What is brain fog? Learn symptoms, causes, and how to get rid of it

While the time line is different for everyone, you should start to notice differences in your mental acuity as you make your way through the detox process. Your experience should be similar, and you can always ask the staff at the treatment center if your challenges with thinking are normal. Exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle post-addiction, but it can also be good to help with brain fog. Once you know what is causing your stress, you can then begin to develop a plan to manage it. For some people, managing stress may mean making lifestyle changes, such as reducing their workload or taking breaks more often. Others may find that they need to seek out professional help in order to learn how to effectively manage their stress.

• Other drugs that are used for treatment are DMAE, Ginkgo Biloba, Magnesium, or piracetam.
• Create for the sole purpose of creating and leave any desire for perfection behind.
• There are a number of things that you can do to clear your head and feel better.
• Amy Myers, MD is a two-time New York Times bestselling author and an internationally acclaimed functional medicine physician.Dr.
• Ask  your doctor if your medication could be the cause of your groggy feeling, maybe he or she can recommend an alternative or another dose.
• For example, you might consider Bacopa Monnieri, an ancient herbal remedy that is known to improve memory, concentration, and brain health in general.

The recommended daily amount of B12 an adult should consume per day is 2.4 micrograms. I recommend you remove these foods from your diet due to their connection to brain fog as well as other health issues such as leaky gut and autoimmunity. If you’re experiencing symptoms, I recommend discussing non-synthetic hormone therapy with your functional medicine doctor or considering natural solutions. However, the causes of brain fog are common and can often occur in pairs or trios.

Keep your brain active

Plus, not getting enough sleep can lower your immune system, making you more likely to get sick and worsen any existing brain fog. If your bed is old, it may be uncomfortable and leading to disturbed sleep, so it’s worth thinking about investing in a new bed. Keep the temperature comfortable – layers of bedclothes will let you adapt to feeling too hot or cold. Avoid ticking alarm clocks or digital clocks in the bedroom – the blue light from digital devices can disrupt your sleep. Wind down for an hour or two before bed with a warm bath, a milky drink (without caffeine) and a good book.

Of these, about 1.3 million say their ability to carry out their usual day-to-day activities is affected. For almost 400,000 people, the effect on their daily lives is major. Sometimes, brain fog is less related to slow brain function and due more to overactive brain activity, such as over-analyzing a simple situation or obsessing about a problem. One way to let go of nit-picking or ruminating thoughts is to channel your energy into a creative activity, like drawing, needlepoint or cooking.

Relieve Your Stress

Regardless of the approach that you take, it is important to remember that managing stress is an ongoing process and not something that you can simply “fix” overnight. By taking the time to identify the sources of your stress and develop a plan to manage it, you can begin to see improvements in your energy levels and brain function. Mood alcohol brain fog disorders like anxiety and depression are the most common alcohol-related mental issues. Alcohol changes how your brain processes information, which can impact memory, moods, sleep patterns, appetite, and overall energy levels. It’s no surprise that those recovering from an AUD (Alcohol Use Disorder) experience alcohol-induced brain fog.

• Thankfully, there are plenty of ways that you can do to treat brain fog naturally and alcohol addiction safely, and enhance your brain function, such as the ways we listed above.
• They are easily distracted and battle mood swings, finding it difficult to concentrate on daily activities and even to communicate.
• USA TODAY is exploring the questions you and others ask every day.
• Avoid ticking alarm clocks or digital clocks in the bedroom – the blue light from digital devices can disrupt your sleep.
• For almost 400,000 people, the effect on their daily lives is major.
• Alcohol detoxification, or simply detox, is a process of navigating through alcohol withdrawal.

In addition to physical exercise, it’s also important to exercise your brain. So, if you’re short on time, make sure to do some of these exercises to get your heart rate up. Also, be sure to drink plenty of fluids before, during, and after exercise, as dehydration can actually worsen brain fog. Meal delivery services can also be a good option if you don’t have time to cook healthy meals. Brain fog or mental fog is a term used to describe the feeling of mental confusion or cloudiness. Alcohol is a popular substance, especially in polydrug use such as cocaine and benzodiazepines.

Is brain fog a symptom of long COVID?

Use a sleep mask, a white noise machine and black out curtains when going to bed late. That way, you won’t be disturbed by the sun shining after a night out. The trouble, Dr. Krishnan points out, is that long-haulers and people who’ve recovered from COVID-19 often also experience other symptoms that can lead to brain fog. This includes trouble sleeping, increased stress or mood levels, or a significant change in their diet or nutrition.

Brain fog symptoms may vary from person to person, however, slowed cognitive functioning seems to be a recurring element. Your head seems to be in the cloud after binge drinking with your siblings. This morning you’ve lost your phone, keys, and charger all within an hour. Getting rid of brain fog after drinking alcohol can help you focus on recovery. For example, if you have been drinking heavily for quite some time, you may experience a longer period of brain fog. Consistent drinking can alter the chemistry of your brain, and for some people this could mean brain fog.