I have Brain Fog

There's a lot of great posts here with relevant information and insight. My "old guy" cognitive level is about average(at least I think so), but a few years back, while in treatment with some powerful medications I was experiencing some very distressing brain fog. I was so glad to be done with that, and glad it wasn't ongoing. My wife has had chemo treatments for 3 separate cancers over the last 20+ years, her brain fog is more pronounced, and although I worry about it she is still very active in her quilting social group.
 

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MACKTEXAS said:
If I don't get enough sleep, especially for several successive nights, I have trouble focusing, so I avoid making any important decisions when I'm mentally tired, if possible.

A couple of days ago, I had to take care of some business and was out of the house quite awhile. It was a physically tiring day, but mentally stimulating, and my thinking seemed clearer and motivation was up more than it is on days when I'm home with little to do.

I keep an online journal and at the end of each day I briefly record what happened that day. I've found it useful to look back at times when I may forget certain things that took place. Like, when was my air conditioner serviced? I can enter "air conditioner" in the text document word search and find any associated events, the date they occurred, and what took place.

It's been said that we shouldn't rely on notes, because we can become too dependent on them, but I've done that most of my life. While at the computer, if something comes to mind I need to do, I jot it down on a pad and that way I won't forget. It's a bit inconvenient, but I'd rather rely on notes than forget it.
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Great idea about the journal. I may start that myself. I hope I'm not overstepping my boundaries, but I used to be an insomniac. My doctor prescribed me Trazadone. Works like a charm. Maybe you can ask your doctor about it. For me? Finally, a full night of sleep.
 
Paulina said:
Great idea about the journal. I may start that myself. I hope I'm not overstepping my boundaries, but I used to be an insomniac. My doctor prescribed me Trazadone. Works like a charm. Maybe you can ask your doctor about it. For me? Finally, a full night of sleep.
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+1 for Trazodone. Previously I had been taking Ambien, until it got some bad press so Kaiser discontinued my prescription. But Trazodone works sufficiently well for helping to fall asleep. No medication will help you stay asleep more than 3 or 4 hours, unless you're being administered something like Propofol by an anesthesiologist.
 
An unexpected thing happened to me. I read Life After Power: Seven Presidents and Their Search for Purpose Beyond the White House, by Jared Cohen.

I started reading the book, while still wondering why I purchased it. Politics and history -- not topics I generally read about.

First, the book is the best nonfiction book I have ever read. Second, any brain fog went away during and after I read it. And I know why! I was very excited about the history in the book, and my brain started making connections between facts I know knew, and facts related to the time period under discussion. It was totally amazing. My brain felt fully alive again!

Now I think that's one thing to relieve brain fog -- making connections between what you know and what you are learning. I was so amazed that I could not put the book down until I read it all. So maybe learning new things, having curiosity about things, trying new activities, meeting new people, makes all the difference.

Lately, I've been studying squirrels. I just sit outside on the patio and watch them, for probably 2-3 hours a day. I read my Kindle while I am watching, so they don't get leery about someone staring at them. I wore black reading glasses today, and that scared them, so I found my pink ones and they quit being afraid of me. I've read a great book about squirrels by a professor at Johns Hopkins. Found out so much that I know what is happening by their vocalizations and body language.

Today one was crying in a nest in a close by tree and a hawk was flying back and forth over the woods making hawk noises. So I went outside to protect the little squirrel from the hawk. The hawk disappeared a few minutes after I got there. I started fantasizing about buying a gun to kill squirrel killing hawks. (I know that's not a plan.) Or me and a hawk getting into a physical fight and me winning with a shovel in hand. (Never gonna happen ..., just have an odd imagination, I guess)
 

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