The Impact of Brain Fog & How to Clear Fuzzy Thinking
Does your brain ever feel foggy or fuzzy and like you just can’t seem to grasp things as quickly? Brain fog and fuzzy thinking are surprisingly more common than people realize, and these symptoms can actually occur at any age. Memory problems can cause significant issues in daily life, making even small tasks feel overwhelming.
Although brain fog is undoubtedly a struggle, it doesn’t need to be permanent! With support from a holistic medicine doctor near you, you can finally get the help you need to clear your mind and sharpen your thoughts. Whether you choose to work through this on your own or utilize wellness coaching services, there is a way out of the fog in your mind.
See below to learn more about brain fog and fuzzy thinking and how you can get back on track to a healthier, clear-headed life.
What is Brain Fog?
If you read a medical dictionary, you likely won’t find the words “brain fog” or “fuzzy thinking” anywhere in the book, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t an actual condition. Brain fog or fuzzy thinking are just different ways for a patient to describe the experience of slower thinking, poor concentration, confusion, and difficulty remembering things.
Brain fog got its name from the experience it provides, similar to trying to see in front of you on a foggy day. When the fog becomes particularly thick, sometimes you cannot even see a few feet ahead of you! Similarly, the experience of brain fog can feel like your head has been pushed into the clouds, and you can’t quite grasp the information you need or remember what to do next.
Every person experiences brain fog a bit differently, but see below for some of the most common symptoms of brain fog:
- Difficulty concentrating
- Struggling to recall things
- Losing focus in conversations
- General confusion
- Headaches
- Mental exhaustion
- Easily spaced out
- Forgetfulness
The Causes of Brain Fog
When people think of memory problems, they often believe that this is only an aging problem. But the truth is that brain fog and fuzzy thinking are much more common than people realize! In fact, one of the most common symptoms of people in recovery from long COVID is brain fog. But brain fog has many other possible causes as well. See below for the most common causes of brain fog:
- Sleep issues or insomnia
- Environmental toxicity
- Chronic or acute stress
- Excess media or technology exposure
- Depression
- Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)
- Menopause
- Side effects from certain medications
- Pregnancy
- Past COVID-19 infection
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Cancer and cancer treatments
- Lupus
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Dementia
- Thyroid disorders
- Nutrient deficiencies
And More! Brain fog may just be a sign that you didn’t have a good night’s sleep, or it could be a sign of something much more severe. It is vital to get an accurate assessment from a Doctor of Natural Medicine to determine the root cause of brain fogThen you can begin the process of getting your health back. Your local holistic medicine doctor can be a strategic ally for this issue because many conventional medical doctors look to simply mask the symptoms with pharmaceuticals as opposed to getting at the root cause for lasting wellness.
Rather than being subjected to the many harmful side effects of pharmaceuticals, consider a natural approach with a functional medicine doctor. The sooner you take the crucial steps to clear your mind the sooner you can restore your mind and body to enduring wellness Brain fog doesn’t need to last forever!
Fuzzy Thinking – When Is It Serious?
Sometimes fuzzy thinking can be a sign that a serious condition is going on. There are some telltale signs that brain fog may be more severe than you realize.
We all feel a bit cloudy-headed at times, but it may be time to take action right away when it goes on for a while. If brain fog lasts longer than a few days or is so significant that you struggle to complete your normal daily activities, it may indicate that it is more serious. Occasional brain fog is typical, but you may want to seek immediate assistance if it feels overwhelming or frequent.
5 Ways to Improve Fuzzy Thinking and Sharpen Your Mind
If you struggle with brain fog, you likely know how difficult it can be to get through the day or even feel like yourself. Thankfully, you can significantly improve brain fog even with a few lifestyle and diet changes.
1. Clean Up Your Diet
The food we eat provides energy for each cell in our bodies to function and thrive. Without these supportive nutrients, your body cannot produce the energy it needs to support the neurons in your brain and clear your thoughts.
