Brain Fog

[tducey]

I usually find something that interests me and stimulates me as well.

 

[ragmanjin]

I've been having a lot of those days lately, brain fog morning till night. Writing seems helpful to get thoughts moving again but is also incredibly difficult to get started on sometimes. I mean, in the same way as it's incredibly difficult to get started on anything on those days, I often find several hours just vanish while I'm trying to decide what happens first after I wake up.
Anyways I've been trying to start small writing things like this and working up from there for the day, so thank you guys for not only the advice but also allowing me this space to participate.

 

[Pondering]

It helps me to drink some green tea either in the morning or early afternoon. I don't know if everyone else is like this, but if I have brain fog it's usually accompanied by physical lethargy, and occurs as a result of 1) not getting enough sleep, 2) not eating the right foods, 3) slept for too long, 4) not drinking enough water, or 5) spent too much time doing something mentally, physically, or emotionally strenuous or stressful. It's easier for me to clear the brain fog if I feel energized and hydrated. And what helps me with that is green tea. It's not as acidic as coffee, and a it has a slower caffeine release, meaning it doesn't give me gut problems or insomnia, both of which I'm extremely sensitive to. Other times, if my head is foggy because I'm mentally, physically, or emotionally drained, the best thing for me to do is to just relax for a bit and recharge, wait for it to pass.

 

[Progster]

Yes, I have days like that. Eating helps, as does caffeine and exercise.

 

[CMZ]

I used to have these days all the time. Then I cut out dairy in the morning. Haven't had a brain fog day since.

I emphasize "in the morning" because I still have dairy at night. I can't go to sleep without having a glass of milk first.

This is all at the advice of my doctor, an actual ASD specialist.

I might try this, but I first thought, "I won't have my usual bowl of cereal because that has milk in it so I'll just have an egg with some butter. Oh, wait; that's dairy too. I guess I'll have a smoothie then with some yogurt in it. Oh, wait; that's dairy too." Now I'm trying to figure out what to have for breakfast.

 

[Gritches]

I might try this, but I first thought, "I won't have my usual bowl of cereal because that has milk in it so I'll just have an egg with some butter. Oh, wait; that's dairy too. I guess I'll have a smoothie then with some yogurt in it. Oh, wait; that's dairy too." Now I'm trying to figure out what to have for breakfast.

Yeah I had the same problem when I decided to give up dairy. Cereal? Nope. Yogurt? Nope. Honestly, I'm so broke right now I just eat Ritz crackers for breakfast, but if I had the money I'd go for cinnamon rolls. Maybe donuts, but those have a bit more sugar and fat AFAIK.

 

[LucyPurrs]

Yeah I had the same problem when I decided to give up dairy. Cereal? Nope. Yogurt? Nope. Honestly, I'm so broke right now I just eat Ritz crackers for breakfast, but if I had the money I'd go for cinnamon rolls. Maybe donuts, but those have a bit more sugar and fat AFAIK.

Does margarine count for dairy? Can't you cook the eggs with margarine? Or boil them and make warm egg salad sandwich with mayo which can be delicious?

 

[tree]

Does margarine count for dairy? Can't you cook the eggs with margarine? Or boil them and make warm egg salad sandwich with mayo which can be delicious?

Oleo/oleomargarine/margarine often contains whey.
Whey is dairy.
I don't use oleo because it contains whey.

 

[ragmanjin]

If you can find cashew milk for your cereal, that seems to be the creamiest and most texturally satisfying alternative I've tried. For the eggs, I'd say cook them in avocado or olive oil and sprinkle them with nutritional yeast, it gives them that cheesie dairy-like flavour with lots of B vitamins, combined with the heaviness of the oil it really makes a beautifully satisfying dish.
Just my two cents, I hope it helps a little.
Thank you again.

 

[LucyPurrs]

Forgot about almond milk which is all I use anymore. I really like it and you can get it sweetened or unsweetened and it'd also be great with cereal. May be a bit more available than cashew milk which I don't think we have in our local supermarket.
On another note thanks @tree for your info- didn't know margarine contained whey and that was dairy.

 

[Kevin L.]

I very much second the idea of avoiding dairy and gluten.

I had problems my entire life that my family put down to me being a hypochondriac, and then I heard about dairy and gluten and the supposed relationship to autism.

I cut out dairy and gluten 11 years ago, and the mental fogginess gradually receeded our a period of about six weeks.

I've seen animals nurse, and it always seems like animals (including humans) tend to doze off and sleep after nursing.

This is usually attributed to the comfort of the mother-offspring bond, but what if its chemical? It is to a nursing mother's benefit to have the baby sleep while she takes care of her own needs and drinks/eats to replenish the resources expended on milk production.

Suppose some people never outgrow this (a form of neoteny, which is well documented in the animal kingdom), and still get the sedative effects of dairy products in adolescence and adulthood?

There was a lot of talk about a narcotic called casomorphin in milk contributing to autism, but it has been--supposedly--discredited.

 

[booknut]

I Feel disembodied most of the time, like I'm controling a puppet or robot. I can't focus on anything much, I often lose track of television programs and movies, and this annoys my brother when I ask him what just happened. Any tips on feeling less unreal?

 

[Vitamin Sea]

I Feel disembodied most of the time, like I'm controling a puppet or robot. I can't focus on anything much, I often lose track of television programs and movies, and this annoys my brother when I ask him what just happened. Any tips on feeling less unreal?

Rest your mind from the unnecessary clutter, focus on the main theme, and the rest is just background. I can’t give you much advice, I’m really foggy/sluggish nowadays. I’ve had my worse allergy symptoms about two weeks ago and still bothered with all the medicine, eye drops, nasal spray, skin ointment I have to take or use in a day.

 

[tree]

@booknut

I would make sure I was getting enough
B-vitamins. A deficiency can produce
a feeling of unreality.

'I felt I was stuck in a dream because of a vitamin deficiency nobody talks about.'
Vitamin B-Complex Requirement - Symptoms and Diagnosis

Also, some exercise helps a person to feel
more grounded. Walking, lifting small weights
(the size of a soup can, for instance)...

 

[Kevin L.]

I Feel disembodied most of the time, like I'm controling a puppet or robot. I can't focus on anything much, I often lose track of television programs and movies, and this annoys my brother when I ask him what just happened. Any tips on feeling less unreal?

I went through this a lot until I cut out gluten and dairy products.

If you experiment with this, inform your doctor, and be ready for withdrawal symptoms. I got double vision, night sweats, the shakes, sometimes episodes of nausea, and so on. This subsided after about two weeks, and it wasn't continuous. These symptoms come and go.