How Long Does It Take to Rewire My Brain from Addiction?

When you first admit you are struggling with addiction, the road ahead can feel isolating. So many people believe it should be easy to just stop regular substance use. If you want to quit binge drinking, then you just stop drinking alcohol, right?

However, recent research has proven that not only is it dangerous to quit substance abuse on your own without professional help. There are also more than physical withdrawal symptoms at stake when you stop cold turkey. In fact, a person’s entire brain is rewired throughout the timeline of addiction.

The longer you battle dependence on addictive substances, the more your brain chemistry is reworked to depend on drugs or alcohol. This is why it’s so important to seek professional help when you’re ready to commit to recovery. No one should have to face the isolation and pain of addiction alone.

With the right support, your brain can complete the rewiring process to a drug-free state within a month. But remember, sobriety is a lifelong commitment that requires permanent lifestyle changes and open communication. Read on to learn more about how long it takes to rewire the brain from addiction—and how you can begin the road to sober living today.

What Does Addiction Do to the Brain?

At this point in studying substance abuse throughout history, we generally understand the physical impacts of addiction. A person battling drug dependence may appear tired or disengaged when not using their drug of choice, and often they will have bloodshot eyes or exhibit a decreased appetite.

But part of why substance use is so addictive is because of how it directly affects the brain. Drugs and alcohol fill the brain with dopamine, a neurotransmitter that reduces pain sensation and causes feelings of euphoria. The longer a person continues substance abuse, the more the brain adapts to the drug of choice signaling dopamine release. This is why a person struggling with substance use will begin to associate taking drugs with experiencing pleasure.

The impact on dopamine is also why physical cravings for a substance are also accompanied by feelings of anxiety and depression during addiction. Their brain begins to tell an addict that they cannot experience positive emotions without regular drug use. This is done through the rewiring of a person’s reward center in the brain. It is also why a person’s desire for a drug becomes a physical need over time. Their brain literally doesn’t know how to function without it anymore.

Why Is My Brain Part of My Addiction Struggle?

It makes sense that drugs make people feel good. Often, a person develops a substance abuse problem because they don’t have a healthy outlet in their lives for negative emotions. Addictive substances can help numb these feelings and offer an escape into a euphoric high.

But drug abuse does more than make a person feel good—and unfortunately, a person will have to seek more and more of the same substance to achieve the same result over time. Brain scans have proven that dopamine flow is actually redirected in the brain during substance abuse. A person struggling with addiction first loses regular dopamine levels in the prefrontal cortex. This is the part of the brain that impacts decision-making, problem-solving, and self-control.

Over time, every part of the brain is negatively impacted by drug dependence. Soon, the positive feelings of substance abuse are replaced by paranoia and anxiety around getting the next fix. All of this is not a result of physical need in the body, but rather the brain’s developed need for the drug to function.

Once these pathways have been reworked in the brain through substance abuse, they will never be completely undone. This is why a person can experience a relapse even years after they have completed addiction treatment. However, this doesn’t mean recovery is hopeless.

How Can I Normalize My Brain After Drug Use?

Medical professionals are still learning new information about the brain every day, including how long it takes to rewire the brain from addiction. Some recent studies have actually proven that it’s because of an undeveloped prefrontal cortex that younger individuals are more prone to substance abuse. But all research agrees on one main point: the brain is designed to adapt to change. For this reason, your nervous system is never beyond hope as soon as you commit to substance abuse treatment.

A medically supervised detox is the most important first step toward the brain’s recovery from substance abuse. The detox process can take a few days or several weeks, depending on how long and how much of a substance a person has used. With the help of addiction specialists, the body will slowly be cleared of all harmful substances, and in situations of long-term addiction, medication can be offered to help with pain management. Remember, stopping substance use should never be attempted alone. The right support for a successful detox experience is guaranteed to decrease the possibility of relapse in the future.

The next step toward brain rewiring after addiction involves working toward living in balance. This could include developing new healthy habits while the brain heals. Focusing on good nutrition, developing an exercise routine, and monitoring your daily water intake can all positively impact the time it takes to rewire your brain from substance abuse. Many individuals will begin a regular yoga practice or start cooking at home during this part of rehabilitation.

With these initial steps, recent research has proven a person’s brain can return to pre-addiction levels within 90 days. But the timeline can be longer or shorter based on the length of time someone has been struggling with drug abuse.

Your Brain and Addiction Recovery

Through all of the physical work of addiction recovery, it’s also important to focus on your mental health. Trained addiction counselors can guide you through individual sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy to help you better understand the root cause of your addiction and how you can reclaim your life from this path in the future.

Some of this work will also involve naming and understanding the triggers in your life that have led you to turn to substance abuse as a coping method in the first place. By comprehending the source of your drug dependence, you can learn to respond differently to these stimuli in the future.

Other therapy options like art therapy and music therapy can also give you a constructive outlet for your emotions as you process the road to rehabilitation. And group therapy is designed to help you communicate with other individuals struggling with addiction, all while practicing interpersonal skills that can help lead to positive and healthy relationships outside of addiction treatment.

No matter what, it’s important to remember that sobriety is a lifelong commitment. It’s common for a person to try a few different addiction treatment programs before they truly understand how to commit to recovery. And you are guaranteed to be most successful in choosing sober living when you have a positive support group and daily healthy habits you can turn to in times of stress.

The Skypoint Recovery Difference

At Skypoint Recovery Ohio, we will help you escape the noise and chaos of your daily life so you can focus on your individual mental and physical needs. Our main goal of Skypoint Recovery substance abuse treatment is to help you experience all the benefits of sobriety and develop daily practices to help you choose a drug-free life. We guarantee you get the individualized treatment you need to reclaim your desired healthy life.

Contact Skypoint Recovery today to learn how we can best help support you on your journey toward rehabilitation.