Brain fog and tiredness 24/7

[pinkfloyd33]

Hello readers, so I've been posting on Beyond Blue on and off for 2 years. I am at the end of my wits, I am so scared and I don't know what to do or if things will get better or worse.

I've suffered from generalised anxiety and depression real bad for over 2 years now, I've always been a stress head but nothing as severe as the last 24 months. A lot of PTS has occurred in my life and I am struggling to stop thinking about the past my fears. If there was a magic pill I'd take it in a heartbeat!

Over the last year I struggle to function properly, I am tired everyday no matter how much sleep I have, I have been suffering from brain fog and I find it so hard to focus, reading and taking in conversations are so hard, because this brain fog and tiredness has gotten so bad over the last year it is all I think of when I wake up, I am so scared I am going to feel lethargic the moment I wake up and then I do. I am stuck in my own negative thoughts and fears EVERYDAY, I am so depressed I don't know what to do anymore.

I've been eating well and trying to exercise a little day by day, sometimes it's so hard to leave the house it's that bad like yesterday for example: I had no idea what was going on and it felt like someone was pushing their hands on my skull 😞

I am freaking out, I am so scared I will develop alzheimer's or dementia at a young age, this is not the life I want to live, I just want to be happy and function well 😞

Is anyone going through the same thing? Or was and has found ways to take away brain fog? I know stress and anxiety is a massive indicator but surely there is a way around this problem, thank you and much love to everyone.

[White_Rose]

Hello Pinkfloyd

I think we have spoken before but I cannot remember the conversation. Sorry. You sound very down and worrying over something that is unlikely to happen is not helping. Have spoken to your GP? This needs to be your first port of call. Your tiredness may have a physical cause and can be remedied quite easily. It may be that you are depressed and this can make people feel exhausted, especially if you are trying to keep a mask of happiness on.

I have gone through periods of tiredness and sometimes it's hard to find the cause. Sometimes it's our bodies giving us a message. Slow down. I cannot tell you why you are tired and neither can anyone else without talking to you and possibly physically examining you. You need to see your doctor. Rule out the most obvious causes and go from there.

One thing you must, absolutely must do when chatting to your doctor and that is to be completely honest. Telling only parts of your story will not get a proper diagnosis and you need to start working on getting well.

I hope you will write in again and tell us what you have found out.

Mary

[BluBelle]

I've been going through this recently too, pinkfloyd, and it's incredibly frustrating. The tiredness I think I could deal with, as I don't have a very active lifestyle anyway, but the brain fog just makes things impossible. I can't focus or concentrate on anything but stuff like mindless phone games or inane tv shows. Some days are worse than others, some days I barely have the energy to get out of bed. I went to my doc for a blood test, as Mary suggested, to rule out anything physical. All my vitamin and mineral levels came back fine, which to be honest was disappointing. I was hoping a quick b12 shot or an iron supplement would fix everything. My mum is very much into naturopathic remedies, which I'm very skeptical about. She got me some complex B vitamins and some adrenal support mixture. I haven't noticed any marked results, but who knows. I'm trying to get some more sunshine, lay off the caffeine and do gentle exercise - although some days I do not have the energy for even that. I know this isn't very practical, just wanted to let you know you're not alone x

[monkey_magic]

I too suffer from tiredness and brainfog. I think a walk in the sunshine can help, swimming,tennis,any form of physical activity really,lots of water,maybe crying. Hope this helps and u feel better soon. Lifes too short to b feeling so crappy.

[geoff]

Well I think needs to be addressed to all those above me, and thanks Mary for helping out.
Being tired is a trade prerequisite when you are struggling with depression, you may have 12 hours sleep, but that makes no difference, because you are constantly tired and all you want to do is go back to bed.
Doctor's or naturopaths may suggest vitamens after the doctors do a blood test for thyroid and find nothing wrong, but I take heaps of vitamens and to me it makes no difference, however I do agree with Steph6 that swimming could be a great to regain some energy, the thing is to make yourself want to go.
I remember when I was depressed and still married my ex and 2 sons pleaded with me to go swimming, and I can say that it did do wonders for me, but it didn't overcome my depression, but it gave me a certain amount of time to give me a reprieve for a couple of hours.
The one thing that bothers us is that we have to make the effort to want to go swimming and to do this is very difficult, so if you can find someone who can join you would give you the incentive you may need.
Remember your bed will always be there when you get home. Geoff.

