Mental Health How good is the brain at compensating for brain damage?

[ssss888810]

I used drugs extensively for a long period of time, over 13 years. Often all day everyday. I'm now clean for almost 4 months, hardest thing to quit. I'm working again, but not sure how long I'll keep this job. I have brain damage. My brain doesn't work like it used to, I have a degree in computer science which I no longer think I would be able to achieve. A book I'm trying to read has convinced me I started off with ADD, which led to my excessive abuse. I continue to have major sleep problems. I have other issues as well. I'm planning on finding a community of post-drug users or psychiatrists/neurologists to help me understand my condition, found this site for now.

My question is this, although brain damage can't be reversed, where is our current understanding of how the brain can compensate for it? Is there any hope for improvement? At first I had trouble following along in conversations. The only advice I've been given is that reading helps, but brain tissue doesn't regenerate so in what way would it help.

I could go on, more info, stories, opinions. I'm in my early 30s feel like I've lived 50 years. Just starting my search for answers. Thanks in advance.

Is there a good book on the topic? A popular one rather than a textbook style one.

 

[Ryan D.]

Perhaps not a complete solution i'll admit, but i believe that exercise encourages a process known as neurogenesis which i imagine may help to rebuild

 

[herbavore]

While I don't know any specific books on the subject, I think there is much written about the brain's amazing capacity to heal, whether it is from drug use, physical trauma or extreme psychological trauma. One of the things I have noticed here on Bluelight is the number of people that intensify the problems they are experiencing by over-worrying about the permanence of them. The best thing that you can do is to eat right, exercise and get the best sleep possible. I know that sounds like simplistic advice but if you think about it, your brain is a physical organ so taking care of it in the physical sense has to be the first consideration. After that, I think the best thing to do is to tackle issues as they arise as if they are just parts of your personality or nature and not necessarily from drug use. Being willing to face psychological issues honestly but without fatalism and negative self-judgment is the key.

Hopefully, others can provide you with some better resources and titles for information. Good luck in your explorations!

 

[exists]

One of the things I have noticed here on Bluelight is the number of people that intensify the problems they are experiencing by over-worrying about the permanence of them.

Yeah, people will often make a mountain out of a molehill, or even a molehill where none exists. If you believe you have a certain medical condition strongly enough, your mind will actually produce the symptoms for you.

ssss888810, are you sure you have brain damage? Did you get an MRI or something?

As Ryan suggested, exercise can help promote neurogenesis, as can other things. Not all brain damage is permanent; the old belief that brain damage is irreversible is proving to be less and less true as science finds new ways in which the brain can repair itself (and even clear out old, dead cells). Even some stroke damage can be repaired years after the fact (I can't remember which article I read it in, though it most definitely showed up on sciencedaily.)