Dealing with "Brain Fog"

**Eisenhower** · 08-09-2011, 09:18 AM

I'm sure that everyone has this occur every so often. Where you try to concentrate but nothing that you read can penetrate through the haze and stick. Sometimes it will last a few hours, other times throughout the day. Anyone have any ideas on how to alleviate this other than just taking a break? I've tried drinking tea but the caffeine just seems to amplify the haze.

Is there a scientific reason this occurs?

**XFire35** · 08-09-2011, 09:39 AM

I tend to have a nap or do some exercise.

**clumsywordsmith** · 08-09-2011, 09:51 AM

I lay off on the drugs for a bit... Works wonders.

Seriously, though? I just go to bed and hope for a better state of mind in the morning. Once my brain is foggy, it stays that way until a full night's sleep.

**jerdol** · 08-09-2011, 09:59 AM

It's started happening to me rather frequently lately, and I've chalked it up to food. Having something to eat tends to bring me out of it.

**o0Levitikuz0o** · 08-09-2011, 02:01 PM

This happens so often during exams...I will be more than prepared for the test, but once I get in there the fog takes over. No matter how hard I concentrate I can not think clearly. This seems to be stress related, and I have found that lowering my stress by any means (taking my mind off the subject for 5 minutes) has worked wonders. Almost like after you take a test and then you think of all the answers you could not think of during the test.

**Stitch** · 08-09-2011, 03:41 PM

Originally Posted by Eisenhower
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I'm sure that everyone has this occur every so often. Where you try to concentrate but nothing that you read can penetrate through the haze and stick. Sometimes it will last a few hours, other times throughout the day. Anyone have any ideas on how to alleviate this other than just taking a break? I've tried drinking tea but the caffeine just seems to amplify the haze.

Is there a scientific reason this occurs?

Well for one, don't drink caffeine. Can't remember where I read it, but I read that caffeine will cause your heart to beat faster but your body can't figure out why. It creates stress. Simplified anyway. Probably more to it. So its not helping (as you've noticed).

Anyway, i know what your talking about. You just have to take a break. Theres no wonder drug, or technique to prevent it. You've expended a lot of mental energy and you just need to relax and recharge. Only thing i can think of is if your going on a hard mental binge, is to try and eat stuff thats good for you. Can't think of a food thats good for brain function(if one exists), sure some one thats good with nutrition could chime in on that. Maybe just normal fruits and fish possibly. I know banana's do me wonders with keeping my physical energy up.

**ppu6502** · 08-09-2011, 03:46 PM

There's plenty of potential causes of course, but here's a few ideas:

- Avoid bread / yeast, they can cause brain fog
- Avoid gluten for a while to see if you have a sensitivity
- Drink plenty of water
- Get your pulse rate up a few times throughout the day

I had some serious random fatigue / brain fog problems, never really figured out what exactly was going on, but avoiding bread entirely has done wonders for me, I feel energetic and focused again.

**Winklepicker** · 08-09-2011, 04:40 PM

^YES on the gluten possibility. I'm another case in point.

**mieu** · 08-09-2011, 04:57 PM

Exercise!!! I do an hour a day!

**Haumea** · 08-09-2011, 05:03 PM

My theory is that one shouldn't cram the night before, it's counterproductive.

Instead one should study till the day before the exam(s), then get a good night's sleep and intense physical exercise the day before.

But in general, (a) eat a meal (b) get some exercise (c) get some sleep.

**Phenom** · 08-09-2011, 06:15 PM

Work out then have a beer.

**TheStranger** · 08-09-2011, 06:24 PM

Hmm, my brain fog seems to clear up after I've had a few drinks, probably due to dampening the anxiety. Probably not an accurate perspective under the influence, but that is how I feel at the time.

**stealthfighter** · 08-09-2011, 07:23 PM

It happens to me when I'm tired or continuously doing mental labor. Normally, I consider it a call for me to take some time off.

**Chameleon** · 08-09-2011, 07:31 PM

Try this:

1. Wash your face
2. Brush your teeth
3. Blow your nose
4. Stretch
5. Shower (if needed)

This condition is generally caused by the body dragging down the subconscious into a false state of fatigue; thus distracting the mind in a way that is not visable to your conscious thought.

**tms1337** · 08-09-2011, 08:12 PM

I've recently been sick with Lyme disease, and one of the symptoms that has affected me the most is this very "brain fog" you speak of. It's like I lost that edge, that little part we seem to have that puts us a little above most competition, it was all gone. I couldn't think - I wanted to, but to physically read and try and work my mind became a chore. This lasted for weeks.

It was a stark reminder that though sometimes I do wish I wasn't aware of so many things, it isn't something I would ever want to lost for any reason.

