Excellent and detailed article on "brain fog"

[GreyGoose]

Greetings

I have had bouts of brain fog off and on for years and have always wondered what caused it and whether I was alone. It can come on at any time, last for any length of time and at times it is so severe that I feel like someone has injected my brain with an anesthetic. I feel dull, dazed, disconnected, stuporish, fuzzy, foggy, retarded, etc. I did some looking around and have come to realize that this symptom is very common. I also found an excellent article about it written by a doctor and thought others here might be interested...

http://www.drlwilson.com/articles/brain_fog.htm

- Regards, GreyGoose

[adamb]

goose, this was the symptom that started it for me, i completely blame every symptom i ever had on this one symptom.

it was the worst by far, and the most disturbing. I also tried emailing that doctor but never got a reply.
but i agree with you that site is great for information on brain fog.

[mrgreen]

goose, [bgcolor=#ff0900]this was the symptom that started it for me[/bgcolor], i completely blame every symptom i ever had on this one symptom.

it was the worst by far, and the most disturbing. I also tried emailing that doctor but never got a reply.
but i agree with you that site is great for information on brain fog.

intersting you should say that, although I am not sure if I understand you correctly.

My troubles started when I was around 25 years old (I'm 53 now...!). I remeber that I was driving back from seeing my father, who was very ill as he had just had a stroke. I did have a lot of personal problems at the time, Marriage and money preoblems among others!!! Anyway, as I was saying, I was driving back, it was at night and I just turned my head to look out of the side window and it seemed like the whole world suddenly tilted and I felt a wave of diziness!! The feeling really shook me up as I had never felt anything like it before. Well, that was the start of everything for me...

I was sure I was terminally ill, had loads of tests via doctor and Hospitals, became a hypochondriac, worried constantly that every day was my last etc etc etc.

28 years later I'm still alive and as reasonably healthy as I should be at my age and lifestyle. Now diagnosed (4 years ago) as GAD and taking 30mm peroxatine which has made a tremendous difference to my health worries (I don't worry about my health now!). I do however still have a bunch of other probs such as anxiety, fatigue, social phobias but feel that had I known at the begining, all those years ago, that I was not the only one to get the brain fog, dizziness feelings that lfe may have been different for me.

Message to any newbies out there is IMO get group therapy if you can. Talking to others with similar/same symptoms as you can be more than reassuring.

[easyheimer]

goose, [bgcolor=#ff0900]this was the symptom that started it for me[/bgcolor], i completely blame every symptom i ever had on this one symptom.

it was the worst by far, and the most disturbing. I also tried emailing that doctor but never got a reply.
but i agree with you that site is great for information on brain fog.

My troubles started when I was around 25 years old (I'm 53 now...!). I remeber that I was driving back from seeing my father, who was very ill as he had just had a stroke. I did have a lot of personal problems at the time, Marriage and money preoblems among others!!! Anyway, as I was saying, I was driving back, it was at night and I just turned my head to look out of the side window and it seemed like the whole world suddenly tilted and I felt a wave of diziness!! The feeling really shook me up as I had never felt anything like it before. Well, that was the start of everything for me...

Wow, thats amazing because that's what started the anxiety and things for me too. I was hanging out with a friend and we went to go check out some cars at a dealership and I got out of the car and immediately I felt as though the whole ground was tilted one way and I asked my friend if he felt it too and he kind of just laughed and said no. After that I have just felt so on edge and anxiety all the time. I started thinking I had a brain tumor and such because my mother just recently went for an operation for a brain tumor and I was freaking out trying to read up on what I had. The more I read the worse the anxiety was. The brain fog just feels like your in a dream all the time, and it's like your out of body just looking around and it feels as if your on auto pilot or something. Some days can be really good as far as the brain fog, sometimes its just there a tiny bit and I feel great. Other times I just can't do anything, and it makes me have panic attacks and think I'm going to die.

I also get really fatigued and my arms and legs feel like they are a million pounds and I feel dizzy and like I'm not able to get around without trouble.It's so awesome to hear that people have felt the same thing as me. Have you been tested and stuff? I got an CAT scan and a MRI and everything came back normal, and even blood tests and nothing.

I can't even go to the mall without feeling the brain fog, and I just walk around in a daze not feeling as if I'm even there. Like if someone comes up to me and talks to me it's like it takes a couple seconds to kind of react and talk to them ... but you feel as if your like a retard talking back.

PLEASE! If you know how to make this better or control it let me know. This would make my life alot better as it's very hard to go about my day to day routine feeling like this.

[Nasser]

First off let me say hi as I'm new here.

It's funny to one day think you have all these odd problems that are unique to you, and then the next read about all of them on a forum. Anyway...

