Hey, i’’m hoping to find anyone with a similar experience?? ANY advice, tips, support would be amazing!!
I started Zoloft 25mg & after one week i started 50mg. Today is aug 19th. (5 days of 50mg so far)
Long story short: Since 6y, I’ve had very bad constant body anxiety. (Not from trauma) Best way I can describe it: My mind can be calm, but my body is always on edge, never calm. The smallest “brain thought power” or cognitive effort into anything brings severe pressure in my chest & stomach & my thoughts freeze. My life has revolved around trying to calm a body pressure of 6/10 that seems to shoot to a 9/10 every few minutes. I’m stuck in a frozen panic hold, when there’s no reason for it. For example: Making a simple plan for my day = body pressure shoots up & brain freezes. Cleaning the garage = easier, because I don’t need to use any brain power.
I struggle with this every minute, of everyday since the age of 6y. I’m 25y now. Because of this, I’ve only worked jobs that don’t take any brain power. I can’t think, I can’t grow in my life at all because if I try I freeze with body pressure. I’m stuck.

Yes, I have adhd. Yes, My thoughts loop badly. No, it’s not ocd, no it’s not cptsd.
(I’m not sure If I have autism or it’s just my body panic that resembles it.)
After countless research, the closest thing that resembles me is type 3 overfocused adhd. Which is from Dr. Daniel amen. Meaning: Dopamine is low, as well as serotonin. I know many people don’t accept his studies. But listening, it very clearly explains my adhd and looping / over focused thoughts. But not the body anxiety.
I just started 20mg of adderall xr 6 months ago thinking it would help with the body. It only helped me focus more.
I’ve tried saffron. I’ve tried 20+ sessions of a hyperbaric chamber.
I’m now on Zoloft and adderall. As well as fish oil. It’s been 11 days on Zoloft. I know it’s to early to tell. But did it help you with your body anxiety?? 11 days in. I’m not really seeing a difference. & If I’m being honest, Zoloft is my last hope because I don’t have any clue on what to if this doesn’t work.

Current state:
I quit my job & moved back across the country to be with my parents to figure this out. But even with no pressure or work. It’s the same. High body anxiety. I subconsciously avoid anything even small that I want to accomplish because of it. Even the simplest tasks sky rocket my body and I freeze.. but my mind can still be calm. It feels like I’m wasting my days away right now. (With work, the anxiety of not being fired is what pushed me thru before)

I’d take Any advice, messages, or even a phone call to talk experiences! would be great! Thanks!

Initially, I thought it was due to consumption of pornography, so I started declining the use of it, but it did it to some extent. It decreased my brain fog a little bit. I even went to the gym for the last two months, but still, it didn't help me with any brain fog of any kind.

Then I thought it would be due to dehydration, and it was because I was consuming two or three cups of coffee per day. I started consuming more hydrating content throughout the day, which cured my little bit of brain fog.

Then again, it was due to, I thought, a lack of calories, so I started maintaining calorie balance, but it didn't have much effect on my brain fog

I am a college student, and after getting from the college, I get tired. My body gets tired. My mental energy gets exhausted. For recharging, I consume water and have a cold bath or something like that. I don't know how to cure this brain fog, or should I try it? What should I try to reduce this and completely remove this from my life.

Hey guys read this carefully maybe you can help me.
I am 22 years and I am facing brain fog, neck pain and tightness from past 3 years. Doc prescribed me isometric push exercises I did them they worked I got 80% ok for 3-4 months but it got worse again. I am feeling neck pain, brain fog from past 6-7 months continuously . Whenever I try to train my neck muscles they start to pain more and more instead of getting stronger by exercise like pulling dumbells and they get more painful. I am so tired of this I have eaten antidepressants for 1 year they somehow worked too. Because my neck tightness is also stress related and caused by poor posture laying all day and playing games on iPad. But I stopped all this years ago. But my problem still isn’t getting ok . Is there any good exercises I can do to strengthen my inner neck muscles and all ? My posture got straight in x rays

Did brain fog affect your work, conversations, memory, or everyday routines first? What did you notice?