**breaktheparadox** · 08-09-2011, 10:10 PM

I seem to have long term brain fog and it is usually only for brief periods that I can think to my full potential. (This may be because I am gluten intolerant and still eat it most times though.)

**Daybreaksky** · 08-09-2011, 10:34 PM

I've suspected that I have had a Dairy sensitivity for a long time. About 8 months ago, I finally told dairy that while I really liked it, it wasn't good for me. Now after I eat dairy I can tell how it affected me. I feel so slow and just not on top of things like I should be. bye bye dairy it was fun while it lasted.
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**creativestrike** · 08-10-2011, 12:09 AM

I just smoked some Brain Fog.
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I think I'm gonna go to sleep. No one's making any sense at the moment heheh
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**Crowley** · 08-10-2011, 01:16 PM

I spend more time with a foggy brain than a clear one...

**Imagineering** · 08-10-2011, 01:20 PM

You need NZT

**Aphorism** · 08-10-2011, 01:27 PM

Whenever I eat a lot of carbohydrates, I become very foggy minded. If at doesn't happen to you, you may have diabetes, ut that's getting off topic...

A lack of a good night's sleep or strenuous physical exertion are two more fairly obvious causes of the brain fog.

I've found that the amount of interest included in my day is proportional to my mental energy. For instance, if I try to force myself into reading something or thinking intensely on some topicni find horribly boring, my mind tends to fog up almost immediately in addition ton a feeling of general lethargy, which lasts usually for at least an hour until after I've stopped, unless I've found some way to energize myself.

**Homeostasis** · 08-10-2011, 01:32 PM

For me this happens most when I'm doing something that I'm not very interested in. Or, something I'm very interested in and jumping way ahead of myself with ideas & questions about it.

Example: nursing school. Absolutely love science so I get very sucked into what I'm studying. Brain fog usually means I need to take a break & do something else for a while, be it exercise, partake in another hobby (reading non-nursing books, playing on computer, etc). That helps a lot. Then I can get back down to business without much trouble.

**Xyz** · 08-10-2011, 02:59 PM

This happens to me if I'm not fully concentrating. I stop it by either concentrating or giving up.

**Eisenhower** · 08-10-2011, 07:26 PM

Thanks everyone, I will definitely start implementing a lot of these suggestions in my daily life. I exercise a good bit, but the diet definitely needs to be cleaned up with a better macro/micro-nutrient breakdown.

Honestly, I think a lot of what is causing the brain fog is just being tired and stressed. I need to remedy that, and hopefully the situation will improve.

