How To Manage Brain Fog

Some Tips on Navigating Chronic Brain Fog When It Won't Seem To Leave

At some point or another in your life, I’m sure you’ve felt as if the world around you was moving in a blur, the amount of control you had over your movements and thoughts reduced to such meager levels that it could be embarrassing. You might have wondered if some part of you had broken and your ability to function as a normal, healthy human being was shutting down. Fortunately, that is probably not the case.

The answer to this dilemma is simply a condition known as brain fog, which commonly affects people who are not well rested or take certain types of medications that can cause grogginess. Brain fog isn’t something you need to stress too much about, seeing that it usually goes away after a couple days, but there are instances where the foggy feeling doesn’t dissipate. Instead, it lingers and causes turmoil in your ability to perform tasks well in your daily life, and you begin to wonder if there is any hope of ever feeling normal again.

If you’re one of the people who just can’t seem to shake the brain fog that has encompassed your life, don’t give up on finding a solution yet. There are many adjustments you can make in what you do that will aid in fighting chronic brain fog and help to manage its symptoms.

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Brain fog makes it difficult to concentrate on tasks and can be frustrating to deal with.

Common Causes Associated with Brain Fog

Where Does Brain Fog Come From?

Brain fog can be triggered by various factors in your life, and it is sometimes difficult to pinpoint the exact cause. When you don’t know why you’ve been dealing with a dizzy mental state, it’s best to start keeping track of your daily habits to find the root of the problem.

Sleep tends to be a big contributor to experiencing brain fog. If you get less rest than usual one night and you find yourself feeling fatigued and generally unwell the next day, then the problem likely lies with you not getting enough sleep. A simple solution to that scenario is making sure you work out a sleep schedule that’s good for your body.

Getting a sufficient amount of rest can help clear your head and prepare you for the next day.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Those who suffer from this condition experience extreme bouts of fatigue that don’t get better after several months of rest. Symptoms include feeling exhausted, forgetful, and unfocused for extended amounts of time.

Meniere’s Disease

This disorder affects the inner ear and it can lead to hearing loss and spells of vertigo. The pressure in your ear may cause disturbances in your brain functionality, which could result in brain fog.

Multiple Sclerosis

MS causes malfunctions within your central nervous system and makes it so the neurons are unable to communicate with other parts of your body effectively.

Depression

Having depression makes it difficult to retain information, so memory loss tends to be a prevalent issue. It can also impact your ability to make decisions and think rationally.

Tips On Managing Brain Fog

From A Medical Perspective

There are currently no approved treatments to cure the symptoms of brain fog, but the symptoms can become easier to manage and cognitive abilities can also be improved in people who suffer from chronic brain fog. No medications have been shown to specifically tackle the effects of brain fog, but some medicines used for other health issues offer relief in cognitive impairment.

One specific medication used to treat narcolepsy, modafinil, seems to improve memory in people who deal with brain fog. This medicine induces dopamine and noradrenaline in the body, giving you a boost of energy through making you feel more alert.

If the medical side of things doesn’t sound very promising to you, don’t worry. There are other steps you can take to tackle brain fog and get your life back on track.

Activities You Can Do at Home

Playing games to strengthen your mind, such as crossword puzzles
Try meditation to reduce stress
Not letting yourself get burnt out from work
Track what food does to your mood
Use planners and notifications to keep you on task
Avoid things that distract you

Meditation and yoga are great methods to promote mindfulness and reduce brain fog.

A Special Case

Effects of Covid-19

Exposure to the virus affects certain areas of the brain, mainly the cerebral cortex, and contributes to memory loss. Some brain cells are attacked and others suffer from a reduction in blood flow, harming the functionality of the organ. The level of immune molecules increases as a result of the virus attacking glial cells, which support neurons in the cerebral cortex. There is still much that is unclear concerning Covid-19’s effects on the brain, so finding a solution for this kind of brain fog is more challenging.

All Cleared Up

If you tend to experience brain fog on a regular basis, hopefully you are able to take away some information that will be helpful in aiding your management of the phenomenon. Chronic brain fog doesn’t have to be a losing battle, even if it does feel that way from time to time. Finding the root cause of what triggers brain fog for yourself is the most important step to take in confronting the issue.

Take this advice and implement it in a way that will be beneficial for you personally. Think about your lifestyle and what could be changed to improve your wellbeing. Lastly, don’t feel defeated if things don’t get better right away. The more you strive towards raising your quality of life, the better the payoff will be.

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