Brain Fog: What It Is, Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

how to stop your brain from feeling like mush

Hospital emergency rooms are full of people who have made mushy-brained mistakes. In the waiting room you will find exhausted parents with dropped mush brain babies, exhausted chefs with sliced fingers and exhausted motorists with air-bag blackened eyes. If you need help, just hope your doctor isn’t at the end of an epic shift and feeling mushy-brained themself. Focusing on one challenge or responsibility at a time will help to clear the fog.

  • Brain fog is a temporary condition that can make it difficult for you to concentrate, recall or retain information, and complete tasks.
  • Talk with a doctor if you have a persistent lack of clarity that worsens or does not improve.
  • Dr. Krishnan also suggests taking mental breaks throughout the day to build up your mental capacity.

Is mental chatter bad for you?

Because ‚brain fog‘ is such a catch-all term, it follows that there can be countless possible causes. For instance, there is speculation that the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 might reach the brain and directly interfere with brain function. By harnessing technology and incorporating targeted interventions, we can enhance the brain’s natural intuitive functions, leading to improved attention, decision-making, and overall well-being. You should not ignore your symptoms because, if left untreated, brain fog can impact the quality of your life. For example, if you have anemia, iron supplements may increase your production of red blood cells and reduce your brain fog. You should let a doctor know about other symptoms you might have.

how to stop your brain from feeling like mush

Prioritize sleep

For example, early exposure to pollutants like cigarette smoke that cause inflammation can increase the risk of ADHD in young children. ADHD is a difference in the way the brain develops during childhood. The condition sometimes lasts into adulthood, though the symptoms can differ as you get older. When you can’t stop spiraling, take a walk outside, clean your home, work out, or switch activities.

how to stop your brain from feeling like mush

Check in on your physical needs

Poor sleep affects your ability to make decisions, solve problems, and control your emotions. And what’s more, experts say that sleep deprivation can increase your risk for chronic health problems such as high blood pressure, obesity, and heart disease. Research from 2015 has shown that exercise may relieve chronic pain and fatigue. But that’s not all — a 2021 study suggests it can also distract us from upsetting thoughts and a 2017 study notes that it can aid in emotional regulation after a stressful event. Instead of removing the “unhealthy” foods you regularly eat, start by making nutritious additions to your meals and snack times.

how to stop your brain from feeling like mush

  • By harnessing technology and incorporating targeted interventions, we can enhance the brain’s natural intuitive functions, leading to improved attention, decision-making, and overall well-being.
  • For example, if you have anemia, iron supplements may increase your production of red blood cells and reduce your brain fog.
  • Once the levels of alcohol in your body decrease, withdrawing from the substance can cause fatigue, headache, vertigo, hangxiety, and other symptoms of brain fog.
  • There isn’t a specific timeframe as to how long you’ll experience brain fog.
  • “You can’t stop thinking about a problem and the way you’re thinking about it isn’t improving the way that you actually feel and doesn’t allow you to move on with your life,” Kross says.

This is especially true in people with diabetes if their body creates too much insulin. Sometimes, you can even experience low blood sugar levels after having a meal. In a cytokine storm, your body floods your bloodstream with inflammatory proteins called cytokines. These cytokines help target the virus, or foreign body, that’s causing trouble. But this can also trigger an exaggerated immune system response in other areas of your body, like your brain, and lead to further inflammation. So, it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly what’s causing the brain fog — COVID-19 or these other closely related symptoms.

how to stop your brain from feeling like mush

Studying smarter, not harder

  • Mushy brain is a terribly common malady that all inhabitants of the 21st century need to be wary of.
  • Sleep is an immensely precious commodity that can do wonders for your brain and body, so don’t sacrifice it for phone scrolling, Netflix or anything else which isn’t incredibly important to you.
  • „A lot of things are not going to go back to the way they were. And so that causes grief and is a normal reaction to a big change.“
  • According to 2017 research, learning a second language in adulthood may strengthen white matter, which helps facilitate brain connectivity and communication between different brain regions.

Have you ever just lost your train of thought while you’re in the middle of an activity? Or maybe you’re caught up in conversation when suddenly you have trouble remembering that darn word or detail that just slipped out of reach. But if your thinking has been affected suddenly and gradually worsens so you have difficulty focusing or putting your thoughts into words, you may be experiencing what people call brain fog. If you feel chronically drained and have trouble reducing stress on your own, consider getting help from your healthcare provider.

You’re unmotivated, it’s difficult to remember important information, and your mind is taking every opportunity to drift. While mental exhaustion can affect anyone, students have a particularly high risk of it. When your brain is fried, it’s harder to retain and recall all that information you’ve spent hours studying. You might feel like you’re too busy to eat, but going hungry can lower your blood sugar and deprive you of cognitive energy. You probably don’t have any trouble recognizing when you’re physically exhausted.