To avoid interruptions, teach family members to wait by saying things like, "I'm right now, but I'll help you as soon as I'm done. The solution: instead of multi-tasking, do only one thing at a time. Many patients experience fog when they try to do more than one thing at a time, such as reading while watching TV or talking while fixing dinner. For example, keep your medicines where you dress, so you will see them and remember to take them when getting up in the morning and getting ready for bed at night.ĭo One Thing at a Time (Avoid Multi-Tasking) Organize your house and possessions so that they give you built-in reminders. Use a calendar or the alarm on your watch, computer or smartphone to keep track of appointments and tell you when to do things (or to set limits and remind you to stop). Use Post-It notes in prominent places to jog your memory. Write out your tasks for the day on a To Do list. As another person said, "If I'm pretty far gone, that's a sign that I need to cancel some activities." You can also use the presence of brain fog as a signal to cut back. As one person in our program said, "When I'm too tired and foggy to think, I put things off until the next day and get extra rest instead." If you're not thinking clearly, postpone jobs that are mentally challenging, switch to a simpler task or take a break. Postpone, Switch Tasks or Cancel Activities Many fibromyalgia patients find mornings the best. The best time of day varies from person to person.įor many ME/CFS and FM patients, that time is mid-afternoon to early evening. Do the tasks that require concentration and mental clarity during the hours you are sharpest. Most of us have better and worse times of the day. If your fog is thickest in the morning, put out your clothes the night before. For example, always put your keys in your purse when you arrive home. Reduce fog by living a predictable life with routines: doing the same things every day in the same way. For more on the power of rest, see Nurture Yourself with Pre-Emptive Rest. Even if I don't feel tired, the fact that I can't think clearly tells me that I am beyond my limit."Ī brief rest may be enough to end the fog for some people. As one person in our program said, "Brain fog helps me to recognize when I'm outside my energy envelope and need a break. This article describes 14 non-drug strategies for lifting the fog, divided into three categories.Ĭognitive difficulties can be caused by overactivity. You feel better while you're on it, but when it wears off, you crash." In the words of one patient, "Taking stimulants is like borrowing energy you don't really have. The difficulties, which many people find very distressing, include being forgetful, feeling confused, difficulty concentrating and the inability to speak clearly.Ĭognitive problems can have a variety of causes, including:īeing too active, living "outside energy envelope"ĭoing more than one task at the same timeĬognitive problems are sometimes treated with stimulants, such as Provigil (modafinil) or caffeine, but these substances can produce a push/crash cycle. Most people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and many people with fibromyalgia experience cognitive problems, often called "brain fog" or "fibro fog." (Note: From the series Treating ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia.) Lifting the Fog: Treating Cognitive Problems Print
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