Alcohol addiction is deadly. A few drinks here and there can feel harmless, but if a person’s drinking snowballs into a serious addiction, they could face serious consequences. One of those many consequences is known as “wet brain,” or Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome.

Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome is a serious medical condition, but we don’t go into the details of how certain enzymes and amino acids work with and against the body. This page will provide a basic overview of what “wet brain” is, how it affects the body, and how you can seek help for alcohol addiction. If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol, get help. The sooner you can revert back to a healthy relationship with alcohol, the better.

What Is Wet Brain?How Does A Person Get “Wet Brain?”Symptoms of Wet BrainIs Wet Brain Curable?How Common is Wet Brain?Other Ways Alcohol Damages the BrainOther Ways Alcohol Damages the BodyWays to Seek Help for Alcohol Addiction

What Is Wet Brain?

How Does A Person Get “Wet Brain?”

Symptoms of Wet Brain

Is Wet Brain Curable?

How Common is Wet Brain?

Other Ways Alcohol Damages the Brain

Other Ways Alcohol Damages the Body

Ways to Seek Help for Alcohol Addiction

About Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)

Vitamin B1 is a critical vitamin that humans consume through diet only. You can findvitamin b1in foods such as:

Vitamin B1 plays a role in many processes in the body. It aids in converting carbohydrates to glucose and ATP, which provide cells with energy. Basically, Vitamin B1 and other B vitamins ensure that food works as fuel within our body. This is especially important in two areas of the body: the brain and the heart.

How Do We Become Thiamine-Deficient?

Studies have shown that chronic alcohol consumption can lead to thiamine deficiency. For thiamine to do its job, it has to travel through the GI tract to the bloodstream and the brain. Alcohol prevents thiamine from properly moving through the GI tract. This leaves the body and brain waiting around for the energy needed to function.

Since thiamine can only be found in food (rather than through sunlight or other sources, like Vitamin D,) malnutrition can also lead to a thiamine deficiency.

Wernicke’s Encephalopathy vs Korsakoff Syndrome

Wet brain is actually the name for a more serious-sounding condition: Wernicke Korsakoff Syndrome. The condition is named for the two psychologists who first studied the effects of thiamine deficiency on the brain:Carl Wernickeand Sergei Korsakoff.

The early symptoms of wet brain may be hard to recognize in someone who suffers from alcoholism. Wet brain looks like a person has had too much to drink even when they do not have any alcohol in their system at all. These symptoms include:

Wet Brain vs PAWS

Alcohol addiction can cause a lot of damage throughout the body and mind. Even if you get sober, you may feel the effects of addiction.

A Reddit user on thedryalcoholics subredditworried that they might have wet brain:

Reddit users assured the OP that their symptoms were likely from another condition: post-acute withdrawal syndrome:

Post-acute withdrawal syndrome may last for weeks and months, but will eventually go away as long as a person can maintain sobriety. If you believe you are experiencing symptoms of PAWS, go see a medical professional.

There is no cure for wet brain, although doctors can stop or slow the progression of the condition. The key to reducing wet brain symptoms is catching the condition early enough. People who experience wet brain while experiencing addiction to alcohol need to get sober immediately. This often means working with a doctor or support group to ensure a safe transition to sobriety.

A night of binge drinking quickly has its effects on the brain. Want to know the reason people slur their words, stumble around, or make impulsive decisions while drunk? Alcohol affects thecommunication between neuronsin the brain. The more a person drinks, the more dramatic these effects become. Even the next day, neurons have a hard time sending messages. They might communicate with neurotransmitters in more dramatic ways. Essentially, alcohol sends the brain off balance.

Long-term effectsof chronic alcohol use on the brain (including wet brain) include:

Long-term alcohol use can impact pretty much every area of the body. Frequent binge drinking will eventually increase your risk of:

There is no shame in alcohol addiction -one in three peoplewill meet the criteria for AUD at some point in their life. If you experience the following symptoms right now,it’s time to get help:

Calling a helpline.It may be more comforting to talk to a stranger about your experiences with alcohol. The following helplines can get you started on the right path toward health and sobriety:

Talking to supportive friends or family.Recovery requires support from friends and family (including chosen family.) If you are experiencing problems with alcohol, share them. Alcohol addiction is not as uncommon as some people think it is. A supportive friend or family member will help connect you to resources or offer you encouragement on your journey. If your friends or family want you to continue drinking alcohol, you may want to consider who you are surrounding yourself with.Attending an AA (or similar) meeting.AA is not for everyone, but it can be a great first step toward recovery. Look up local AA meetings near you or online. It’s possible to get help and understand how addiction works. Even if you do not go to a second AA meeting or decide to get help in other ways, you can use an AA meeting as a chance to meet others, hear raw stories of the dangers of alcohol, and take your first steps toward recovery.

Related posts:Wernicke’s Area | Location and FunctionStockholm Syndrome (Definition + Relationship Examples)White Knight Syndrome (Causes + Examples)Blood Alcohol Level (Free BAC Calculator)Vermis (Brain Function + Location)

Reference this article:Practical Psychology. (2022, October).What is Wet Brain?.Retrieved from https://practicalpie.com/what-is-wet-brain/.Practical Psychology. (2022, October). What is Wet Brain?. Retrieved from https://practicalpie.com/what-is-wet-brain/.Copy

Reference this article:

Practical Psychology. (2022, October).What is Wet Brain?.Retrieved from https://practicalpie.com/what-is-wet-brain/.Practical Psychology. (2022, October). What is Wet Brain?. Retrieved from https://practicalpie.com/what-is-wet-brain/.Copy

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