A Clearer Way Forward

"The way your brain is operating affects your entire reality," says Henry Vance. "What you are capable of processing and looking at and expecting is going to shape your whole reality."

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For Henry, a 44-year-old Seattle resident, bartender, and professional photographer, that reality has involved a lifelong struggle with addiction—a challenge he has been actively working on since he was twelve years old. Today, he is a year and a half sober from alcohol, navigating the demanding, daily work of recovery through therapy, support groups, and a deep commitment to rebuilding his life.

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But recovery takes time, especially for the brain. In the past, Henry noticed a distinct pattern when trying to maintain sobriety and a workout routine: it typically took two to three years of continuous effort before the mental fog fully cleared and he felt entirely awake again. He wanted a physical routine to support his health this time around, but he needed something that wouldn't drain his energy or leave him completely exhausted.

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Learning about Brain Fitness

That changed when Henry attended a support group and heard a speaker from Mindeo discuss brain fitness. Intrigued by the idea of a physical routine structured specifically to support brain health and cognitive vitality, he decided to try a session.

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The experience turned out to be a stark contrast to intense, grueling fitness regimens. "When I first tried Mindeo, the experience was pretty easy," Henry says. "It’s a pretty low-impact workout. You don't feel sore the next day. After a session, I feel like I just did a workout—kind of energized."

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Noticing Changes in Day to Day Life

Within six to eight weeks, Henry began noticing clear changes in his daily rhythm. For someone who often feels a natural, ADHD-related urge to rush through tasks as fast as possible, the most meaningful shift was an unexpected sense of pacing. "It’s been a little bit easier for me to just slow down and like go with the flow and let things happen as they will," he explains.

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That newfound clarity soon showed up in ordinary, practical ways. Henry found he could keep track of his belongings better—remembering where he left his keys or what he needed to grab before leaving the house. His reflexes sharpened, his mental awareness increased, and his memory felt more reliable.

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What surprised him most, however, was how quickly his mind seemed to respond compared to his past experiences. The multi-year timeline he usually expected for the fog to lift felt remarkably compressed.

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Accelerating progress with science

"I’ve felt close to this kind of state when I’ve been alcohol-free for a long time and working out, but after like two or three years of that," Henry says. "It feels nice to be closer to that with less time sober and less time working out. You know, it almost feels like a cheat, but the science behind it makes sense."

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Ultimately, the improvements aren't just about sharper focus behind the bar or a better eye behind the camera. They are about how he shows up at home. As a proud father of a 16-year-old daughter, Henry is simply focused on doing his best—and having a clearer, steadier mind is helping him do exactly that.

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If you are looking for a low-impact, science-backed routine to support your energy, focus, and mental clarity, discover how Mindeo’s private, guided sessions can help. Learn more about our programs and discover what better focus, energy, and resilience can do for your daily life.

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