If we are talking about the general sense of detachment, I whole heartedly agree on how much that sucks. But perhaps I am the only one here how gets a strange sense of enjoyment out of the flash of dizziness. I remember this one time I was walking down an aisle in a Best Buy when it struck. I got really dizzy and walked right into a display! You know, it's one of those things that cannot really be explained, but must be experienced first hand.

[Lauraloopy]

LOL this site is wonderful...I couldn't really describe this bizarre feeling to anyone before as i find it really hard to describe...I have it 24/7, sometimes worse then others but it was the reason for my hypochondrysis, i got over the worst part of my anxiety only to be confronted with this, i was convinced i had a brain tumor also as there had to be some explaination, i was sure that my anxiety couldn't have cause this weird feeling but obviously it can...I do find if i take a xanax the feeling goes away, but since its highly addictive i only take it as a last resort for my anxiety and thankfully i have a day without my "brain fog" as well. If anyone knows how to stop it can they let me know too!!!! Thanks guys!!!!!!

[Always Dying]

Dizziness and brain fog or confusion must have something to do with your breathing surely, hypo or hyperventilation due to anxiety.
I always find when i am dizzy or foggy i am holding my breath.

[mindcontrol3]

Great article! Thanks for sharing it greygoose!

infrared lamp saunas

i'm wondering does anyone use one and does it help with Seasonal Depression?

[LondonJulz]

Wow.  This was the one symptom that started it all for me also!  I find it hard to explain to anyone else.  You know on TV when someone is going to start a dream sequence and the entire screen kind goes wavy for a second or two?  That's exactly what it feels like to me.  I get the brain fog, feel about 50% "all there" and then the other night the entire room went wavy for all of 2 seconds.  This was enough to send me into an anxiety attack.  UGH!  Amazing how one symptom can control your life, huh?

[littlemiss_anxious]

Brain fog is a huge issue with me...I feel "very slow" at times.    I'll feel spacey, out of it, trouble focusing, dizzy and off balance -- I'll feel like whatever I'm looking at is tilting a bit.   When talking to people, I sometimes feel like I'm in a dream.  It's very weird and scarey and makes me not want to drive or even stand up.

[aeydownlow]

Guys will this ever go away?

[samantha j]

hi there i feel like im going through anightmare im getting severe tingling in my hands and feet has anyone else had this also my veins are really standing out i really feel im gonna die ive not slept for over a week nearly i cant cope, xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[tigerpaw]

Samantha J what kind anxiety is happening in your life right now?

[Steve_P]

Really interesting article, and I'm not surprised to read that so many other people have described the same exact feelings and symptoms that I have in the past.

I once had a doctor tell me not to worry about this feeling, saying that it was simply my brain's way of checking out or taking a break from all of the unnecessary stress and anxiety I was putting it through (due to my excessive worrying and panic attacks).  Thinking about it this way ever since, I no longer let this symptom scare me and that helped tremendously.

I've found this is somewhat similar to tension headaches that I would get and would last for weeks - almost always coming during periods of intense stress and anxiety in my life.  Like the tension headaches, as soon as my life calmed down a bit, I also found the 'brain fog' symptoms subsided as well.

One thing that's really interesting is to me is how the body deals with stress residually - in that it often takes weeks or months after a traumatic event for your body to flush out all of the physical symptoms.  A perfect example being this 'brain fog'.

During one particular experience, I was dreading for over six months being in a wedding - I was an anxious mess.  After the wedding was over, I felt a tremendous relief - however the worst of my anxiety symptoms were yet to come.  I promptly developed cold sores, tension headaches and 'brain fog' - all of which lasted at least a few weeks after the wedding was over.

Amazing what we put ourselves through, isn't it?   

[pogge]

Excellent article

[mommy_2_4_babies]

Excellent article thanks for the post Grey Goose 

[jlmarek]

I also got a lot out of that article. I found it interesting on what we put in our bodies can also cause brain fog. All those toxins, chemicals and sugars. Lately I have been trying to eat more organic and mimnnium process meats. Only been on it for about 2 months and havn't felt a lot different yet. Did lost 10 lbs though.  But I also cheat once a while. But I keep trying to stay on track with the diet. I"ve dealt with brain fog all of the time. The worse was back in the 90's (A long time ago!) Where I walk around for months being in a fog. I totally felt removed from everyone and everything. I could touch but not feel. I only way I could feel was to go running and run as fast as I could or to pound my fist hard onto a object. Remebering, thinking I can't keep this up for the rest of my life in order to feel. That was one winter when I was happy that it was winter, I live in wisconsin where it can get very cold. I sure felt grateful for the cold, I  actually felt it on my face, remembering what a wonderful feeling. You see I felt dead but I knew I was alive. Shortly after that I check myself in a phsy. ward and this is when I was put on Prozac and now Paxil. going on 16 years with meds.  I am doing good though now!

