Brain fog is a very common and may not seem like a serious condition—for many it’s not—but being aware of the causes of brain fog can go a long way in eliminating it.

Common symptoms of brain fog include:

• Inability to focus
• Inability to process information
• Decreased problem-solving
• Memory issues
• Confusion and disorientation
• Verbal communication issues
• Spatial processing issues

You may also experience:

• Physical and mental exhaustion
• Lack of motivation
• Difficulty getting your thoughts together
• Difficulty communicating your thoughts verbally

What Causes Brain Fog?

Stress: One of the leading causes of brain fog is chronic stress.  Stress causes increased blood pressure, weakens the immune system and triggers symptoms of anxiety and depression.  It also causes mental fatigue and brain fog.  Last week’s BrainTap blog featured healthy ways to move from stressed to serene.

Lack of Sleep. If you’re not getting good quality sleep, your brain can’t function properly, which could lead to cloudy thinking and judgment. 

Hormones. Many women who are pregnant—pregnancy brain anyone?—or in menopause can experience lack of mental clarity and forgetfulness as a result of fluctuating hormone levels. 

Medication.  If you’ve recently been put on a new medication and find yourself experiencing an inability to focus, you should speak to your doctor.  Your dosage may need to be adjusted or you may need a different medication. 

Diet.  Several food additives such as MSG and aspartame can cause memory issues, along with other health concerns.  Vitamin B12 deficiencies, peanuts and dairy are also known culprits.

Medical Issues. Certain medical conditions, such as chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, anemia, migraines, hypothyroidism, or blood glucose issues can have a direct effect on your brain’s performance.  Having these conditions under control is key to gaining clarity and eliminating brain fog.

Dehydration.  As little as a 2% deficit in hydration can contribute to memory issues.  Be sure to get at least eight glasses of water daily. 

Top 5 Best Practices For Better Focus:

• Figure out the source – is it temporary or long term? Can you do something about it?  Finding and fixing the root cause of your memory issues can help reduce and may even reverse the effects of brain fog.
• Make time for joy. When we’re bogged down by everyday life, our brains and bodies can become fatigued with the day to day.  Interjecting some fun into your life is a great way to increase endorphins and rejuvenate your mental state.
• Meditate. Meditation is a key tool in your arsenal of good health.  It can help you overcome the symptoms of chronic stress that slow your brain function down, relax you and help you gain clarity of thought.  It can also help you regulate unwanted emotions to prevent brain fog from occurring in the first place.
• Exercise. Physical activity helps improve sleep, circulation, and memory and clears out the cobwebs from the corners of your brain.
• Take a brain break. Taking a few minutes away from challenging daily tasks is a great way to reset the brain.  

When your brain feels foggy it’s trying to tell you to shake things up a little bit.  Employing a few of these tips will ensure that you stay sharp and focused every day along with our Super Patches..