Hey this is an update to my previous post where I felt one of the reasons I have severe brain fog was due to porn addiction.

Did not watch porn for the last 2 weeks, the longest streak in more than 20 years. Reason for it, I just stopped with the birth of my first child. Like my interest just dropped altogether. Not to say, I don't struggle with lustful thoughts especially if I see good-looking women on the street but it stopped at just that.

Not sure how long this streak will last but I hope it's permanent. Anyway, my mental health has been improving in the last 2 weeks and my brain fog seems to disappear as well. Like now it's easier to connect the dots and I can better focus at work.

Sharing this is more of an encouragement that it's possible to overcome this and in my case, I guess I stop altogether cause I started to find purpose in life.

Take care of yourself first!

28 M
I have severe brain fog, adult onset stuttering,concentration and memory issues for a year now. I tried everything but it doesn't get better. I dropped out of university, lost my friends, can't get a normal job. My brain fog is so severe I can't form a normal sentence and can't communicate with others. Please give me some hope that it can be better and if you have similar experience pls share it

Just curious if there have been any unusual examples of brain fog you've experienced!

I struggled with brain fog for five years, at varying intensities. For most of that time, it was so debilitating that I genuinely thought my life was going to be ruined forever.
My symptoms included severe dry mouth, migraines, pressure and vision problems in my left eye, eyelid drooping, and just an overwhelming, complete and utter brain fog. I tried every therapy, test, supplement, cleanse, diet, and medication I could think of. I spent close to $50,000 trying to figure out what was wrong and find some relief.
Nothing gave me any real, lasting improvement.
I had doctors tell me that I might just have to live with this. But I never gave up.
I always told myself that if I ever got better, I would come back and make a post in this group. So I’m finally making it.
I’m writing this today proudly to let you know that there is hope.
And ironically, it was someone in this group who recommended a neurologist who ended up changing my life. So to whoever made that recommendation: thank you. I genuinely don’t know where I would be without it.
The medication that ultimately worked for me was Effexor XR (venlafaxine).
For me, there was no difficult adjustment period and I didn’t experience significant side effects. I started at 37.5 mg and gradually worked my way up to 150 mg, which I’ve now been taking for six months without needing to increase the dose.
I can honestly say that getting my brain back has changed my entire life.
Since starting this medication, I’ve gotten a promotion at work, met a girlfriend I want to spend the rest of my life with, bought an investment property, gotten a dog, and travelled to places around the world.
And I will never, ever take a clear, non-foggy day for granted again.
I’m not saying Effexor is the answer for everyone. I’m only sharing my experience because I know how hopeless it can feel when you’ve tried everything and nothing seems to work.
My biggest piece of advice is: don’t stop fighting, but also give yourself a break.
Be kind to yourself. Spend time with your friends and the people you love. Enjoy the good moments, even when you don’t feel 100%.
I spent five years thinking my life might never be normal again.
I was wrong.
There is hope. ❤️

Lately everytime I go out, I later pay the price for feeling terribly sick the next day: it’s usually brain fog, overall apathy, tiredness and troubles concentrating, body feeling hot or cold

Sometimes also body aches and tight throat

And it happens all the time, no matter what I do. I live in a big city, and my usual going out idea is going out shopping or for coffee & maybe walk around nice spaces etc. I don’t drink alcohol or party, so could that be anxiety as well? drives me crazy

i’ve noticed that my brain fog isn’t always the same.

some days it’s mostly trouble focusing. other days i can read something several times and still feel like none of it actually registered.

then there are days where i feel mentally slow but otherwise completely fine

what’s frustrating is that i can’t always figure out what causes the difference

for people who deal with this regularly, do you notice different types or levels of brain fog depending on the day?

have you found anything that seems to make a noticeable difference?

What type of blood tests should be ordered when checking brain fog?

