Brain fog isn’t a scientific term. It’s a word used to describe certain symptoms that can have an impact on cognitive functioning. Symptoms are often linked to an underlying ailment or a habit that drains energy. Despite the fact that there is no single cause, it is crucial to know what symptoms you may be experiencing.
Symptoms of Brain Fog
Difficulty staying focused and being quickly distracted are prominent signs of “brain fog.” Symptoms like headaches, nausea, and blurry vision are possible in more severe cases.
Causes
There are a number of possible causes of brain fog including:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Hormonal changes
- Impaired sleep
- Allergies
- Inflammation
- Poor diet
- Acute and chronic disease
- Chronic stress
- Lack of movement
- Overload of toxins
Anxiety and Brain Fog
As a starting point, the list above provides an overview of how different ailments affect our cognitive abilities. Anxiety and brain fog go hand in hand. Our executive processes, such as forming plans, making decisions, and solving problems, are controlled by the prefrontal cortex in our brains.
Despite the fact that we can take particular steps to improve our chances of waking up with a “fully charged” mind, we nevertheless have a limited amount of brain capacity to work with each day.
It’s a waste of time and energy to ruminate and worry when we may be using our valuable reserves to make better decisions. Anxiety is a drain on your energy; it doesn’t care what else you have planned for the day. Anxious thoughts sap our energy rapidly because they are fueled by stress.
Imbalance of Hormones in Women
Memory loss and brain fog can occur when progesterone and estrogen levels spike during your menstrual cycle, making it difficult to recall where you put your keys or other important items. In menopausal women, a decrease in estrogen can also lead to a loss of mental clarity. Additionally, a variety of hormones can have a negative effect on your mental abilities.
Cortisol, as well as serotonin and dopamine, are the most common hormones that can disrupt memory. You can become depressed and anxious if these hormones are out of balance and acting in harmony.
Autoimmune Conditions
People with certain autoimmune diseases, such as Lupus, MS, and arthritis, are more likely to suffer from brain fog than those who do not have these conditions. Autoimmune disease patients experience an inflammatory reaction when their bodies assault healthy cells.
It has been found that increased levels of inflammation in the body are associated with a decrease in cognitive performance, which results in more brain fog. Mental exhaustion might result from the body’s relentless assault on itself. Resting the body and getting enough sleep is important for a good night’s sleep, but getting a good night’s sleep can be challenging.
Migraines Affecting Your Decisions
Migraine symptoms, such as light sensitivity, head pain, and dizziness, are well-known to most people. Co-occurring symptoms such as brain fog can persist for several days after the migraine has faded. During a migraine, going “offline” could seem like a better alternative than dealing with the continual pain. As a result, it can be difficult to carry out everyday chores, such as driving a car.
Because driving safely necessitates having a good sense of direction, alertness, and short-term memory, it’s critical to understand how brain fog affects you personally. By knowing what to expect, you can be proactive in your defense and make wise decisions.
Reducing Brain Fog with Sleep and Nutrition
Getting a good night’s sleep is the key to ensuring that our brains are ready to take on the day. Before you go to sleep, disconnecting from technological devices helps the brain relax and prepare for a good night’s rest. Using mild yellow or orange light in the evening delivers a message to the brain that it’s time to go to sleep. Getting at least eight to ten uninterrupted hours of sleep is ideal.
You can also try a brain fog diet, which includes foods that reduce inflammation. Eating a balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables, lean protein, and healthy fats helps reduce inflammation, which can lead to decreased anxiety and brain fog.
We need more coffee and sugar to get through the day when we eat a lot of processed foods, and when it’s time to sleep, our bodies and brains go to war. Even if our bodies and minds are ready for sleep, we’re still wired up. Foods that include artificial sweeteners and gluten should be eliminated or reduced.
Leafy greens, fruit, and nuts like nut butter are better options than sugary snacks like candy.
Supplements to Improve Your Mental Health
- Golden Root: It has been used for hundreds of years to alleviate mental and physical exhaustion and to boost endurance.
- Ashwagandha: Adaptogenic plant that is related to peppers. One of the most treasured and frequently used Ayurvedic herbs, it has a long, 4,000-year history of traditional use. Ashwagandha’s potential to improve physical and mental health relies heavily on its withanolides, which are an important part of the plant.
- 5-HTP and L-Tyrosine: Serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine are all neurotransmitters that play an important role in maintaining a positive view on life. Endocrine and brain activity control, as well as sleep/wake cycles, are all affected by these neurotransmitters. L-tyrosine has also been shown to improve cognitive performance and memory under stressful situations, according to research.
