Have you ever felt frustrated at your inability to focus on a task? It’s possible you were suffering from brain fog. Brain fog is a sensation of mental haziness that makes it difficult to concentrate, remember things, and maintain mental clarity. If you’re dealing with brain fog, even the simplest tasks can feel daunting or challenging.
In recent years, mental health experts have found a direct link between chronic brain fog and depression. At their core, both brain fog and depression impact a person’s cognitive function, well-being, and quality of life. The problem is that brain fog and depression are intertwined in a seemingly endless cycle, with the cognitive difficulties of brain fog increasing the emotional turmoil of depression.
What Is Brain Fog?
Brain fog is a type of cognitive dysfunction that causes confusion, forgetfulness, and a lack of focus. While it’s not an official medical condition, brain fog can be a symptom of other underlying medical conditions. It’s often caused by stress, lack of sleep, diet, medications, medical conditions, and hormonal imbalances.
Almost everyone experiences brain fog at some point, but the real problem occurs when it interferes with your daily life. If you have trouble focusing, your productivity at work and school will likely suffer, and your overall well-being may decrease.
Beyond a lack of focus, there are a few telltale signs that you may be experiencing brain fog. You may lack motivation, have trouble concentrating, and have impaired cognitive function. You could have trouble sleeping or low energy. Some people who suffer from brain fog go through mood swings and become irritable. You may even start experiencing mild depression.
These symptoms raise questions about the connection between brain fog and depression. Does brain fog cause depression, or does depression lead to brain fog? While brain fog can cause feelings of depression, the most widely accepted conclusion is that consistent brain fog can be a symptom of depression.
The Link Between Brain Fog and Depression
While not everyone with depression will experience brain fog, some studies suggest that those suffering from depression experience cognitive symptoms 85-94% of the time. Studies have also shown depression reduces cognitive functions, such as working memory, long-term memory, and the ability to focus. Interestingly, all of these can be signs of brain fog as well.
Challenges focusing can be difficult enough without depression. Depression can increase self-deprecating thoughts, leading to frustration, difficulty making decisions, and, ultimately, feelings of hopelessness. If you develop cognitive dysfunction as a result of depression, it could affect your mood and how you interact with others.
Symptoms of depression often include a loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy, persistent sadness, difficulty making decisions, slow thinking, and trouble remembering things. Many of these symptoms overlap with signs of brain fog, further indicating a possible connection between the two.
It’s worth noting that brain fog can also be a side-effect of medications used to treat depression. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can exacerbate symptoms of brain fog. If you already struggle with impaired focus outside of your depression, SSRIs may not be for you.
If you’re struggling with depression, seemingly easy tasks may be difficult for you to complete, which can lead to feelings of hopelessness. But don’t be discouraged. Acknowledge any discomfort, frustration, and stress, then take steps to move forward. And most importantly, don’t be afraid to ask for help.
How To Deal With Brain Fog
There’s no specific treatment for brain fog since it isn’t a diagnosable medical condition, but there are resources available to help you if you’re suffering from it.
Practicing healthy habits, going to therapy, or combining the two is a great place to start if you want to overcome brain fog. When it comes to your daily routine, engage in practices designed to reduce stress levels. Less screen time, a balanced diet, regular exercise, and getting enough sleep can all help decrease stress and increase focus, both of which help improve mental fog and depression. Finding activities you enjoy and making intentional time for them is also beneficial. While depression may have lowered your interest in things you once enjoyed, make an effort to reintroduce them into your life. After a while, you’ll remember why you liked them so much!
When combined with healthy habits, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can equip you with coping strategies for anxiety and depression. This type of therapy teaches you to modify your thought patterns and find more balanced and constructive ways to deal with stressors. The goal is for you to apply what you learn in cognitive behavioral therapy as you go through life. With the right coping strategies, you can reframe your thinking, lower stress, and improve mental clarity.
At iTrust, our team of mental health experts is equipped to give you the resources and support you need to improve your focus and mental well-being. Brain fog and depression shouldn’t keep you from living your life to the fullest. We’re here to make sure that doesn’t happen.
