photo credit: goossmurf
What is Brain Fog? Brain fog is a condition were you basically feel confused, forgetful, detached from your surroundings and you simply cannot concentrate. It is similar to depersonalization, but with a feeling of slow thinking. Don’t worry if you have experienced this mental cloud machine, your not dumb or slow. It is your fatigued mind slogging through the motions. Today I had a particularly nasty case of brain fog. I felt a dull ache around my head, I felt like I was thinking slowly, and I had a severe feeling of depersonalization. I sat down for work with this feeling and thought, “right, and I am supposed to sit here for eight hours”?
Well I did, and I began to feel better a few hours after starting work. I usually take 1200 mg fish oil tablets with a little bite to eat every morning ( I prefer the natural route) before I do anything. I had missed my fish oil supplement two days in a row. Was this why I felt mentally sluggish? Maybe, but what I do know is that I was very tired from the night before and coming off an awful anxiety episode from the previous weekend. Brain fog can affect you if you are fatigued, stressed, and lack a balanced diet or exercise. The first two are examples of what all anxiety disorders produce in people, so it isn’t surprising that I had a monumental brain freeze come Monday morning. Brain fog is disturbing and annoying at the same time. It’s like your trapped in your slow moving mind and are just waiting for the clouds to clear themselves so you can get on with your day. A couple of times during the day I was on the verge of an anxiety attack, but after all I am the Guru. I slowed my breathing and thought about pleasant things. I told myself that I was fine and that it would pass. This is exactly what I do with my more ‘typical’ anxiety symptoms. I just try to slow myself down and look for a calm spot in my mind and take deep breaths (through the nose out the mouth). Even when I don’t feel good at all, I can manage to keep myself calm enough to do what I need to do.
Remember that is the key to anxiety management and elimination. When you feel it coming on don’t start pacing around and agitating yourself. Take notice and accept that you don’t feel good and know that even though you feel bad anxiety itself will not harm you. Be as relaxed as you can be and let the anxiety run its course. If you do this you will gradually learn how to deal with it enough so that you can be in the middle of a nightclub (really) and not freak out. You of course will notice your discomfort, but you won’t have to stop your life while you cope.
I re-read this particular article about once a week right now. For the past few months, I’ve been dealing with some terrific migraines, anxiety, and brain fog. Since migraines can cause brain fog, and anxiety can cause brain fog, and anxiety can cause migraines, and migraines can cause anxiety…and on…I’ve been on a nasty merry-go-round ride between the three. But I’m REALLY focusing on calming myself, improving my eating and exercising, and thinking positively. You’ve helped tremendously with this, and my good days are getting more frequent.
It’s usually my blood sugar that causes me the most problems with brain fog. If I manage that (and I mean long term), it helps immensely!
I have a question… is it possible for anxiety (excessive anxiety lasting for months) to cause a state of brain fog that is pretty much 24/7?
For example, I’ve been dealing with my anxiety for the past 6 months now, and every day since it started I’ve felt “slow” and bogged down. Almost like I can’t process information like I normally could. In general, I have trouble comprehending large amounts of information and even paying attention is a chore. I feel stupid, in short.
It’s a vicious circle of depersonalization -> brain fog -> migraines -> brain fog -> confusion… it just never ends; I constantly feel this way. It’s not as bad as it was when it started (because I learned enough about it to calm myself), and I’ve learned to manage it better, but it’s still such a pain to deal with.
Is this possible/normal with anxiety?
Im dealing with brain fog for a very long time and i tried a lot of things and all i can say is that not even coffee helps at some point, but i take b12 vitamins + ginKo biloba + denubil with the coffee and that really boosts the morning and help me a lot to deal with the worst days, when i feel that its unbearable i cant even think i eat that elixyr and there i go.. at But that doesnt deal with the root of the problem.. its all i got i keep looking for a real fix..