08-09-2011, 09:18 AM	#1
Eisenhower New Member [01%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 59	I'm sure that everyone has this occur every so often. Where you try to concentrate but nothing that you read can penetrate through the haze and stick. Sometimes it will last a few hours, other times throughout the day. Anyone have any ideas on how to alleviate this other than just taking a break? I've tried drinking tea but the caffeine just seems to amplify the haze. Is there a scientific reason this occurs?
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08-09-2011, 09:39 AM	#2
XFire35 Member [24%] MBTI: INFJ Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 995	I tend to have a nap or do some exercise.
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08-09-2011, 09:51 AM	#3
clumsywordsmith Member [07%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 315	I lay off on the drugs for a bit... Works wonders. Seriously, though? I just go to bed and hope for a better state of mind in the morning. Once my brain is foggy, it stays that way until a full night's sleep.
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08-09-2011, 09:59 AM	#4
jerdol Member [13%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 555	It's started happening to me rather frequently lately, and I've chalked it up to food. Having something to eat tends to bring me out of it.
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08-09-2011, 02:01 PM	#5
o0Levitikuz0o Member [04%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 177	This happens so often during exams...I will be more than prepared for the test, but once I get in there the fog takes over. No matter how hard I concentrate I can not think clearly. This seems to be stress related, and I have found that lowering my stress by any means (taking my mind off the subject for 5 minutes) has worked wonders. Almost like after you take a test and then you think of all the answers you could not think of during the test.
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08-09-2011, 03:46 PM	#7
ppu6502 Special Snowflake MBTI: INTj Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 11,515	There's plenty of potential causes of course, but here's a few ideas: - Avoid bread / yeast, they can cause brain fog - Avoid gluten for a while to see if you have a sensitivity - Drink plenty of water - Get your pulse rate up a few times throughout the day I had some serious random fatigue / brain fog problems, never really figured out what exactly was going on, but avoiding bread entirely has done wonders for me, I feel energetic and focused again.
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08-09-2011, 04:40 PM	#8
Winklepicker Member [25%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 1,014	^YES on the gluten possibility. I'm another case in point.
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08-09-2011, 04:57 PM	#9
mieu Core Member [183%] $/)^3^(\$ MBTI: xNTx Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 7,344	Exercise!!! I do an hour a day!
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08-09-2011, 05:03 PM	#10
Haumea Veteran Member [85%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 3,414	My theory is that one shouldn't cram the night before, it's counterproductive. Instead one should study till the day before the exam(s), then get a good night's sleep and intense physical exercise the day before. But in general, (a) eat a meal (b) get some exercise (c) get some sleep.
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08-09-2011, 06:15 PM	#11
Phenom Member [11%] MBTI: INTx Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 472	Work out then have a beer.
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08-09-2011, 06:24 PM	#12
TheStranger Core Member [149%] MBTI: intp Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 5,968	Hmm, my brain fog seems to clear up after I've had a few drinks, probably due to dampening the anxiety. Probably not an accurate perspective under the influence, but that is how I feel at the time.
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08-09-2011, 07:23 PM	#13
stealthfighter Veteran Member [84%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 3,388	It happens to me when I'm tired or continuously doing mental labor. Normally, I consider it a call for me to take some time off.
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08-09-2011, 07:31 PM	#14
Chameleon Veteran Member [92%] MBTI: INTP Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 3,703	Try this: 1. Wash your face 2. Brush your teeth 3. Blow your nose 4. Stretch 5. Shower (if needed) This condition is generally caused by the body dragging down the subconscious into a false state of fatigue; thus distracting the mind in a way that is not visable to your conscious thought.
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08-09-2011, 08:12 PM	#15
tms1337 Member [05%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 231	I've recently been sick with Lyme disease, and one of the symptoms that has affected me the most is this very "brain fog" you speak of. It's like I lost that edge, that little part we seem to have that puts us a little above most competition, it was all gone. I couldn't think - I wanted to, but to physically read and try and work my mind became a chore. This lasted for weeks. It was a stark reminder that though sometimes I do wish I wasn't aware of so many things, it isn't something I would ever want to lost for any reason.
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08-09-2011, 10:10 PM	#16
breaktheparadox New Member [01%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 67	I seem to have long term brain fog and it is usually only for brief periods that I can think to my full potential. (This may be because I am gluten intolerant and still eat it most times though.)
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08-09-2011, 10:34 PM	#17
Daybreaksky New Member [01%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 26	I've suspected that I have had a Dairy sensitivity for a long time. About 8 months ago, I finally told dairy that while I really liked it, it wasn't good for me. Now after I eat dairy I can tell how it affected me. I feel so slow and just not on top of things like I should be. bye bye dairy it was fun while it lasted. To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
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08-10-2011, 12:09 AM	#18
creativestrike Member [16%] MBTI: INxx Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 645	I just smoked some Brain Fog. To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. I think I'm gonna go to sleep. No one's making any sense at the moment heheh To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
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08-10-2011, 01:16 PM	#19
Crowley Member [03%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 135	I spend more time with a foggy brain than a clear one...
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08-10-2011, 01:20 PM	#20
Imagineering Member [46%] MBTI: xxxx Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 1,845	You need NZT
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08-10-2011, 01:27 PM	#21
Aphorism Member [02%] MBTI: XXXX Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 93	Whenever I eat a lot of carbohydrates, I become very foggy minded. If at doesn't happen to you, you may have diabetes, ut that's getting off topic... A lack of a good night's sleep or strenuous physical exertion are two more fairly obvious causes of the brain fog. I've found that the amount of interest included in my day is proportional to my mental energy. For instance, if I try to force myself into reading something or thinking intensely on some topicni find horribly boring, my mind tends to fog up almost immediately in addition ton a feeling of general lethargy, which lasts usually for at least an hour until after I've stopped, unless I've found some way to energize myself.
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08-10-2011, 01:32 PM	#22
Homeostasis Member [02%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 94	For me this happens most when I'm doing something that I'm not very interested in. Or, something I'm very interested in and jumping way ahead of myself with ideas & questions about it. Example: nursing school. Absolutely love science so I get very sucked into what I'm studying. Brain fog usually means I need to take a break & do something else for a while, be it exercise, partake in another hobby (reading non-nursing books, playing on computer, etc). That helps a lot. Then I can get back down to business without much trouble.
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08-10-2011, 02:59 PM	#23
Xyz Member [03%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 127	This happens to me if I'm not fully concentrating. I stop it by either concentrating or giving up.
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08-10-2011, 07:26 PM	#24
Eisenhower New Member [01%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 59	Thanks everyone, I will definitely start implementing a lot of these suggestions in my daily life. I exercise a good bit, but the diet definitely needs to be cleaned up with a better macro/micro-nutrient breakdown. Honestly, I think a lot of what is causing the brain fog is just being tired and stressed. I need to remedy that, and hopefully the situation will improve.
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