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Your health care provider may also suggest making lifestyle changes to improve your overall health and energy. “We try to encourage cardiovascular exercise, a good diet, sleep and social activities that are known to be beneficial for the brain,” Dr. Hellmuth said. But because brain fog can present in so many different ways, and because it has so many different causes, the diagnostic tests have their limitations, she added. Once you communicate your cognitive symptoms to your doctor, they can put you on a path toward recovery.
At the very least, your doctor can perform tests to reassure you it’s not dementia. Since the start of the pandemic, you might have heard about COVID-19 brain fog. “Traditional brain fog is likely the result of other medical conditions whereas COVID-19 brain fog is direct mental fuzziness due to lingering effects of coronavirus on the brain,” says Dr. Hafeez. However, mental health conditions such as depression can cause brain fog to occur.
Stress management
This change can affect memory and cause short-term cognitive impairment. Chronic stress can increase blood pressure, weaken the immune system, and trigger depression, according to 2017 research. Depending on the severity of brain fog, it can interfere with work or school. But it does not have to be a permanent fixture in your life. Brain fog is a symptom that can be caused by stress, sleep changes, medications, and other factors.
Instead of diaphragmatic breathing (“belly breathing”), many post-concussive patients do more breathing from the chest. Sleep problems are a very common source of fatigue and brain fog. Some of our patients suffer from hypersomnia, meaning they sleep more than 12 hours per day but still feel tired during the day. Basically, any time that we experience physical pain, our brain is going to be more focused on that pain. The energy that the brain does have is going to be diverted from cognitive function to dealing with that pain.
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Lowering your dosage or switching to another drug may improve your symptoms. Nausea can be caused by improper breathing while exercising or at rest. Basically, incorrect breathing patterns (sometimes due to https://ecosoberhouse.com/oxford-house/ brain injury) lead to excessive amounts of carbon dioxide in the blood. The body can’t eliminate it as it should, resulting in nausea. People with sleep apnea stop breathing periodically during the night.
- “By minimizing those stretches of work time, you alleviate the stress on your brain.”
- Walking around your office, singing a song in your head and then getting back to your desk.
- It can be a sign that we are exhausted or becoming burnt out.
- Moderate anxiety has long been correlated with optimal performance.
- Unfortunately, the aftermath of depression and anxiety brain fog could lead to worse feelings about yourself and make it difficult to reach out for help.
Think of this threat response as the “gas pedal” of the nervous system. Just like other muscles in our body, our brain needs exercise. Even when it feels fatigued, a little push may be what it takes to get it moving again to regain its strength. I’m talking about puzzles, crosswords, memory and word-based games that require some level of problem-solving to wake your brain up. If you have cirrhosis, talk to a healthcare provider to find a treatment plan.
Building Productive Habits Through Conditional “If-Then” Logic
If you’re used to being on solid ground, your brain and your eyes are confused by these conflicting messages about the position of your body and the movement you’re experiencing. The areas of the brain that regulate our hormones are the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus. These can be damaged by a head injury, resulting in inadequate function.
Why does my brain feel jumbled?
Brain fog can happen for various reasons, including a medical condition, stress, poor diet, a lack of sleep, or the use of some medications. If symptoms result from a medical condition, they may improve with treatment.
Other diagnostic tools may include imaging tests to look inside the body, like X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or computerized tomography (CT) scans. Similarly, a drop in estrogen levels during menopause can cause forgetfulness, poor concentration, and cloudy thinking, according to 2019 research. If you are struggling to sleep, you will find a range of helpful guided mindfulness exercises in Session 9 of the Brain Food section or by downloading the Mindarma companion app.
Let’s take a look at the symptoms so you can make an accurate self-diagnosis. In the following sections, we’ll explore the symptoms, causes, and solutions for brain fog. You’re in the middle of an assignment or a conversation when, suddenly, your brain seems to short-circuit. Instead of feeling sharp, you feel like you’re walking through jello.
Why do I have a weird empty feeling in my brain?
Empty Feeling, feeling like your thoughts and emotions are empty and lifeless, is a common symptom of anxiety disorder, including anxiety and panic attacks, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
They can help you overcome depressive symptoms causing brain fog. A doctor will help you identify the cause of any brain health mush brain issues, but they’ll have to assess your symptoms first. Brain fog could indicate a more serious underlying condition.
How to Beat Brain Fog
These are a few recommendations our doctors and health coaches may have to help you get rid of brain fog. Brain fog can be a symptom of a nutrient deficiency, sleep disorder, bacterial overgrowth from overconsumption of sugar, depression, or even a thyroid condition. Other common brain fog causes include eating too much and too often, inactivity, not getting enough sleep, chronic stress, and a poor diet.
The severity and duration of your brain fog are usually linked to the severity of your initial infection. The more brutal your initial symptoms, the more time your body needs to recover. While working on a task, your mind might wander, or you might constantly gravitate toward your phone. Difficult tasks take more time because you can’t concentrate long enough to complete them. You might be tired and prone to confusion, while they might feel forgetful and unable to focus. Both can be considered cases of “brain fog,” even if they’re experienced differently.