@William, I would say it is possible, I have been dealing with anxiety for EVER and I am in a constant state of brain fog. You described it exactly how it feels for me too. I can’t retain info and I can’t pay attention. I feel really self centered actually because I just can’t focus on other people. Their words just fly in one ear and out the other. I am not a doctor obviously, but I can empathise with you.
I “contracted” brain fog after experimenting with marijuana when I was 13. I’ve never felt normal since, on occasion I nearly have panic attacks because I feel so weird and spaced out.
It is truly a debilitating illness and the frustrating thing is that you appear normal to other people and it’s impossible to describe the symptoms to them.
I wish there was a cure as I’ve lived with this for 19 years and I’m sick of it.
Anxiety and panic disorder can cause “brain fog”. I had it and I know it is a terrible feeling and you never know if you ever going to feel normal again. My suggestion is; try to relax and meditate. Progressive muscle relaxation exercises and meditations several times a day can retrain your brain to focus. You can read about this exercises over the internet and find music and instructions on you tube also. If your doc prescribes SSRI for anxiety or depression be very very careful with them, take the fourth amount of the lower dose for starter, it may trigger panic attack and or anxiety. Benzos like Xanax or Klonopin works for anxiety and it may also work for your brain fog (it did not work for me though). So try to stop worrying, try to relax, stop trying to explain your symptoms (most people have no idea what you mean). You will recover I know just learn to relax and focus your mind. Best of luck!
I’ve been dealing with this “Brain Fog” feeling along with alot of fatigue for over 4 years now and I feel it’s from being bored and depressed. Are their any natural options for this? I feel fish oils are great and amino acids.
I’m fine the first 2 hrs of the day and then it kicks in! Dam! A huge battle every day. I feel fine when I’m mentally busy but any idle time makes it worse.
It is always interesting to me to read about the brain! I wish that there would be more studies regarding the brain fog, like causes and cures!! It does seem to be a problem~for many people.
Thank you so much for this post! I never post on these things, but I felt the need to this time. I was looking everywhere for possible causes to my brain fog, but didn’t relate it to my anxiety until reading this. Hearing how you described your experience the weekend before and how it still affected you days later, helped me to realize I was dealing with the same issues. Thank you again Guru!
I’ve had this brain fog since my teen years, I’ve tried everything, but nothing seems to help. Even saw doctors and did tests which said there was nothing wrong. Lately, I also get fatigue, sleep issues, sore throat and cough as well. And it gets worse at night.
Here is the best way I can describe my anxiety / brain fog. I wake up I feel as though my brain is instantly on. So filled with thoughts it auctllly gives me a headache. Then starts the anxiety before work and how I do not want to go and how am I going to make it through the day. Then finally after I arrive at work and start instant brain fog. The I leave work and I am driving in my car still thinking anxious thoughts and cannot focus because I become worried about why the brain fog is so bad. Then sets in a serious anxiety attack witch leads me to my phone on Google trying to find answers of what could potentially be wrong with my brain!! Its a vicious cycle.
I feel like I want to cry because I have had no idea why this is happening to me for the last 15 years.I share all of your symptoms and I’m going to be tested for fibromyalgia,lupus,ALS and MS next week.I’m just glad to know I’m not alone,I almost killed myself over this brain fog.
I’m also a sufferer of brain fog! I’m even finding it difficult to concentrate properly whilst writing this post. I had to leave my job as a junior accounts assistant as I was making too many errors and found it difficult to learn new things. I used to be such a quick learner but these days I just feel stupid like I have no intelligence! It’s getting to the point where my memory is such a blur that I can’t even remember what I had for breakfast when it comes to the end of each day. I’ve also started feeling suicidal because I feel like this is going to ruin my accountancy career or any career that involves minor problem solving skills. I’m so scared (which makes the brain fog worsen). Please someone help me!!
