What is brain fog?
Brain fog isn’t a medical condition itself, but rather a symptom of other medical conditions. It’s a type of cognitive dysfunction involving:
- memory problems
- lack of mental clarity
- poor concentration
- inability to focus
Some people also describe it as mental fatigue. Depending on the severity of brain fog, it can interfere with work or school. But it doesn’t have to be a permanent fixture in your life.
1. Stress
Chronic stress can increase blood pressure, weaken the immune system, and trigger depression. It can also cause mental fatigue. When your brain is exhausted, it becomes harder to think, reason, and focus.
2. Lack of sleep
Poor sleep quality can also interfere with how well your brain functions. Sleeping too little can lead to poor concentration and cloudy thoughts.
3. Hormonal changes
Hormonal changes can also trigger brain fog. Levels of the hormones progesterone and estrogen increase during pregnancy. This change can affect memory and cause short-term cognitive impairment.Similarly, a drop in estrogen level during menopause can cause forgetfulness, poor concentration, and cloudy thinking.
4. Diet
Diet can also play a role in brain fog. Vitamin B-12 supports healthy brain function, and a vitamin B-12 deficiency can bring about brain fog.If you have food allergies or sensitivities, brain fog may develop after eating certain foods. Possible culprits include:
- MSG
- aspartame
- peanuts
- dairy
Removing trigger foods from your diet may improve symptoms.
5. Medications
If you notice brain fog while taking medication, talk with your doctor. Brain fog may be a known side effect of the drug. Lowering your dosage or switching to another drug may improve your symptoms. Brain fog can also occur after cancer treatments. This is referred to as chemo brain.
6. Medical conditions
Medical conditions associated with inflammation, fatigue, or changes in blood glucose level can also cause mental fatigue. For example, brain fog is a symptom of chronic fatigue syndrome, which involves persistent fatigue for longer than six months.
People who have fibromyalgia may experience similar fogginess on a daily basis.
Other conditions that may cause brain fog include:
anemia
depression
diabetes
Sjögren syndrome
migraines
Alzheimer’s disease
hypothyroidism
autoimmune diseases such as lupus, arthritis, and multiple sclerosis
dehydration
What is the outlook for brain fog?
Brain fog can be frustrating, but relief is possible. Don’t ignore your symptoms. If left untreated, brain fog can impact the quality of your life. Once the underlying cause is addressed, you mental clarity can improve. DrainThat Pain is a holistic therapy available to the general public by appointment at Charlestown Hypnotherapy.
DrainThat Pain is Pain Elimination not Pain Management. It can be used for both Physical & Emotional pain. It is a powerful healing technique that uses conversational hypnosis and signals with the Unconscious, Conscious and Higher Self to facilitate change.
Craig Denny believes that there is no limit to the changes the client can make – DrainThatWhatever. DrainThatPain has been successfully used to let go of chronic pain, including arthritis, sciatica, chronic pain in all parts of the body, chronic anxiety, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, lupus, brain fog, migraines, trigeminal neuralgia, tinnitus and other switches including emotional pain, IBS and addictive substances.