It may not be an actual medical condition, but "brain fog" has become a common complaint for many people who struggle with thinking clearly, concentrating and memory.
This issue can be caused by menopause, vitamin deficiencies, ageing, pregnancy, hormonal changes, stress and has even been linked to long Covid. But how do you know when your head is just a bit busy, and when should you get it checked by a doctor?
Dr Mark Rowe, GP and author of Things You're Future Self Will Thank You For, joined Drivetime to share his advice and tips for managing brain fog.
Brain fog, Rowe says, "is a constellation of different symptoms" ranging from losing your train of thought and losing your focus to feeling mentally drained and being forgetful. It's also very common; Rowe says that current studies suggest that around 28% of people experience brain fog in any given year.
Of course, your first port of call if this is a persistent complaint that is causing real stress to your life is to visit your GP and get it checked, but there are many factors in modern life that can be contributing to the feeling of mental sluggishness.
"I'd always say, it is a red flag to look at what's going on", Rowe says.
"So many of us now are experiencing chronic low-grade stress, and if you imagine a tap dripping, Cormac, imagine drops of water dripping constantly. That's how stress hormones like cortisol are impacting your brain, and of course, it burns a hole in your willpower muscle. It depletes your focus and concentration. That can really cause forgetfulness and cause you to lose your focus."
Rowe also flags that many of us are experiencing "addiction to distraction", which is worsening this problem.
"We're not really good at multi-tasking. The brain can only really focus on one thing at any one time, so what happens is your brain tends to switch tasks and that burns brain energy and really leaves us feeling really tired."
On top of this, we have more ways than ever to communicate with one another, which can make a person feel "completely overwhelmed", Rowe says. "Our brains are not really designed for this level of sensory input."
No one's life is a perfect balance of stress and relaxation, Rowe says, "but the question is, how can I make things a little bit better? How can I clear my distractions a little bit? How can I bring more stress busters into my days, the micro-moments of wellbeing?"
To listen back to the full interview, click above.
If you have any questions or concerns about your health, be sure to contact your GP.