do not kill yourself, you are meant to live, that is why your heart is still beating. Yes it can be frustrating not being able to control your mind and body as you once did but life is not meant to be ended by the liver of the life. Keep busy, do everything as normally as you can. it is discouraging and suicide can linger in the deep cortex of the mind but do not do it, live , enjoy each breathe even if you feel detached and unsure of where life is headed. maybe you cannot earn as much as you would want to or do all that you want but patience is key. life changes but we do not have to stop living
I got a really bad case of this today. I suffer from anxiety and some days I can function a lot better then others. Today I felt tired and no matter what I did I felt unable to concentrate. I was shown how to do something new at work by someone and she was telling me what to do but I was feeling really anxious about typing in front her. Even though she was just showing me a new roll, I felt like she was judging me on how quick I was at it or how well I could do the roll. I started to hit the wrong keys and get flustered and everything she was telling me to do I felt like my reactions were just slow I felt like my brain took a few minutes to process everything she said. I found I felt really light headed almost detached. I was just staring at the computer screen feeling myself go in to a complete trance. I felt panicked and extremely over tired, fatigued and just nervous and the feeling didn’t go away until about 25 minutes after she had walked away from showing me what to do.I just felt this uncontrollable tiredness and anxiety just overwhelm me. Can anyone give me any advice on how to overcome this? Because it was just awful.
My son is 16 and I think he might have brain fog. He calls this episodic thing he has “the weird feeling” and describes it as feeling out of it and not able to concentrate. He stays in bed all day and sleeps a lot when he has it. Because it isn’t a daily thing and occurs every couple of months I thought he was just growing. But now I’m quite concerned as he’s going into year 11 next year and is missing a lot of school from this. I don’t think it’s depression as he says he has the desire to do something but just not the concentration. The doctor suggested add? Any help would be greatly valued.
I have brain fog(not to much severe) .as i am a student its hard to cope with this .the brain fog started after 6 months of severe depression ,anxity,suicidal thoughts.first i think it is a brain tumor as i get muscle jerkes also .but than i notice my hair start to fall (not look like genetic) .maybe i have some vitamin D difficincy.i have have health anxity since i was a kid.i dont have any sever headqes .but my head hurt after a long trip or attending a exam .i get mild heaqes sometimes but it dont last long.i am horrified that it could be a brain tumor .i started getting muscle jerking at the same time i start to thining my haires.i notice that i get more muscle jerkings in that days when i was anxious . Plz somebody help me
I didnt realize i had brain fog until i had a mini breakdown in my early 20s and secluded myself from my friends and family. During this breakdown i did a lot of back tracking as far back as middle school and realized that everyone around me knew something was wrong/off. At first i tried to blame my friends by ignoring them for not helping me more and then i became embarresed of my inteligence because i had all theses signs in front of me and i didnt even realize it…then the muscle jerking began if i was in a situation when my anxiety would spike, it mostly felt like everybody was on the same page but me
Hello to all of you – I know well brain fog. In my case I’ve noticed every Mid-spring from the end of summer, something happens to me and in one moment day shift – I change instantly from almost 180° Of my other fun and true nature. Now being a grown-up adult – I finally associated with anxiety…. before I thought it was depression. It really Makes me mentally slow, Empty and have difficulty to function properly and many pheres of my life. I cannot deal with my employees problem anymore, friendly acquaintances and light friendship ( never was able to make True friends) very hard for me to connect with them when I am in this type state of mind which lasts in between 5 to 6 months a year. I share my life with an older mate, which were quite active. I’m protected from the shadow of his strong presence. Plus- i’m fortunate to have his true affection and attention . Very helpful !!!
Now I started to take medication only when I socially engaging with people I know well – MEDS ; family of activan. Most of the time help me very much – does not bring back my spontaneous self or my unique humour.
Eventually, if the universe allows me I would like to help people like me find better ways to cope, sometimes have temporary jobs to go true the crisis ( I believe manual jobs is ideal – it is better than mental jobs). Techniques and hopefully advance medication… Would be great by injection.
Look into Energy healing T.A.T. …. discovered this less than a year. Quite fascinating !!!
I would love to hear from some of you Who are seasonal like me !?