brain feels like mush

If you focus on one and exclude the other, both might end up suffering. Alternately, consider talking to a co-worker, teacher, mentor or supervisor, or guidance counselor. Some workplaces also have designated professionals on staff to provide employee support and help people dealing with stress both mush brain in and out of the office. Simply reading over the chapters or your notes may not help, especially if you tend to zone out while reading.

brain feels like mush

What to know about cognitive fatigue

Brain health is interrelated to many other aspects of health, such as the food we eat, how much we sleep, and underlying conditions. To understand what isn’t „working“ properly, it’s best to see a healthcare provider. To treat your brain fog and gain back some mental clarity, start with trying to extend the time between the last meal of the day and the first meal of the next day.

brain feels like mush

Autoimmune conditions

brain feels like mush

Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis can lead to hormone imbalances. Memory and thinking problems that are similar to brain fog are common in thyroid disorders. Research shows that depression can negatively affect a person’s ability to remember and think clearly. This may be related to inflammation in the nervous system that affects the brain. Fibromyalgia causes pain throughout the body and can affect a person’s concentration and memory.

Can’t think straight? How to achieve mental clarity

  • If you think a thyroid issue may be at play, talk to your doctor about a thyroid test.
  • Other common brain fog causes include eating too much and too often, inactivity, not getting enough sleep, chronic stress, and a poor diet.
  • After the initial infection is gone, COVID can continue to disrupt daily life.
  • It’s usually temporary, but the length of time you’ll experience brain fog can vary.
  • Before starting her writing career, she conducted award-winning research on how to improve sexual violence prevention courses on college campuses.
  • Talk with a healthcare professional about which medications might best treat your symptoms.
  • If you experience brain fog regularly, and insufficient sleep or fatigue is likely not the main cause, there could be lurking issues that are at the root of your fuzzy thinking.

This promotes a process called ketogenesis, which can stimulate brain regeneration. But ketogenesis can be tricky and should be practiced under the guidance of someone who knows what they’re doing. Often, it looks like an inability to concentrate like you used to on work tasks, conversations, or even on the words you’re reading right now.

Why does anxiety cause brain fog?

Alzheimer’s happens when protein plaques build up in a person’s brain. This buildup affects brain functioning, with various cognitive and other symptoms. There is research indicating brain inflammation plays a role in this process.

brain feels like mush