It’s a bit of a nebulous sounding term and not quite what you’d expect from a proper medical diagnosis, but “brain fog” certainly manages to accurately convey what it describes. You might know what brain fog feels like, but do you understand what causes it or how to manage its effects (https://longevity.technology/lifestyle/brain-fog-symptoms-causes-medication-remedies/)?
Even if you’ve never experienced brain fog yourself, you can probably imagine what it means. There’s a disconnection between your brain and your body. Your thoughts are slow and hazy. You can’t exactly remember where you’re going or what you want to do. The confusion and lack of clarity can make even the most routine of daily tasks seem almost impossible. Your emotions, whether joy or sadness, feel muted and there’s a distance between you and the rest of the world.
Brain fog isn’t a distinct condition in its own right. It’s more a symptom that could indicate many different things. Maybe you have a hormone imbalance, clinical depression or chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). In the modern world, it may be a sign of long covid. Perhaps you’re just stressed or haven’t had enough sleep. Depending on the cause, it may only be short-lived, or it could linger for a long time.
If you want to identify the underlying cause of brain fog, you need to consult a medical professional. If it’s hormonal, hormone replacement or suppression is relatively simple. For CFS or long covid, treatment is more elusive. In some cases, cognitive enhancers or stimulants (a first line treatment for ADHD) may help. Other medications, like antidepressants, have a more complicated relationship with brain fog. Sometimes they’re alleviating, but sometimes they can be part of the cause.
You can sometimes ease brain fog with lifestyle changes like dietary adjustments, doing more exercise or modifying your sleep habits. Again, though, these won’t work in all cases, and for something like CFS, they may only aggravate your symptoms even more. Perhaps unsurprisingly given the nature of the condition, the diagnosis and management of brain fog is often an uncertain business.
We may not be able to offer clear-cut definitions for brain fog or pathways to its treatment, but there’s no doubt that it can have a hugely debilitating effect, especially when it becomes chronic. Don’t dismiss it, and make sure you find a doctor who’s willing to take it seriously.
