Understanding the Bigger Picture
You are mid sentence and suddenly lose the word.
You read the same paragraph three times, but nothing seems to land.
You walk into a room and have no idea why you went there.
Some days it feels as though you are trying to think through wet concrete.
If this sounds familiar, you may describe what you are experiencing as brain fog.
Brain fog is not a medical diagnosis. Instead, it is a term commonly used to describe problems with thinking, memory, concentration and mental clarity.
At Purposeful Life, I regularly hear people describe these experiences at my clinics in Glen Osmond and Williamstown in the Barossa Valley.
The important question is not simply:
“How do I get rid of brain fog?”
A better place to begin may be:
“What could be contributing to it?”
What Does Brain Fog Feel Like?
Brain fog can feel different for different people.
For example, you may notice:
• Difficulty concentrating
• Forgetting names or words
• Losing your train of thought
• Difficulty taking in new information
• Problems multitasking
• Feeling mentally slow
• Forgetting why you walked into a room
• Difficulty planning or solving problems
These symptoms can be frustrating. They can also affect your work, relationships and confidence.
However, brain fog itself does not tell us what is causing the problem.
What Can Cause Brain Fog?
There is no single cause.
Poor sleep, stress, menopause, certain medicines, nutritional problems and inadequate exercise can contribute.
Brain fog can also occur alongside health conditions including chronic pain, anxiety, depression, diabetes, anaemia, multiple sclerosis, cancer and long COVID.
Therefore, I would be cautious of anyone telling you that one thing is always responsible for brain fog.
Instead, it is worth looking at the bigger picture.
Stress and Brain Fog
Have you ever noticed how much harder it is to think clearly when you are overwhelmed?
Stress can affect attention, concentration and memory.
When you are dealing with constant demands, poor sleep and ongoing pressure, mental clarity can suffer.
However, this does not mean every case of brain fog is caused by a dysregulated nervous system.
Stress may simply be one contributor among several.
This is why nervous system wellbeing is one of the areas I consider when someone tells me they constantly feel tired, wired and mentally foggy.
Sleep and Mental Clarity
Sleep is another important piece of the puzzle.
Your brain needs adequate sleep for memory, attention and cognitive function.
Research is also investigating the brain’s glymphatic system, a pathway involved in the movement of cerebrospinal fluid and clearance of metabolic waste.
Studies suggest that sleep and glymphatic activity are connected. However, researchers are still working to understand exactly how this system operates in humans.
So I would not describe brain fog as a brain full of toxins.
What we can say much more confidently is that poor sleep can contribute to brain fog.
Metabolic Health and Brain Fog
Metabolic health can also be worth considering.
Diabetes is among the health conditions associated with brain fog.
There is also continuing research into insulin resistance, glucose regulation and cognitive health.
However, brain fog alone does not mean you have insulin resistance.
If brain fog occurs alongside fatigue, cravings, changes in weight, energy crashes or other metabolic concerns, it may be worth discussing your metabolic health with an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
This is one reason my work at Purposeful Life includes metabolic health education alongside my nervous system focused work.
What About Inflammation?
Inflammation is another area being investigated.
For example, inflammation may contribute to brain fog associated with conditions such as long COVID and cancer. However, the mechanisms behind brain fog vary considerably depending on the underlying condition.
More recent research is also investigating possible relationships between brain fog, neuroinflammation, gut health and sleep. However, this is still a developing area of research.
Therefore, I would not assume that persistent brain fog automatically means you have inflammation in your brain.
What About the Gut Brain Connection?
Your gut and brain communicate through several pathways, including neural, hormonal and immune signalling.
This relationship is commonly called the gut brain axis.
Researchers are increasingly interested in whether changes within the gut microbiome and gut brain communication may contribute to cognitive symptoms in some circumstances.
However, symptoms such as bloating or digestive problems alongside brain fog do not prove that your gut is causing your cognitive symptoms.
Again, the bigger picture matters.
Brain Fog and Fibromyalgia
Brain fog is also common among people living with chronic pain conditions.
Many people with fibromyalgia describe cognitive difficulties, sometimes referred to informally as fibro fog.
This can include problems with memory, concentration and mental clarity.
However, I would not say fibromyalgia and brain fog necessarily have the same root cause.
Fibromyalgia itself is complex, and factors such as pain, fatigue, sleep difficulties and other physiological processes may contribute to cognitive symptoms.
If you are living with both, it makes sense to consider them as part of your broader health picture rather than assuming they are completely unrelated.
Internal link: Read Fibromyalgia and the Nervous System
What Is Your Brain Fog Telling You?
Brain fog is not laziness.
Nor is it simply a personality trait.
But it also does not point us toward one universal root cause.
Instead, it can be useful to ask:
How are you sleeping?
How are your energy levels?
Are you under prolonged stress?
Have your symptoms changed around menopause?
Are you taking medications that could be contributing?
Are you experiencing chronic pain?
Are there signs that your metabolic health deserves investigation?
Sometimes the most useful thing we can do is stop looking at one symptom in isolation.
When Should You See Your Doctor?
If your brain fog is frequent, worsening or interfering with everyday life, speak with your GP.
There can be underlying causes that need appropriate investigation.
Brain fog is also not the same as dementia or delirium. If changes in your memory or thinking are concerning you, discussing them with your doctor is important.
How I Support the Bigger Picture
At Purposeful Life, I do not diagnose or treat the medical causes of brain fog.
Instead, I work with people from a whole person wellbeing perspective.
Depending on what you are experiencing, my work may include:
Spinal Flow Technique™
A gentle approach used within my nervous system focused wellbeing work.
Metabolic Health Education
Exploring insulin resistance, nutrition, lifestyle and metabolic wellbeing where appropriate.
Breathwork
Practical breathing techniques that can support relaxation and self regulation.
NLP Coaching
Exploring thoughts, behaviours and patterns that may be contributing to ongoing stress.
PEMF and Terahertz
Complementary frequency wellness modalities.
It is not about using everything.
Instead, I want to understand what else is happening alongside the brain fog.
Brain Fog Support in Adelaide and the Barossa Valley
I work from two South Australian locations:
Abergeldie House, Glen Osmond
Williamstown, Barossa Valley
If you are struggling with persistent brain fog, fatigue, poor sleep, stress or other symptoms and feel as though nobody has connected the dots, we can start by looking at your broader wellbeing picture.
You do not need to decide which modality you need before contacting me.
Ready to Explore the Bigger Picture?
Learn more about my approach at Purposeful Life or contact me if you are unsure where to begin.
Call or text: 0481 877 860
Email: hello@purposefullife.com.au