Usually, the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord send messages to the muscles to move. Moyamoya disease is a rare blood vessel disorder in which the carotid artery in the skull becomes blocked or narrowed. The carotid artery is a major artery that brings blood to the brain. Tiny blood vessels then develop at the base of the brain in an attempt to supply the brain with blood. Chiari malformation type 1 occurs when the section of the skull containing a part of the brain (cerebellum) is too small or is deformed, thus putting pressure on and crowding the brain.

Reach out today, before chronic conditions develop, and a health care or recovery expert will help guide you in next steps. The good news—if caught early enough—is that wet brain syndrome is a preventable, treatable disease if you stop drinking and seek help. Intense thiamine replacement therapy and abstinence from alcohol can result in a noticeable improvement in both mental and physical functioning within weeks. Besides, the onset of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome and symptom severity is not considered to be a direct relation to how much or what kind of alcohol a person drinks over their lifetime.

Your healthcare provider will evaluate you closely to determine what’s causing your symptoms and provide an individualized treatment plan. If you or a family member have experienced a brain injury or disease, follow your healthcare provider’s instructions for treatment and long-term management. Therapy, medications, lifestyle changes and proper support can help you live the fullest life possible. If you notice a tick bite on your body, have flu-like symptoms, or live in an area where ticks are common, you may want to reach out to your healthcare provider. You should still seek medical care even If your symptoms go away. Left untreated, the Lyme disease-causing bacteria may spread to different parts of the body and lead to more severe symptoms.