While there is evidence to suggest that the brain continues to structurally improve between years 4-5, I think there are some major psychogenic factors when people say: “It’s been 36 months and I’m still stupid and can’t learn.”

I’ve had this mentality most of my 22 months but I’m fighting to change it because I think recovering from something like this predisposes you to depression and it’s easy to incorporated this model of being “sick” or “broken” into your identity.

So, not working for two years and saying “I can’t do anything” may make you start to believe it s

My neuro even said “while I have no doubt what Joy are feeling is real the psychological effect of believing it or thinking it is hindering your recovery.”

I want to go back to school, for example, and he suggested that while it may be reasonable to wait until I’ve had a solid 3 years to do that if I still feel I’m cognitively struggling, that doesn’t mean I should sit on my ass until that time: use my brain, help it rewire. Books. Puzzles. Etc.

Admittedly I know this stuff can feel impossible the first 18 months, but when you feel even a glimmer of possibility, push!

People that were crack addicts for a decade recover and do things like go to law school. Sure, maybe not in the first few years, but I completely reject the idea that rx amphetamines damage your brain more than street crack.

Take it one baby step at a time. That’s how you climb back to the top!