This sensation may be related to lifestyle or some diseases.
Have you ever heard of “mental fog”, from the English “brain fog”? This term is used to describe a wide range of cognitive difficulties, including problems with concentration, memory, processing (thinking) speed, and mental clarity.
Unlike normal mental fatigue, which is a temporary tiredness due to overuse of cognitive abilities, brain fog appears more persistent and can occur even without great mental effort.
The name, a reference to the fog that prevents people from seeing clearly, causes a feeling of dispersion that makes it difficult to concentrate. Your thoughts become confused and carrying out simple tasks often feels like an effort, which can lead to mistakes at work or forgetting scheduled appointments, for example.
Sleep or stress
Lack of sleep is a big culprit, but there are many reasons why brain fog can appear. Some medical and mental health conditions may be involved, but often these are everyday things like stress, dehydration, or a poor diet.
Even spending a lot of time looking at your phone can leave you with this feeling of “not being there.” If you feel like you’re stuck in a fog, understanding the cause is essential so you can find ways to clear your mind.
Lifestyle changes
Making some simple lifestyle changes can be a good start in trying to overcome the problem. Improving sleep, following a balanced diet, moving regularly and finding ways to relax are fundamental attitudes.
If fog persists even after these changes, it’s time to talk to your doctor. He or she can identify the problem and recommend an appropriate treatment to help you clear your mind.
How the symptom is described
“People who experience brain fog often describe it as feeling ‘confused,’ ‘mentally out of it’ or ‘confused,’ with symptoms such as forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating, slow thinking and confusion,” explains psychiatrist Simon Faynboym of Neuro Wellness Spa, USA.
While it is often characterized by tiredness or forgetfulness, it is much more than that. Researchers sometimes call it slow cognitive pace.
We’ve all experienced that feeling of extreme tiredness and cluttered mind after a long day. Brain fog is similar, but typically seems much more persistent. It’s not a diagnosable condition, but it could be a sign of something deeper.
When you are in this mental fog, you may feel:
• Forgetful and always loses things
• Slow and low energy, as if “running on 1% battery”
• Blurred and confusing
• Distracted
• Confused
• Missing
• Disconnected, as if your brain is in “airplane mode”
• Hang up in the middle of a conversation
• As if your thoughts are “loading” non-stop
• Struggling to form coherent thoughts
• Have constant “blank spaces” (“Wait, what was I saying?”)
What causes brain fog?
The sensation can arise for a variety of reasons (and sometimes it can be a combination of factors). Medical conditions and diseases may play a role. However, lifestyle factors such as sleep (or lack thereof) can also seriously interfere with your ability to think clearly.
Triggers that can be readily addressed include lack of sleep and drops in blood sugar due to missing a meal. However, hypoglycemia can also result from undiagnosed or poorly controlled diabetes.
Medical conditions
Some common culprits that can leave you disoriented include:
– Thyroid disorders
– Lupus
– Multiple sclerosis
– Rheumatoid arthritis
– Diabetes
– Low blood sugar level
– Mental health conditions (such as anxiety and depression)
– Viral infections, including Covid-19
Treatments for medical conditions can also affect mental clarity and energy levels. Some medications, for example, can make you feel groggy and confused. Research has also found that chemotherapy can lead to brain fog, known as “chemo brain.”
If your mental confusion is persistent and linked to other symptoms, see your doctor to find out if they might be related.
Post-illness effects
Being ill can have long-term effects, so it’s quite normal to feel a little “off” even after recovering from an illness. The flu, Covid-19, or even a bad cold can make you feel like your brain is still trying to recover.
While you may feel like getting back to your normal pace, sometimes it’s best to take it slow and give yourself time to fully recover.
Hormonal changes
Hormonal factors can also affect how clear or foggy your mind is. Therefore, brain fog can also appear during pregnancy or menopause.
If you’ve ever had PMS, been pregnant, given birth, or gone through menopause, you know how difficult these hormonal changes can be. They can make it harder to concentrate and compromise mental clarity.
Other possible factors
Your mental health can also contribute to mental confusion. Stress, anxiety, and depression can also lead to brain fog, lack of concentration, and cognitive problems typical of brain fog. Additionally, the sensation also makes it more difficult to deal with feelings of anxiety and depression.
Other factors that can contribute to brain fog include: aging, substance use, and ADHD.
Diagnosis and treatment
Brain fog is not a recognized mental health condition, but a symptom of something else going on with your health. Figuring out what is causing this is like putting together a puzzle. Your doctor will ask you questions about your symptoms, including when they started, how long they last, and how they affect your daily life.
He or she will also ask questions about any recent illnesses or stresses, medications you are taking, and your eating and sleeping habits.
He or she may order some lab tests to rule out nutritional deficiencies, thyroid problems, or hormonal imbalances that may be contributing to your symptoms. Treating these conditions will reduce the feeling of mental confusion.
Psychotherapy and medication may also be necessary if you have mental health problems.
If the cause of brain fog is lifestyle-related, the suggestion would probably be to try to sleep better, eat a balanced diet, look for ways to manage stress, and so on.
Useful strategies
Regardless of the cause, some strategies can be helpful in improving your well-being despite mental confusion, such as:
- Write down what needs to be done and use lists
- Say out loud what you need to do
- Have self-compassion and adjust your expectations on the toughest days.
Sources: WebMD, VeryWellMind
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
