How to Cope with Brain Fog

Brain fog may arise from damage or dysfunction to one or more areas of the brain.

Brain fog is often used to describe cognitive dysfunction or poor mental skills arising from illnesses that affect the brain in a certain way. Common problems associated with brain fog include reduced verbal or math skills, poor memory, problems "thinking straight," disorientation, and even aphasia or difficulties in speech. The following remedies may help.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

1. Learn the limitations of your illness via your physician, health websites and online support groups. Even if your symptoms seem unique, try to find understanding persons to communicate your experience with.

2. 

   Organize your life and surroundings. The more tasks that accumulate and the more chaos exists in your surroundings, the worse brain fog seems to be. Reduce the distractions that clutter your thinking.

3. Develop routines to become more efficient. Start small, such as making your bed at the same time in the morning. Daily living with brain fog becomes easier on a schedule. Routines train the brain and allow for more mental energy to be directed elsewhere.

4. Learn to speak slower if problems exist with speech or communication. Often this delay is unnoticed by others or is thought to be intelligent speech. The additional time may reduce communication errors caused by brain fog.

5. Make your neurons work for you.

   Engage in memory building or cognitive enhancing games and activities. Don't take on activities that are too difficult, but select those which challenge you to focus, organize, use spatial reasoning, improve vocabulary, and memorize.

6. Take breaks when needed. Some brain fog is reduced by simply lying down briefly or alternating activities to something manual rather than mental. Some brain fog is related to oxygenation levels in the brain and circulation. If this is the case, elevating your legs can help.

7. Take care of yourself with proper diet, nutrition and exercise. Investigate potential nutritional supplements and vitamins that may help. Choline and vinpocetine may be effective against brain fog. Omega-3 oil, gingko biloba and vitamin B-100 also may help. Consult your health provider about these and other natural remedies.

Tips & Warnings

• Use lists, reminders and calendars. Keep some of these tools, such as a calendar, in a prominent spot and develop a routine for using it.

• If you are prone to getting lost, keep a map in the car and cell phone handy.

• Keep on top of seemingly minor health issues, such as sinusitis and environmental allergies, which may worsen symptoms.

• Increased exposure to sunlight, especially in patients with SAD, may help you to think more clearly.

• Be wary of products that claim to "increase energy." Many of these products contain caffeine and or ginseng, which may be counter-productive.

• Note that some medications may produce symptoms of brain fog. Discuss dosages and alternatives with your doctor.

• If abrupt changes to your thinking or a steady decline in mental functioning occurs consult your physician.