What Is Brain Fog? Discover The Causes and Symptoms
What is Brain fog? Brain fog (also known as cognitive dysfunction) is an interesting condition that affects both genders of all ages.
Brain fog is characterized by states of confusion or a decreased level of clarity. Simply put, a condition that can cause forgetfulness and trouble concentration on some task.
How brain fog is related to depression and anxiety
Feelings of depersonalization (brain fog) may produce frustration and anxiety if one is not fully aware of the correct approach to eliminate this stubborn anxiety symptom permanently.
By utilizing the proper steps towards recovery, you can not only extinguish the intrusive symptoms but ensure a full and permanent solution to this problem.
It is important to enforce a definite routine and schedule on a daily basis to boost progress when overcoming anxiety and depression related depersonalization (brain fog).
Once you begin to take responsibility for your recovery, you are no longer a victim.
Understanding is an important part of recovery and knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that depersonalization is the product of a fatigued mind, due to constant fearful worry, is the first step.
When one indulges in the strong habit of inward thinking, thoughts begin to cycle in a very unproductive manner. This only further exhausts an already tired mind.
Thoughts come at a slower pace, and focus is hampered. Merely reading a book becomes difficult and an overwhelming tiredness replaces one's normal energy levels. Anxiety also enters the picture out of frustration.
It's important also to remember that one is not tired due to lack of sleep but due to the constant habit of inward thinking that begins the moment they open their eyes in the morning.
One may become so adept at this habit that they can do chores and worry simultaneously, only leading to further exhaustion.
They are thinking deeply as if studying a book, only this time they are studying themselves in a continuous and intensive manner.
In essence, you are retraining a worried, fearful mind and breaking the habit that tires it into feelings of depersonalization (brain fog), which also produces increased anxiety.
By learning to refresh the mind, along with the correct food plan and thinking habits, you will succeed in clearing away brain fog and once again experience full clarity in thinking and living.
There are no medications to bring forth this recovery because you are not ill. This stubborn anxiety habit will respond well when it is approached correctly and followed in a very specific manner.
You will be pleasantly surprised to note the dramatic change in the way you feel and react once this method of recovery is applied.
Learning to retrain the brain through behavioral modification and application of the proper nutrition/diet plan, will ensure a swift and permanent recovery, without the fear of future recurrence.
What are the symptoms of brain fog
Brain fog sufferers have remarkably similar symptoms to attention deficit disorder and non-hyperactive ADHD, which include:
- Lack of mental clarity
- Have trouble paying attention
- Memory problems
- Trouble speaking clearly
- Difficulty concentrating
- Easily distracted
- Loses train of thought
- Difficulty following instructions and directions
- Sleep disorders
Just as with attention deficit disorder and ADHD, fibromyalgia may be diagnosed in childhood, although in each of these conditions, symptoms may not really display until adulthood.
What causes brain fog
Brain fog can be the result of exhaustion, dehydration, stress, pregnancy, depression, nutrient deficiencies, depression or a reaction to chemotherapy. It could be from low blood sugar, anemia, metal toxicity, or a serious medical situation such as fibromyalgia, Alzheimer's, cancer, or brain injury.
If you have constant or increasing symptoms, it's wise to check with your doctor to rule out that second group. Most often, for most of us, brain fog is intermittent and the result of stress.
There are a few conceivable reasons for brain fog. The first and likely the most widely recognized is depression. Exercise is one of the ideal approaches to battle depression. Eating right, resting soundly and exercise are other awesome approaches to simplicity depression side effects.
Depression can't generally be cured normally, and recollect that depression is brought on by a compound awkwardness. Many swear by normal remedies in any case, and exercise is absolutely the best place to begin.
Stress is another basic reason for brain fog. Stress can over fortify the brain and cause a wide range of issue with focus and memory.
Bringing down stress levels is not generally simple, but rather there are a few approaches to doing it. Getting a decent night of rest, eating healthfully and even yoga are all great spots to start.
Not only is stress a major cause of intermittent brain fog, it is also a contributing factor in all the conditions above. When your body is under stress not only is your mental function compromised, but so is your digestion, your immune response, and your ability to detoxify, repair, and regenerate on a cellular level.
