It’s most common around menopause transition. Lack of sleep can become an issue due to night sweats and hot flashes. Children are growing up, and their activity schedules can be confusing. Stress gets to you. More things may be weighing on your mind. It’s harder to store memories when you’re preoccupied with everything else.
Stop being so hard on yourself. When you can’t meet your own expectations, you increase your own stress.
You may be worried that it’s early dementia. If you have brain fog and forget to send lunch to school, you’re fine. If you forget what lunch is, it’s time to see a doctor about dementia.
If you’re experiencing forgetfulness, take a look at your lifestyle first. Examine how much sleep you’re getting. Get physical exercise regularly. Check your diet. Consider your stressors. All of these things contribute to brain fog. Take a little action each day to improve lifestyle. Hormonal replacement would be appropriate after these factors have been handled.
Pay particular attention to your sleep hygiene. Waking in the middle of the night can put your body in catastrophe mode, leaving you frustrated because you know the impact of missing out on sleep. If you wake in the night and can’t fall back asleep, leave your bed. Visit the restroom. Find a quiet spot in your home and focus on your breathing. This should leave you relaxed so you can head back to bed. If you can’t fall back asleep right away, try it again.
Listen as Dr. Diana Bitner joins Dr. Pamela Peeke to bring back your mental focus and reduce the brain fuzziness.
Diana Bitner, MD, has been a OB/GYN physician for 25 years, delivered over 1000 babies, is a DaVinci Robotic Surgeon, and works full-time in the office.