Brain Fog: What It Is, Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

This overstimulation overwhelms cognitive resources, leading to mental fatigue and foggy thinking. I need someone, like my caregiver, to take charge of the time plan on big days that are out of routine, such as hospital appointments. Laura McKee shares her experience with the two, along with 15 quick-fire tips to beat the brain fuzz. She asks clients dealing with mental exhaustion to acknowledge everything on their plates — even minor things, such as making a doctor appointment or shopping for a birthday present. If you’re feeling too stressed or busy to have a proper meal during the day, keep nutritious snacks like fruit, yogurt, raw vegetables, and nuts close at hand.

How to deal with brain fog

Nadia says she practices mindfulness throughout the day to make sure her head is where she wants it to be. Try to increase the time you set the timer gradually for, so eventually you can focus for 45 minutes at a time and have a 15 minute break. So, we asked a couple of experts for their top tips on how to find some focus – even if only in the smallest of ways. Which could help you feel less anxious about your mounting to-do list. Many people still need to work from home, or they are attempting to squeeze work responsibilities in around childcare.

Take regular breaks

• Brain fog can leave you feeling like you are unable to concentrate for long enough to do anything productive.
• And while there isn’t one exact reason why inflammation leads to brain fog, it’s believed to be linked to the effect stress hormones have on blood sugar, insulin production, and heart rate.
• Have you ever felt like you just couldn’t get yourself to focus on a task, no matter how hard you tried?

Managing stress is easier said than done, but making an effort to clearly understand the underlying causes of your stress can be a big help. Maybe you have an early class, a class right after lunch, or an evening class at the end of a long workday. Instead of letting thoughts of the entire project overwhelm you, try breaking the task down into smaller parts. Sure, you could spend those 15 minutes getting more stuff done, but you’ll probably be able to work more efficiently if you give yourself a break.

• If I’ve just watched a documentary about a trauma similar to my own, it seems obvious that it’s a PTSD flare-up that’s interrupting my ability to remember the right words in a Zoom meeting at work.
• Anxiety fuels spiralling “what-if” scenarios that monopolise mental space.
• “It’s easy to get so busy juggling everything you have on your plates that you fail to recognize when you’re headed toward mental exhaustion or burnout,” says Megan MacCutcheon, LPC.
• That’s enough to undo a couple of years of declining brain function.

What happens to your body if you do a Bonnie Blue and have sex for 12 hours straight?

Excessive stress can impact everything from sleep and appetite to blood pressure and gut health – and it can cause brain fog too. In fact, spinach, salmon, and walnuts are all good examples of healthy Drug rehabilitation and nutritious superfoods. Foods like these are not only great when coping with brain fog, but they’re also beneficial for energy, your immune system, and overall health as well. In general, it’s important not to look for a quick solution to brain fog, as managing it effectively involves making considered lifestyle changes.

• You might want to talk to a provider if you frequently forget about appointments, have trouble completing ordinary tasks or find it difficult to pay attention when someone’s talking to you.
• Cynicism, apathy, lack of motivation, and trouble focusing can all be signs of an overworked brain.
• See a doctor if your brain fog persists with other cognitive symptoms.

Of those diagnosed with long COVID, up to 85 percent2 experience these thinking issues. If I’ve just watched a documentary about a trauma similar to my own, it seems obvious that it’s a PTSD flare-up that’s interrupting my ability to remember the right words in a Zoom meeting at work. If I’ve been kept awake all night with electric-shock pains in my legs from my sensory disorder, it’s the pain and lack of sleep that affect my capacity to excel in my tasks the next morning. If you are struggling with brain fog, it is important to see a doctor to rule out any underlying health issues. Additionally, there are lifestyle and diet changes that can help to improve brain fog. Make sure you’re eating a balanced diet and taking a multivitamin if needed.

Cacao helps improve cerebral blood flow and promotes the development of new blood vessels. Now that we know some of the main causes of brain fog, let’s explore some ways to get rid of it. If you’ve ruled out other potential causes and can’t seem to get to the bottom of things, make an appointment with your doctor to make sure one of these disorders isn’t to blame. Everybody is different, and how you metabolize or handle medication can affect your mental state. B12 plays an important role in the health of your brain and nervous symptom. If you suffer from digestive woes and often take medications like Zantac or Pepcid, you may also be particularly prone to having a B12 deficiency.

Change up your study habits

If you’re experiencing brain fog, it could be due to one of these common causes. There generally aren’t any physical symptoms of brain fog, although some people report a headache or exhaustion, says Dr. Pope. If your brain feels chronically fuzzy and you just can’t do mental tasks like you used to, you may be dealing with brain fog. It’s the middle of a long workday and your what is mush brain brain is feeling fuzzy. You’re unmotivated, it’s difficult to remember important information, and your mind is taking every opportunity to drift. You may be exhausted along with it, but you’ll also have disrupted thoughts and slower mental reflexes.