[tomzard88]

Fairly helpful article. Ive had brain fog for a while and have come to the conclusion that its caused because of the fact that i can not sleep for more than 5 hours continuously. My brain is just tired. stay strong people. Time heals everything.

[viridis]

I agree with Jimarek & the article that a lot of the 'Brain Fog' has to do with putting ourselves through too much. 

As a child when I didn't have much control over my life I had about four years of continual Fog where it felt like I was just watching some kind of movie happen. I was so confused about everything I didn't do anything, which consequently made me depressed. I was also trying to avoid the things that were happening around me though & a lot of it was probably a reaction. I just 'left the building' for a little while.

I also experience Fog as soon as I am having a panic attack. I can't even tell you my own name which is not a particularly good thing to happen during crisis situations. A day after a bad panic attack if I don't have my medication at the time also leaves me exhausted and stupid feeling, as if everything I had is gone. After numerous blood tests though my body has been shown to over produce adrenaline and I believe I'm just feeling temporary exhausted while everything normals out the best it can.

I've also worked out almost everyday, meditated daily, removed coffee/cigarettes from my diet totally, and taken herbal supplements for over three years and never found a solution. Unfortunately for me at this point the Dr seems the only option. Although I may look into adrenal support supplements so mine don't eventually just give out on me from working too hard.

[miho]

hi, i am new. i am here because i want to share what had helped me recently. i think i might have found a solution for brain fog, i really think it works for me. my solution is to take vitamin B complex. and it is not just any vit B you buy in drug store. i took vit B prescribed by doctor and it didn't work at all two years back.

recently i read reviews on this supplement website which said that this particular brand of vit B is effective esp in boosting energy level. ( you see, brain fog is caused by fatique ). so i bought it, and it really really works! i can now work non stop for many hours without the irritating fog, i could also go out a lot and enjoy it. on top of this, i walk about 30 mins everyday and also intend to increase my exercise duration gradually. i do not want to exercise too much because that would cause brain fog too.

the down side is, when i took the full vit B pill, i was so engergised that i couldn't sleep at night. so now i only take a third of it, but still had problem sleeping. however, it is still worth becos it gave me plenty of energy during day and a clear mind. i am not here to do any advertisement, but i am not sure if i am allowed to mention the brand here. if anyone is keen to know, maybe u could leave a message here to tell me it is ok to mention brand. ( sorry, i am a bit lazy to read the regulations on this website.  )

i also bought a how-to-stop-panic attack package online recently to see what it is about. it is money back risk free thingy, so i thought no harm trying. i must say i find it very very helpful, i am confident it will again work for me and have tried it. i think i have found hope. in a short period of just a few days, i feel like almost a new me. i am very elated. that's why i am here, hoping what i found would work for others too. i bought this package because after countless experience with doctors, i think doctors definitely do not know everything. especially they are not the one who is suffering, they don't really know what we are talking about. in the end , they prescribe us medication. but i think i need more than medication to heal completely one day. so i never stop searching what others have done. ok, i will stop now and hope to talk again. 

[ceg]

 

Wow - I do appreciate you all sharing this.  My anxiety was started with a dizzy spell I experienced when I woke up one morning.  I was dreaming about being dizzy which I think woke me up to begin with and then - I felt as if I was in a dryer being tossed around.  That was maybe 4 or 5 years ago.  I've been battling it ever since. 

I just happened on this group today and I'm so glad to have found it.

See around online!

[AmInormal?]

I get this way too.  I feel very disoriented at times and like I'm going crazy.  I find that its because I'm hyperventilating and not breathing deeply enough.  Great information. 

[Jacob]

Guys will this ever go away?

Yes. It's goes away, but only after you begin to take positive steps towards getting help and making the changes needed to be released from your anxiety.

Never give up hope, and remember you are not alone. No-one is ever alone.

Jake

[decenda]

This article had a few high points but overall seemed to be full of more things to worry about if you have any kind of HA

[paddyshack]

Guys will this ever go away?

I will say from personal experience I haven't had one of these for at least 5 years now.  I haven't conquered everything, and its possible I will have another one of these ... but it's been a long time.  I never had these real regularly, but probably daily at the peak.

I will say that once I knew what this was, I was more like those that tended to enjoy it (unless I was driving, etc).  Somehow I managed to see it more as some artistic gift.  I also found that initially, starting a med would tend to enhance these.  I haven't been on meds for years either.  So hopefully that provides some confort that it can go away.