Nutrient deficiencies are another issue that can bring down brain capacity and prompt brain fog. Eating effectively the most vital thing you can do, yet at times it is insufficient. Supplements, for example, B-vitamins, zinc and omega 3's can be taken for this issue. Remember that it might take supplements a little while to develop in your system.
Exhaustion can likewise prompt brain fog. The absence of rest can wreck ruin at the forefront of your thoughts and also your body. Getting enough rest is the ideal approach to keep this condition. That is significantly less demanding said than done!
Maintaining a strategic distance from stimulated beverages at night is a decent begin. It is additionally a smart thought to continue evening exercises as quiet as could be allowed. Restricting diversions from the TV or PC can likewise help increment your nature of rest.
There can be other restorative conditions that prompt brain fog. These conditions incorporate fibromyalgia, menopause, and mercury harming. Treating these conditions will frequently bring about a change in memory and concentration.
Overall you can presumably observe an example, eating right, resting soundly and exercise will improve your feeling both mentally and physically.
Getting Rid of Brain Fog
Fortunately, there is a series of easy steps that will certainly improve your overall health, and reduce the feeling of mental fogginess.
Below are five suggestions that will helpfully allow you to stay sharp all day long and aid you in your quest to eliminate brain fog:
Sleep deprivation, if severe enough, will certainly lead to brain fog. Even minor alterations to your sleeping patterns may impair your ability to focus. You may find it difficult to concentrate, and you may be not as sharp as you can be.
Fortunately, the opposite is also equally true. Regaining control over your sleeping habits (by making sure you sleep enough hours per day without interruption) will certainly improve your cognitive capabilities.
The reason why is simple enough: mental, emotional and physical recovery occurs mainly during sleep. Both your brain and immune system are affected when the natural recovery processes that occur at night are altered or suppressed.
For instance, take into account, that experiments with lab animals have shown that sleep deprivation can even cause death. Quality sleep is not a luxury, but a biological need that should be on top of your priorities. Recent studies have demonstrated that memories and procedural learning are consolidated during the REM phase of sleep.
If you are experiencing a hard time recalling words or facts or failing to perform certain tasks with enough speed and accuracy, you will benefit from longer periods in the arms of Morpheus.
Along with sleeping, you must try your best to keep worries at bay. Chronic stress is a major factor in almost all autoimmune conditions, due to constant release of the anti-inflammatory hormone cortisol.
By taking control over your state of mind, you will limit the negative emotions that translate into physical illness and foggy consciousness. Otherwise, you will be at higher risk of suffering depression, anxiety, insomnia and other conditions, that will, in turn, cause more problems and worsen your brain fog.
Among other things, you may try breathing exercises that are incorporated into activities such as Yoga and meditation. Correct breathing habits enable better blood circulation, boosting your levels of energy and the performance of your muscles.
Healthy breathing also helps to mobilize your cerebrospinal fluid. This will aid in the removal of waste products from the central nervous system. Also, this doing more oxygen to your cells, enhancing their metabolic function.
By learning how to relax, you will be taking better care of yourself. In turn, you may get rid of brain fog and will certainly reap many other health benefits.
3. Eat Well
The quality, quantity, and frequency in which we feed ourselves will determine how we feel and think. We are, quite literally, what we eat. Nutrition affects all the systems in your body, but especially the brain.
Bad eating habits put you at an increased risk of high cholesterol, hypertension, obesity, etc. Eating a nutrient-dense diet will help you to keep your energy levels up all day long, and ensure you maintain your vitality as high as possible.
You may also want to lower the glycemic index of your food choices. You can achieve this by focusing on whole fresh foods, eating lots of fruits and vegetables, and include enough sources of fiber to keep a healthy gut. A healthy diet will certainly play a key role in helping you get rid of brain fog.
Exercise is necessary to stay fit and healthy. High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), such as sprinting, is especially advisable as a brain fog treatment. It helps the body release more lactate, which in turn reduces the risk of hypoglycemia.
Another excellent exercise is weightlifting. By nature, the breathing and techniques associated with weight lifting are very cathartic.
Yoga, as said, is also a good option, to improve not only your breathing habits but also your body posture, which also has a big impact on your overall health and mental capabilities.
