In today's busy life, unnecessary worry, stress and overthinking have become a common problem. Often people ignore it considering it just mental nervousness or tiredness, but if you are deeply worried about something or the other all the time and you have started forgetting things, then it can be a direct sign of brain fog. According to medical science, long-term anxiety and mental stress deeply affect the functioning of our brain. This has a negative impact on thinking ability, focus and memory. Health experts have revealed how anxiety makes your mind dull and confused and what steps should be taken to prevent it.
Brain fog is not an independent disease in itself, but it is a symptom related to mental and physical health in which a person experiences difficulty in concentrating, lack of mental clarity, inability to take decisions and persistent forgetfulness. When a person goes through constant anxiety, his mind remains alert and in danger mode (Fight or Flight Mode) all the time. Due to constant stress, a large part of the brain's energy gets spent in dealing with unnecessary worries. As a result, brain function is affected and the person feels as if there is fog in his mind.
When the level of anxiety in the body increases, our adrenal gland starts secreting excessive stress hormone called 'Cortisol'. Increased cortisol levels cause the most damage to the part of the brain called the 'hippocampus'. The hippocampus is responsible for storing our new memories and learning new things. Due to excessive cortisol, the neuron cells of the hippocampus start becoming weak. Along with this, the speed of the 'Prefrontal Cortex' of the brain, which works for logical thinking, decision making and concentration, also slows down. Due to this neurological change, the anxiety patient starts forgetting small things and feels mentally tired.
Symptoms of brain fog caused by anxiety can severely affect a person's everyday life. Its main symptoms include a constant feeling of heaviness in the head, inability to concentrate on any one task for more than 10-15 minutes, hesitation in remembering simple words or names, mental fatigue despite complete sleep and irritability over small things. If these symptoms have been bothering you for weeks or months, it is a clear sign that your anxiety is now taking over the neurological health of your brain.
To break the cycle of brain fog and anxiety, it is important to make changes in lifestyle and mental habits. First of all, improve your sleep pattern and take 7 to 8 hours of deep sleep every day, because it is during sleep that the brain clears its toxins. Include mindfulness, meditation and deep breathing pranayam in your daily routine which reduce cortisol levels instantly. Apart from this, eat a balanced diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids, green vegetables and antioxidants which nourish brain neurons. If anxiety levels are very high, consult a psychiatrist or counselor and seek help from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).