[A_Penitent_K]

I am traversing a similar landscape to you. At times, the peaks of anxiety are so high, I get lost in trying to find a way over that I am not present for a lot of the time. I’ll discover myself doing a task I had no idea I had begun. Other times I can’t focus, on anything that I am doing and I am caught on some peak of anxiety with now idea how to get down.



Hours go by like this.



What I’ve found help is to do something, anything. What I found is that often once I do something, even the smallest of actions, it would soon give me the inspiration and motivation to do something else. It’s a small
firmware update: “OK, I did that, I guess I can do more.” And slowly we take it from there. The fog goes away, not completely, but enough that you can focus on what you’re doing.

Other times, it helps me to listen to talks or tv shows by people who are passionate about something outside of themselves. You tube is a digital trove for this, so are podcasts. Their passion has a way of dispelling the
fog, and taking you outside of yourself.



I hope some of this is helpful.





Take care of yourself

[Resillence]

Hello everyone,

I'm so glad you posted this Pink Floyd, I was honestly just looking through all the forums to see if anyone else felt the same way. (I'm new so still finding my way around).

I hope you will post here again so that you know you are not alone in this, and can read all the helpful advice offered. Definately worth checking your thyroid function and talking to your doctor about your anxiety and depression. Could be that your pts is draining all your focus, even if unconsciously.

I can tick every box above of everyone's personal experience. My sleeping patterns are in the opposite time zone, and I often stall getting out of bed, even if I'd had more sleep than I actually need. I believe I do so to avoid the anxiety of a new day.

I'm pretty much a zombie when I do wake, I'm not sure if I'm thinking about anything or if my head is racing from one thought to the next. Definately unable to focus.

I only really come back to life late afternoon when I listen to Merrick and Rosso on triple m. They make me laugh and help me escape my brain fog, to feel part of this world again somehow, and then I can accomplish some things....

[Bainesey]

Hi. I hsve exactly the same symptoms. I believe it is stress. When stressed the muscles in the head can tense, this is the case with me feeling like a constant pressure headache. Stress also realeses cortisol which can impact brain fog. Only relief i ever had was from an anti anxiety and depressant medication. When my stress is reduced so is brain fog. Strange but when im intoxicated and less stressed i feel like i have more mental clarity.

Only cure is meds, deal with underlying issues eg. Past trsumatic events and stressors via counselling and therapy, talking to people about things and basically anything that makes u feel good and less stressed. I am no longer on meds and it came back. This has to be talked full on treated like a full blown medical condition. Mine is very bad and crippled my life but all is not lost and there is always hope for a better tommorow

[goodies]

I am in the same boat. My anxiety and depression is bad but the reduced cognition and executive function as they call it is killing me. I can't work properly. It comes and goes. I might have it for a month then I am good for a few months before it comes back. Meds don't seem to help at all.

[noraenorvas]

Hi Bainesey

I've got this stress, brainfog, tinnitus, memory and focus problems going on since October. A few more months and it's 'Chronic', as in, it never goes away or lets up: 24/7 Brain fog.

Doctor's, Nuerologist, ENT, Opthamologist all came back 100% healthy, so it's looking like stress/depression.

What sort of medication did you take to end the symptoms?

I've tried eating better, sleeping longer, exercise, walks, nature, meditation... nothing natural seems to help.
I'm at the stage where I am going to see a Psychiatrist in a couple of weeks and I'm terrified I'll be put on some drug that doesn't work and makes me worse.

I'm just curious what they put you on with good results?

Thank you.

- A