5. Get Out in The Sunshine!
Adequate exposure to natural sun-rays contributes positively to your overall health. A shot of sunshine will help promote healthy bones and teeth, sound sleeping patterns, and promotes the production of vitamin D. About fifteen to forty minutes per day should be more than enough. No sunburns now!
6.Exercise Your Mind
Among the reasons why brain fog happens is because it is not employed as frequently as it should be employed. There are surveys as a matter of the fact that back this. People who answer crossword puzzles, play strategic games and work even when they are old are not as likely to have Alzheimer's.
The use of the brain is a preventive step for the attack of forgetfulness during old age. An excellent game that betters the brain is 'Memory'. This game can be played by as many as four people. The aim is to match the most cards. If the cards are not matched, you turn them back over, but you must memorize where the cards are in case the objects turn up again.
Scrabble is a challenging game that tests your word skills. You have to make the highest scoring word possible using the available letter tiles. For those who like numbers, Sudoku is a popular number logic game that tests logic.
All the steps to get rid of brain fog listed above will significantly improve your overall health, and definitely, help you recover your peak mental capabilities.
Remember, sleep, relax, eat well, exercise, be active and find some time to sunbathe and enjoy the outdoors. Enjoy, de-stress, and your mental fogginess will gradually disappear.
It's essential to understand that foods reflect how we feel and this is especially true for those who struggle with brain fog (depersonalization) and other anxiety reactions. Some foods fuel the system and help maintain stable serotonin and blood sugar levels.
This leads to a keen sense of well-being. Other foods do the exact opposite and often trigger anxiety, panic attacks, feelings of brain fog and even phobic reactions. This is why it is important to learn which foods will work for you and which foods to avoid if you suffer from anxiety reactions.
Foods to Avoid
Sugar will temporarily induce pleasant sensations in the brain and body, but within a short period these feelings will subside and crash, leaving the individual feeling foggy, anxious, irritable, hungry and lethargic.
Anyone who has ever struggled with anxiety or brain fog will notice that sugar is their number one enemy. It will also disrupt sleep patterns and exacerbate feelings of OCD and Panic Attacks.
Giving up the excess use of sugar provides one with such dramatic relief that this in itself proves out the fact that sugar is detrimental to anyone suffering from feelings of brain fog and anxiety.
Remember, that chemical sugar substitutes are equally as detrimental.
Alcohol is known to many as "liquid sugar" since it is rated highest number on the glycemic index.
It will temporarily lift one's spirits, but a steep price is paid for this for this fleeting illusion. Alcohol also affects one's blood sugar levels, sense of well-being, serotonin levels and results in feelings of intense brain fog, anxiety, sleep interruption, irritability and inability to maintain stable blood sugar levels the day after imbibing.
One often experiences spikes and drops in blood sugar levels the following day as the body tries to restore stable blood sugar levels. This produces discomfort and enhanced brain fog along with a plethora of anxiety symptoms for anyone who has experienced this effect.
Unfortunately, caffeine, found in a multitude of substances, is a very difficult chemical to endure if one is sensitive to brain fog and anxiety reactions. It speeds up metabolism, increases heart rate, creates irritability, enhances anxiety reactions and is found in many foods we normally eat.
Yes, we all know that coffee and tea contain caffeine and substituting these drinks with decaffeinated versions is essential, but there are some decaffeinated brands that still have a degree of caffeine within.
Certain coffee shops that offer decaffeinated substitutes have had their decaf tested, and some still rate high on the caffeine chart.
Your best proof is the way you feel after using these brands. Believe me; your body will alert you. Also, herbal teas, for the most part, are caffeine free, but many are not.
Check out your green teas and make sure you are selecting the one's that are decaffeinated since even small dosages of caffeine will have an effect on a sensitized body.
Chocolates also carry a caffeine load, some more than others. Avoid dark chocolates as they are higher in caffeine though they are proven to increase your dopamine levels.
4. Certain Food Additives:
They not only create problems with brain fog and anxiety but also upset the stomach and add to IBS symptoms as well, even if you've never experienced IBS in the past. They are best avoided because they have zero benefits to those with brain fog or anxiety.
5. Low-Fat Products:
Whenever you see "Low Fat" on labels you will know the fat has been replaced with SUGAR. This is easily recognized by reading the labels of all low-fat foods.
