

Max Hirshkowitz, chair of the National Sleep Foundation Scientific Advisory Council, suggests that college-aged people should get between 7 and 9 hours of sleep each night. Without it, we’re left feeling groggy and stressed. Optimal rest (which is 7-8 hours per night for most college-aged students) plays a key role in cognitive function. Lack of sleep, and the inevitable fatigue that follows, can be one of the main causes of your brain fog. You might be tempted to sacrifice sleep to get more done, but that comes with a price. Lack of SleepĬollege students typically aren’t known for having great sleep habits: maybe you’re even pulling an all-nighter as you’re reading this. To help you regain mental clarity ASAP, here are five common causes of brain fog (and what to do about them): 1. However, when you can’t think straight and you have assignments and obligations piling up, figuring out and fixing what’s causing brain fog probably isn’t at the top of your to-do list. Brain fog, on the other hand, is different: it’s not something you can catch, nor something you can ride out until the symptoms disappear.īrain fog is your body’s way of telling you that you probably need to make some changes in your daily life. When you have the flu, it’s usually just a matter of bad luck that you have to wait out until you feel better.
#Reasons for brain fog how to
5 Causes of Brain Fog (and How to Fix Them) But what causes these brain fog symptoms? And what can you do about it? Read on to find out. If you’ve experienced any or all of the above symptoms, you know they take a toll on your academics, work, and social life. In this state, all of your day’s tasks and activities blur together, making it seem like you’re living in slow motion. The remaining symptoms of brain fog can be classified under what I call “mental flatlining.” Instead of feeling sharp and active like you normally would, you feel “off”: dull, unmotivated, unproductive, and maybe depressed. Since chronic fatigue is also a symptom of other disorders, consider talking to your doctor if it’s happening to you. As a symptom of brain fog, chronic fatigue is characterized by extreme, never-ending tiredness that can’t be remedied by rest or caffeine. I fell asleep during my fair share of lectures in college, but chronic fatigue is much different. Forgetfulnessīrain fog can affect your ability to remember all kinds of information, including academic material, daily tasks like forgetting your car keys, or personal memories like what you ate for dinner last night. Rather than being able to hone in and focus, your mind constantly wanders off, making it difficult to get anything done. When you can’t concentrate, mental tasks can feel like a moving target. Here are the four most common symptoms of brain fog: 1. You might experience one or all of the following symptoms which can vary in intensity depending on the day. Brain Fog Symptomsīrain fog affects people in different ways. Think you might have brain fog? Let’s take a look at the symptoms so you can make an accurate self-diagnosis. “Brain fog can easily rob you of inspiration and happiness, while increasing the likelihood for symptoms of anxiety and depression.” “Suffering from brain fog is basically the opposite of feeling level-headed, calm, optimistic and motivated,” says Jillian Levy of Dr. It is not a disease, but rather a reaction to specific circumstances (which we’ll explore later). Rather, it’s a loose term used to describe chronic mental fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and cognitive dysfunction. What Is Brain Fog?īefore we dive into details, it’s important to note that “brain fog” isn’t an official medical term, nor is there a test or measurement for it. In the following sections, we’ll explore the symptoms, causes, and solutions for brain fog. By taking the right steps, you can reverse the symptoms to find a clear mind and even prevent them from happening again. The good news is that brain fog is not permanent. On top of that, getting flustered can aggravate the symptoms, thus repeating the cycle. And, depending on how severe it is, it can impact your performance at work or school.īrain fog is undeniably frustrating: you know you can do exceptional work, but having no mental clarity can feel like running in slow motion. Put simply, brain fog is a term to describe mental fatigue. If you’ve experienced an instance like this, you might be dealing with brain fog. You lose concentration, and the world seems like it’s moving faster than you can keep up with. Instead of feeling sharp, you feel like you’re walking through jello. Maybe you forget a word or you totally space out.

You’re in the middle of an assignment or a conversation when, suddenly, your brain seems to short-circuit.
