Ever felt that you were suffering from Brain fog and wondered what it is? Brain Fog is a term that is hard to define. It isn’t a medical condition, but it can cause distress for some of us.
Brain fog can feel like a lack of mental clarity; it can affect the ability to focus and make it difficult to recall facts and thoughts.
Ultimately, brain fog can impact our confidence and our view of ourselves. Individuals can sometimes become concerned about the loss of mental agility and their thought process.
What are the causes of Brain Fog?
A number of factors and health conditions can cause brain fog, including:
Lack of sleep
Increased stress levels
Depression
Perimenopause
Medication
Hormonal conditions, such as thyroid disorders
Chronic health conditions, such as multiple sclerosis
Nutrient deficiencies
Viral infections
Viral Infections can cause inflammation in the brain, which can affect the ability of neurons in the brain to communicate with each other, resulting in brain fog.
It is not unusual for brain fog to be caused by a combination of two or three of the above factors since the factors can sometimes occur together.
For instance, depression can lead to a lack of sleep or being perimenopausal can also affect someone’s sleeping patterns.
Symptoms of Brain Fog
So what are the symptoms of Brain Fog? If you find yourself suffering from brain fog you may be experiencing the following symptoms:
Focussing on a thought or idea
Recalling thoughts
Multi Tasking can become really tricky
Following conversation
Paying attention and noticing your surroundings
Brain fog can also cause symptoms like headaches and mental exhaustion.
So, what can you do about Brain Fog?
So what can you do if you find yourself experiencing Brain Fog? Here are some tips and Tricks to Reduce Brain Fog:
Get enough sleep: Sleep is important for your brain and body, it’s key to a healthy lifestyle. When we are asleep it gives us a chance to clear out unhealthy toxins that can contribute to brain fog. Try to follow a regular sleep schedule and make it a point to get seven to nine hours of sleep every night. Avoid using electronic devices like your phone, laptop, or television before you go to sleep.
Try new things: Keep your mind engaged with tasks that keep your mind active. Make an effort to try new things. For instance, take a different route to work, try a different approach to a task you do regularly and challenge yourself. This can help increase the production of a brain chemical called norepinephrine which stimulates the brain.
Avoid multitasking: When you multitask it can drain your energy and lower your productivity, especially if you’re trying to do two activities that require conscious thought. Instead, try focusing on one thing at a time and that might help to feel less flustered.
Work on your memory: If you’re prone to forgetting things, try using different tricks to improve your memory. For instance, using visual or verbal cues can help to remember important things. Repetition can also help; for instance, if someone tells you something, try reflecting it back to them to help you remember.
Take mental breaks: Take a couple of mental breaks during the day, where you don’t think about anything and be in the moment. Take some time to recharge your brain.
Focus your attention: If you get distracted by multiple things or lose focus, try to slow down and focus all your attention on one task. Then, work on completing that task and stay focussed.
Stay socially active: Participating in social activities can improve your mood, memory, and cognition.
Engage in deep thought: Exercise your mind by spending a little time engaged in deep thoughts each day. It can be deep thoughts about anything.
Try meditation: Meditation can help reduce stress and anxiety. It can help to relax your brain and body.
Exercise regularly: Staying fit and healthy can improve your mental health.
Follow a healthy diet: A healthy diet can help with memory, cognition, and brain health and contribute to an overall feeling of good health.
Avoid alcohol and drugs: These substances can impair our senses and adversely affect your brain.
The way forward
Brain fog can feel really uncomfortable, it can make us all feel spaced out. It can make it difficult to focus on tasks at hand, remember things, or pay attention to what’s going on. It can also be really distressing and disorientating for some of us, we don’t feel like ourselves.
Many people may experience the occasional bout of brain fog if they haven’t slept well, or they’re going through a tough time with their health. However, some health conditions may cause persistent brain fog. If you experience brain fog, try the tips above and if your brain fog persists, get yourself checked out by your Doctor. Take care x