Do not be fooled by "low fat" claims because the sugar which replaces the fat will do a good job of adding fat to the body and in some cases more so than the original fat.
6. Healthy Juices:
Juices are delicious and often provide high levels of Vitamins, essential for good health, especially Vitamin C. This is why I'm not stating to avoid juices altogether but instead suggesting to add water to your 100% breakfast juice and by doing so will avoid the huge sugar rush connected with this product. You will still reap the benefits of the juice without the side effects of too much sugar.
7. Healthy Snacks:
Read labels carefully. Most of these "healthy snacks contain far more sugar and chemical products than you want to ingest.
For years people were eating products such as low-fat granola bars and rice cakes, believing they would maintain a good figure and feel healthy as well. Not true. Their blood sugar levels soared and so did their feelings of brain fog and panic episodes.
There are so many "clean" foods that one is able to obtain which help maintain a healthy mind and body. Also, learning how to use proteins to produce balanced and stable blood sugar levels is essential.
One is able to choose the way they wish to feel once they learn the basics of good eating, especially for feelings of brain fog and the anxiety condition.
Shop smart by steering your cart to the peripheral of the market. This is where all the fresh foods are placed. Avoid those center aisles filled with processed and refined foods.
Eating correctly, in conjunction with learning how to think correctly, will allow you the benefit of eliminating all sensations of brain fog and anxiety reactions.Take the time to learn which foods work for you. It is well worth the effort because you deserve to feel your best.
It is your choice, and by doing so, you can create a clear mind and body that remains calm and relaxed. It is always your choice, so take responsibility for your good health by learning the natural path to an increased sense of well-being.
Supplements and vitamins for brain fog cure
Many people experience memory loss or "brain fog" as a result of hypothyroidism, Alzheimer's disease, a recent stroke, or simply old age.
However, there are things that you can do and minerals and supplements that you can take to prolong your mental acuity.
1.Take A Multivitamin Daily
This is a good lifelong habit to get into. Taking a multivitamin ensures you are getting enough of all the nutrients your body needs to function at its prime performance level.
Yes, a balanced diet is a better source for all the necessary vitamins and nutrients, but life is sometimes hectic, and practically no one eats perfectly. And that is true, especially when you are in a tearing hurry to get through the day's work.
Some of the regular supplements that you must include in your daily diet involve:
B vitamins that help keep your mind sharp include B6, B12, and folic acid (B9). These vital minerals are naturally found in dark leafy greens like spinach, kale, collards, as well as broccoli, asparagus, strawberries, black beans, soybeans, and melons. You can also add B vitamins to your diet by taking vitamin supplements.
B vitamins are good memory supplements because they increase the amount of oxygen that is carried to the head by aiding in red blood cell production.
They also break down an amino acid called homocysteine which is toxic to nerve cells, thus creating a protective shield for the neurons in mind.
Nutrients C, E, and beta-carotene are considered antioxidants and are responsible for breaking down toxic forms of the oxygen molecule that are found naturally in the blood stream.
By doing so, antioxidants protect brain tissue and keep neurons in the head functioning optimally. Antioxidants are found in berries, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, spinach, broccoli, nuts, and some citrus fruits.
4.Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids
These fatty acids are found in cold-water fish like tuna, salmon, halibut, and herring as well as walnuts and flaxseed oil. These fats help improve the brain function by protecting the head against inflammation and high cholesterol.
The leaves of the Ginkgo Biloba tree are harvested and processed into additives that can be taken to improve memory and brain function. Ginkgo biloba improves circulation of blood throughout the body and head by inhibiting a blood compound that encourages clotting.
It also strengthens and rebuilds capillaries which prevent and may even reverse structural damage around the brain. This makes it especially effective when treating patients that suffer from memory loss due to stroke or decreased blood flow to the head. Ginkgo may also postpone the onset of Alzheimer's disease.
In addition to eating a well-balanced diet and taking nutrients and additives, it is important to stay active in order to keep your mind sharp. Be sure to get plenty of regular physical exercise, stay cognitively active by doing crossword puzzles or engaging in problem-solving activities, reduce stress in all aspects of your life.
And be sure to talk to your doctor about all health concerns including brain fog, recollection loss or stagnation. When you do this in combination with taking memory supplements, you are helping your mind to function properly for an entire lifetime.