What is brain fog

Some mental health conditions that may cause anxiety and brain fog include :. This also elevated their risk of brain fog. Chronic fatigue syndrome , which can cause a person to feel frequently exhausted, may cause both anxiety and brain fog.

Brain fog is a symptom, not a medical diagnosis. It can feel different to different people, and they might use the same term to refer to a range of symptoms. Some characteristics of brain fog include:. Since brain fog is a symptom rather than a medical diagnosis in itself, there is no specific treatment for it.

However, managing the anxiety, or the condition causing it, may help. Getting enough sleep, drinking plenty of water, and remaining nourished may also help reduce the risk of brain fog. This is especially helpful for people with anxiety that distracts them from self-care.

Some people find that specific self-care strategies may also help. These could include following a schedule, using a reminder app, or taking frequent breaks from whatever could be heightening anxiety. Learn more about treatments for anxiety here.

Occasional brain fog is normal, especially when a person can identify a clear cause, such as being tired, having a cold, or family stress. Numerous medical conditions can cause brain fog. It is important not to ignore this symptom, especially if it does not get better with home treatment. Learn more about other causes of brain fog here.

Brain fog may make completing simple tasks more difficult. This may lead to worsening anxiety due to missed deadlines and conflict with work or loved ones. A doctor may also be able to recommend self-care strategies. People who are concerned about their anxiety or brain fog should not delay seeking help, especially if the symptoms are severe. Depression can cause a range of symptoms, including cognitive changes known as brain fog.

These symptoms often occur during depressive episodes. Martial artists too show heightened cognitive function compared with controls.

Find what works for you, but any activity that you enjoy and that gets your heart pumping is likely to help clear that fuzzy-headed feeling. Dr Christian Jarrett is a cognitive neuroscientist, science writer and author.

He is the Deputy Editor of Psyche, the sister magazine to Aeon that illuminates the human condition through psychology, philosophy and the arts. Jarrett also created the British Psychological Society's Research Digest blog and was the first ever staff journalist on the Society's magazine, The Psychologist.

Home The Human Body What is brain fog? Whether you feel tired all the time, lack focus and mental clarity, or deal with mood changes, a thyroid disorder may be at the root of your symptoms. This butterfly-shaped gland at the front of your neck is responsible for producing and releasing hormones that control everything from metabolism and heart rate to breathing and menstrual cycles and are frequently linked to brain fog.

But whether your thyroid gland is producing too much thyroid hormone hyperthyroidism or too little thyroid hormone hypothyroidism , this could be causing your brain fog. Other symptoms of a thyroid disorder can include weight loss or gain, fatigue, muscle weakness and digestive issues.

If you think a thyroid issue may be at play, talk to your doctor about a thyroid test. Heavy metals are everywhere in our daily lives—our food, beauty products, and even teeth fillings. The most common sources of heavy metal exposure are arsenic, mercury, aluminum, lead, thallium, and cesium.

Testing levels of heavy metals in your blood is a good way to ensure your body is toxin-free, and regularly incorporating detox practices like heart-rate raising physical activity or weekly sauna sessions is a great start to keeping your levels under control and reducing any symptoms. At Parsley Health, we work with our members to get to the root cause of their issues and resolve brain fog for good. Your doctor will work with you to understand your complete health history, symptoms, and then order the appropriate lab work to test things like your thyroid function and heavy metal levels.

With this information, your doctor can craft a personalized health plan to address your brain fog and any other symptoms you may be experiencing. These are a few recommendations our doctors and health coaches may have to help you get rid of brain fog. Intermittent fasting is all the rage in the nutrition and weight loss world. Start with trying to extend the time between the last meal of the day and the first meal of the next day.

Shoot for 12 hours. This promotes a process called ketogenesis, which can stimulate brain regeneration. Work with a Parsley Health doctor and coach to leverage both the timing and contents of your meals for better mental focus.

Increased activity levels are clearly associated with sharper mental acuity , a better memory and an elevated mood. Exercise causes the release of helpful chemical messengers called cytokines as well as chemicals that are responsible for elation called endorphins. These chemicals bathe and rejuvenate the brain. Try to engage in some type of enjoyable movement every day. Walk, run or dance. Whatever floats your boat will surely also float your mood.

This typically backfires because cognitive abilities decrease with sleep deprivation. Sleep at least seven hours nightly, preferably eight or even nine when possible. The quality of your work will increase while the time it takes to produce such quality work will diminish.

Stress manifests as brain fog. In order to reduce stress, you need to flex your parasympathetic nervous system, which is engaged during rest and relaxation and helps to calm your body and your mind. You can do this by incorporating more meditation and yoga into your routine. Your brain is made up of a lot of fat and protein.