If you’ve ever done an extended fast or missed meals, then you’ve likely experienced the powerful effect it can have on your brain functioning. But besides how much or how often you eat, it is also essential to assess the foods you select. Processed, packaged foods are often entirely devoid of nutrients and cannot give your brain the energy it needs to function. They are almost always loaded with chemical preservatives, unhealthy ingredients and sugar.
By switching to an organic, plant-based, whole foods diet, your brain will receive the necessaryvitamins and nutrients. Additionally, regular healthy fats are essential for building the myelin sheath that surrounds your brain cells and helps them to become stronger. A Doctor of Natural Medicine can be incredibly valuable in guiding you in making these nutritional changes and balancing your mental and physical health.
2. Utilize Supportive Nervine and Adaptogen Herbs and Supplements
Sometimes our everyday diet just isn’t enough to get us all the nutrients that the body and brain need to function. Particularly if you have been depleted for a long time, your body may need some additional support in the beginning to get back on track.
Nervines and adaptogenic herbs and supplements are specifically created to target your brain health, improve cognitive functioning, and clear up any fuzzy thinking. With the support of your local natural health doctor using Applied Kinesiology (muscle testing), you can discover the exact nervines or adaptogenic herbs and supplements your bosy needs to help sharpen your brain and improve your overall health.
3. Practice Meditation and Breathing Techniques
Brain fog can feel quite heavy at times, and you may wonder if there is a way to clear up the fog on your own. Research shows that with regular meditation and breathing techniques, you can actually begin to change how your brain functions and even cause certain physical regions of your brain to become stronger and form more connections between brain cells.
A great place to start in this process is with regular mindfulness meditation. Mindfulness meditation helps train your mind to improve focus and concentration, gently clearing away the dust in your mind with every breath. It will likely feel difficult as you begin this practice, so try to start with a brief 5-minute meditation and then gradually start to work your way up.
Deep abdominal breathing is also an excellent way to improve cognitive functioning. This breathing technique directly stimulates your vagus nerve, the largest cranial nerve in your body, causing a direct shift in your nervous system. With regular abdominal breathing practices, even only for a few minutes a day, you can begin to shift your nervous system, calm down your mind, and increase concentration.
4. Investigate the Root Cause
Besides all of these wonderful daily lifestyle and nutrition changes to improve your health, it is essential to note that this may not always address the underlying root cause. Rather than just putting another Band-Aid or medication on your condition, natural medicine honors the search for the root cause and puts this as the priority.
There are many different causes of brain fog and fuzzy thinking that can be investigated with your local holistic medicine doctor. But one of the most common causes is stress. Stress has a massive impact on the functioning of your body and mind, and chronic stress truly is the silent killer! Sometimes by making conscious choices to remove stressful triggers or calm your environment, it can really be the single change that makes the difference.
Environmental toxins are another significant source of brain fog. Each day we are exposed to literally hundreds of harmful chemicals in personal care products to cleaners, to herbicides and fertilizers in our food to chemtrails and more. It is important to establish an herbally- based all natural detox program as an important component of your overall wellness plan to get rid of brain fog once and for all.
5. Get Support from a Health Coach or Natural Medicine Doctor
There are undoubtedly many changes that you can make for your health on your own, but sometimes it can be profoundly helpful to get personalized guidance in a comprehensive wellness plan. Additionally, brain fog and fuzzy thinking can be a sign of something more serious occurring.
A Functional Medicine Doctor can help identify and eliminate the root cause(s) of your brain fog. Are you ready to begin on a wellness journey to clear up your mind and harness the power of your brain once again?
Inner Harmony Wellness Center: Premier Access to Health and Wellness Programs
Brain fog and fuzzy thinking are among the most common cognitive health issues that people face today. But the good news is that it is possible to address the root cause and improve the health of your brain. With a few lifestyle and diet changes along with targeted herbs and neutraceuticals, you can drastically transform your health and clear your mind once and for all!
At Inner Harmony Wellness Center, we specialize in this root cause approach, helping you to finally address the underlying reason why your health issues are occurring rather than simply covering them up. So, reach out to us for more information today and reclaim your health!