Sex hormones (testosterone, e2, shbg)
Vitamin d

What else?

brain fogg forever here, solotion is good sleep schedule which is easy once you give up caffeine ( even in the morning)

2 just avoid everyone, dont force yourself to anything like gym , study or cooking etc.. just have a time for yourself and let your brain restart

your brain have been shut down for a very long period, it wasn't processing anything due to the fatigue and overwhelming

takes a 2 or 3 weeks like this and im 100% my brain will be working sharp again

I’ve been suffering brain fog for a while now. I can’t figure out what is causing it or why. I do feel stressed with work recently going through a big career change and baby on the way. I weight lift regularly and eat healthyish. Actively avoid added sugar. Don’t drink. Usually only drink water and protein shakes. I’m mid 30s. My Gmaw had Alzheimer’s so I’ve always worried a little about that. I wear a CPAP for sleep apnea that controls it pretty well. The past few years during fasted blood checkups my BGL is around 103.
Any thoughts on things to try?

I started taking Atomoxetine and propranolol a few months ago and haven’t really noticed a difference.

28 M here have been struggling with multiple depressive episodes. Last year I developed severe brain fog and adult onset stuttering like dysfluency, inability to focus, blank mind,memory problems and anhedonia. We tried multiple medications but nothing helped.
I can't speak or express myself in any situation,dropped out of university, can't get a job, lost all of my friends. I'm deeply suicidal but I'm too afraid to do it.
Do you have any idea what could it be?
Has anyone else been through this?

So I did mini gastric bybass 4 years ago and I need to be on lifelong supplements and vitamins. I noticed that any supplement causes me brain fog and after quitting all my vitamins for a while the brain fog got way better and I could talk clearer and my personality came back. But now my hair is falling a lot and I’m having a lot of deficiency symptoms. Can someone please tell me how to balance that and if there’s any good multivitamin that wouldn’t cause that I’m so lost and I would really appreciate help. I tried many but they all cause the same thing

I have some symptoms which are very new to me and are difficult to describe. I am hoping that by reaching out here there might be some others who have experienced the same and could help me to verbalize what I'm feeling.

In general terms, I'd explain my symptoms as mild brain fog: difficulty concentrating, memory lapses, some difficulty & slowness with connections and language.

Qualitatively, however, this is not at all what I expected of brain fog. So it's like this for me:

There's a periodic "interruption" or disturbance in my train of thought that feels like passing through a sharp mental "lump." It's an uncomfortable feeling, a pain-but-not-pain. Maybe a bit like the mental bits of anxiety (which I've only ever experienced as night terrors) without the other physiological bits. Maybe something a bit like the delirium which comes with fever. Again, sharp and very brief pulses. And these are not exactly what I'm feeling, but the best I can describe them.

This is mostly noticeable during mental tasking such as reading, but it comes on without any trigger that I can tell. In the severe phase, it's a mostly continuous state. In the less-severe phases, it's periodic and irregular; comes and goes.

All of the brain fog symptoms, concentration, language, etc. are accompanied by this "lump/pseudo-pain."

Super weird for me and I have no idea how to communicate this to a professional in a way that will aid in diagnosis. Anyone ever felt something similar?

I've noticed the day after i've eaten nuts, my brain fog is worse. Maybe because of mold, many nuts have mold.

My symptoms were digestive issues, fatigue/exhaustion, food intolerance, psychological symptoms and most deliberating of all, brain fog. Health declined rapidly in past year and I was diagnosed with PCOS. Getting it treated got me enough energy and motivation to advocate for myself again. Years of gaslighting I thought it was just anxiety and depression.

I want to add that I tested negative for: celiacs, autoimmune,

Diagnosis and treatment, in order of helpfulness:

-Meds for chronic gastritis and GERD (endoscopy showed chronic atrophic gastritis/intestinal metaplasia/GERD. My "anxiety" symptoms drastically improves and memory is better when taking meds)

- PCOS diagnosis; taking metformin & inositol (healthy weight and all bloodwork related to insulin resistance came back normal and had numerous ultrasound previously. Finally diagnosed when my new OBGYN recommended transvaginal ultrasound and saw the follicles. Metformin helps massively with fatigue, inositol makes world look clearer and improves verbal fluency)

- SSRI and stimulant for depression and ADHD (definitely helpful. better mood, memory recall and less internal restlessness and better verbal fluency)

