I'm 36 years old male and have been experiencing these exact symptoms that many have posted concerning brain fog. I spend practically most of my awake hours in this mental haze.

Has anyone figured out where or what to do to break this deadly cycle?

I get brain fog where my head feels dull and like I have no oxygen and then I also get short of breath. Seems like doctors have no clue and call it a panic attack, which I know it isn't. Sometimes I wake up with it and it lasts all day -- awful feeling.

I'm choking up with tears --joy? frustration? Not sure. ut to find out that my term "brain fog" is actually recognized by others suffering from these symptoms is a relief. I recall the first time it happened. I was 23 years old and was driving my car, talking to my sister and suddenly this clouded state of mind came over me. I was disoriented and confused and it freaked me out. I actually accused my sister of drugging me with something. She's several years older than me and said "Oh, you get that too? It happens to me all the time. Get used to it." It didn't happen often, but occasionally over the years. I talked to a shrink about it. He put me on depression meds. Didn't help the brain fog. Now, I am 41 years old. It is happening more and more often, sometimes lasting for days at a time. I'm an at-home mom thinking about getting a job now, and I'm scared to death that I'm going to get brain fog on the job and do something really stupid. I'm an intelligent person, but it's as if I cannot retrieve or process information. Memory, gone. I find myself unable to use normal vocabulary, as words roll out of my mouth they aren't even close to being the words I'm trying to say. People talking to me and I hear the words but can make no connection to what they are saying to me. I feel as if I've lost my mind, literally. Nothing there. Lights off. I definitely suffer insomnia, but this was happening way before I had problems with sleeping. Stress does seem to compound the problem. I've wondered if I have early-onset Alzheimer's, but my doctor looked at me like I was stupid when I tried to explain this. I am relieved to find "the others" that are as lost as I am, but frustrated to learn that nobody knows of a doctor or any medical research that addresses just exactly what is going on here!

I cannot believe that I finally found out what the hell is wrong with me. I just went on a search engine and typed in my best description of what I felt was wrong, "Brain fog," and found you guys with the exact same symptoms that I have had since the age of 14. I am now 36 years old and am determined to fix it. Doctors just kept telling me that it was stress, depression and one even said I had A.D.D. I've always felt like there had to be a simple solution to this. Kind of like that episode of the simpsons when Homer had that crayon removed from his brain. If anyone ever comes up with a solution, please let me know and I will be sure to do the same. For now I am going to try what anon37397 said about taking melatonin 1 hr before bed time and see if it works for me too.

Ive had brain fog for years, feels like im sleepy and have no oxygen in my brain. Also I get short of breath with it. I get it out of the blue. The doctors don't know what it is or care to see what it is. Anyone know how to get rid of it or help it?

I'm 16, and I've had this problem for around five or six years now. It was a very gradual onset that I didn't take too much notice of, but I just knew that something was wrong. I lack that clarity of thought I remember so well. I still get excellent grades, although whenever I study I just feel as if nothing is 'going in'. I traced the problem back to lack of sleep, and tried various things to remedy the problem (non-medical), and it has helped to an extent. I believe the majority of the brain fog is down to diet. I've recently cut out wheat and dairy, which I basically love, however I suspect that I may have an intolerance to one, or both of these foods. Try researching it. There's an article I ran across where a man cured his long-term depression by cutting out wheat and dairy. The problem with the intolerance is that you would never actually think that you may be intolerant to these foods. In a nutshell, I recommend starting at looking at your diet. You'd be amazed by at how much food affects not only your physical, but mental and emotional well-being also. On a side-note, this is only day three of my wheat and dairy cut-out, although I'm feeling somewhat better for it. Best of luck to you all.

I am 29. I have been suffering from "brain fog" since I was 25. it just came out of the blue. I feel like a space cadet. My mom makes fun of me and tells me that I look like i'm gazing off into space. It's not because I want to. I feel zoned out and detached and it's very difficult to concentrate. I am not depressed, I have a great life, great family, great job. I'm a teacher and I love my job. It's very hard to concentrate. I feel like my head is stuffed full of cotton. Recently I started taking B12. I feel like I have more energy but still feel detached as weird as that sounds. I just wish this would go away. Doctors want to blame it on stress. I don't think they know what they're talking about. This state came on all of a sudden and won't go away. I'm relieved I'm not the only one out there.

i'm fifteen, and it scares me very much because i feel like i'm in an eggshell and life is sort of just slipping by me. this started a few months ago. i did notice that i always feel tired, so i'm wondering if it is some sort of mental fatigue.

I am a 17 year old male. For the past 2 or 3 years now I have been feeling like every part of my conscious being is in a fog. I can't concentrate. my thoughts feel i guess you could say disconnected. Here's the thing though: up until that time I was the smartest kid in my school then all of a sudden, kerplop. nothing. can't think or do anything clearly. I eat very healthy and exercise regularly. I'm in shape, From the hours of 6-7 p.m., though, I feel alive, i feel motivated. that's another thing i suffer from: a severe lack of motivation to do any sort of anything. I want to go to the doctor but I don't want to him to say I'm depressed. Because I have dealt with depression and this is nothing like it. this is worse by a long shot in its own way.

I've also been suffering brain fog since I was 20. I've been on ADS for about 14 years, I'm now 36.

Occasionally it subsides slightly but never fully goes. When I tell my doctor about it, he just looks at me and says I'm depressed. It's so annoying I just want to shake him and tell him to do his job properly. I also have underactive thyroid. I know all about the memory and consentration issues. I've recently started doing quite a lot of research on the matter and found that the following supplements may relieve the affects of brain fog: high doses of omega 3 DHA; free form acetyl-L-carnitine; R-alpha lipoic acid; ginkgo biloba; co enzyme Q10; acai berry.

Before taking any of the above please consult with your pharmacist or doctor to check compatability with any other medicines you may be taking.

I thought I had a panic attack, but realized it was only brain fog, probably due to low blood sugar. I also occasionally smoke marijuana, and thought that that might have been a contributing factor. But I'm leaning more toward the blood sugar decrease now. The brain fog symptoms seem much more plausible than the panic attack -- I could focus and continue working, but it was like a lack of clarity and feeling as though things kept shifting and time was going without me being able to "catch up" with it.

Hay I'm so glad that a lot of what I'm experiencing is what you people are. I'm 36 and have been suffering since I was 20. It's been a real struggle and take Anti D's to try and alleviate some of the symptoms. Also have an undeactive thyroid. I can totally relate to the memory problems, concentration and feelings of detachment. I've just started trying some supplements and will keep you posted on progress.

I use to have very bad brainfog. At times it developed into a headache that no painkiller could get rid of.I also found that from around 5-6 pm do I start to feel normal and energetic.

First I used a product for adrenal fatigue.Then I used Candiclear 5 for candida.Neither of these products helped.One day my eyes fell on a bottle of melatonin that had been sitting on my shelf for a year or two.I took that and the next day the brainfog was gone.I couldn't believe it!

I now take 1.5 mg of melatonin one hour before bedtime, and I have also cut back on my alcohol consumption in the evenings. One glass of red wine,nothing more .

Same symptoms here, I am personally starting on phosphatidylserine +fish oil +multi vitamins + Chromium piconolate regime.

Stress and sleep problems are very much underlying my problems. Get everything tested (blood,urine..)as diabetic condition or thyroid conditions i.e not directly observable diseases may cause it . Also understand your depression pattern and be in the company of laughing people.Prescription stimulants like modafinil may work too (had worked for me). I also tried some herbal testestorene boosters and found dropping off them suddenly triggered brain fog.

I am avoiding caffeine usage. Strange but switching between coffee and tea helped sometimes. Hope this helps someone.

So I seem to be more conscious when I don't sleep. Does anyone else have this?

Second, I have been taking a lot of vitamins,anon30577, to see if that is the cure.

So far I have felt much more normal. I will keep posting updates.

Thank the lord!! I have been telling anyone that will listen my symptoms: memory loss, disorientation, fatigued and just in general fuzzy head. I honestly believed I was going mad. I still can't find a natural remedy for this. Please help. 38 yr old female.

Wow, glad to know I am not the only one. I am 37 and amazingly it does not seem to affect my "cognitive" skills but I have the feeling that something is just not "quite right" like something is missing in my brain. I am wondering if it is vitamin deficiency or possibly seasonal affected disorder.

anon18353:

I also suffer from brain fog and have constantly now for the last 8 months with no break. I have not worked since July and I was diagnosed with lupus. You said your muscles hurt like hell. Have you been tested for an auto-immune disease? It may explain the brain fog, fatigue and muscle pain.

I am in a daze. People talk to me and I'm looking right at them and I don't know what they are saying. I forget my cat's name and family members' names. I can't read for a long period of time. I feel like I am in a bubble and just floating through life.

I am only 26. What is going on??

I'm 14. A freshmen in highschool.

I've been to an evaluator, but I'm sure he's gonna say "Nothing's Wrong."

It's infuriating. In class, I try my hardest to concentrate, but I get terrible headaches.

When I try to talk, I say the wrong thing. I call a watermelon an Ipod. I forget what I say. I have to ask if i said "Thank you"

I feel incredibly stupid, but I don't know what to do. My brain just blacks out. Like there's some blackhole in my mind and I don't know where it ends.

My grades are terrible, and I absolutely *need* tops.

I feel like when people are talking to me that I am just looking at them and the words are coming out of their mouths, but I have no idea what they are saying.

It's like a constant state of detachment. I can't get through a newspaper article and I am forgetful. I can go to the store for something and get everything but what I went for.

Whatever this is, I can't stand it.

By the way, I am 30.

I am a 22 year old female. I have symptoms of brain fog how does brain fog differ from alzheimer's disease?

My mind spins with songs and so forth it feels like i got a radio and television on in my head and i can not think clearly. I've been told i have chronic fatigue because i had a very bad brain infection i can't seem to get back to normal am always tired muscles hurt like hell and the stuff with my mind. is this called brain fog? What can i do? it all seems to come on me after i try to go out and just do normal things like go to the shop or drive for an hour.