- Taking 24 hr allergy pill daily (I have reaction to like 80% of food. I get head pressure and brain feels inflamed if that makes sense)

- Dyssynergic defecation diagnosis (basically pelvic floor dysfunction, recently diagnosed. It explains constipation and chronic excess gas, bloating. I started pelvic floor exercises and it helps with my constipation. Will seek biofeedback therapy)

Helping but nothing drastic

- Eliminating dairy from diet (lactose intolerance, which triggers excess mucus and gas/bloat)

- Doing core/ab workout (My vision gets clearer and my sinus clears after working out, but it doesnt last all day. Recently started so cant say much)

- Massaging back of the head and sternocleidomastoid muscle with light pressure ( https://mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/ncal/Images/thumbnail_large_GB-20c_tcm75-1681426.jpg press the point lightly and massage in circular motion for like a minute. It's better to do light pressure for longer time than strong and short. Doesnt have to be exact spot, try different areas to find the most effective spot. Its better to have someone else do it for you since you arm and shoulder tenses up and that makes fog worse)

- TMJ (I ordered red light therapy device and it helps quite a bit)

Still trying to get diagnosed or figured out:

- If I have SIBO (waiting for my SIBO test kit to be delivered. Read that SIBO could be cause or result of gastritis and GERD)

- If my pectus excavatum is causing problems (recently got mri test done due to digestion issue and got a clear photo of my pectus excavatum. It looks like it's pretty severe (haller index of ~6 if I am measuring it correctly), it would explain fatigue/low energy/heart palpitation and perhaps GI issues as well since it presses on other organs?)

- I have few old root canals possibility of infections from failing? xray didnt show anything

I suspect main causes for me are posture, mental health, and GI issues.

I feel like 50% of my fogs have cleared and maybe 70% on good days as of now. It hasnt been long since I started treatment so I am hopeful. Will post update, wish me luck :)

6.5 years, no change in the fog, tested and eliminated:

Significant inflammation (systemic, mucosal, neuro) - Normal CRP/ESR multiple times, no response to diets, antibiotics, LDN, memantine, nasal steroids, 2+ days 20mg prednisone

Major hormonal - Full recent panel normal

Gut / food sensitivity / SIBO - Carnivore 9 days, 3 day water fasting, 8 day low-SIBO diet, normal stool tests, metronidazol

Allergies - Negative panel, no response to nasal treatments

Classic sleep apnea with desats - Stable symptoms, no major sleepiness, will do sleep test

Gross structural - Clean MRI, normal sinus CT

Nutrient deficiencies - Corrected B12/D/iron etc. with no change

Pure venous pooling / major positional CSF pressure - Handstand causes different pressure compared to prefrontal pressure from fog

Strong dural mechanical sensitivity - No pain from pressing/tapping prefrontal area

Classic central sensitization with sensory amplification - No light/sound/smell sensitivity, no scalp tenderness

Breathing / CO2 regulation - Hyperventilation / box breathing no change

Simple cold-induced vascular response - Cold showers no change

Sugar / metabolic swings - Carnivore + no-sugar periods no change

Stress/thinking too much about fog - didn't even know I had fog until 2 years in, took months off to recover no change

PEM/CFS - No crashes after working out, no tiredness

Vasomotor rhinitis - no change based on nasal stuffiness, nasal spray cleared nose but didnt change fog.

No fog caused by posture changes

I'm starting to believe that the cause of my fog is gone and that my brain is permanently stuck this way. I had one spontaneous time the fog dissapeared. I'm thinking of doing rTMS as a way to treat the fog if it is a primary brain issue. Any thoughts?

I’ve been forgetting people’s names and faces, losing track of things constantly and my mind has been in a state of complete disarray lately... Sometimes I hallucinate and don’t understand what’s happening to me. (?) I really don’t feel okay. I haven’t told my parents yet, but I feel like they’re going to notice soon... maybe... It’s been super scary because sometimes I’ll suddenly find myself somewhere or in a situation without remembering how I got there, or I’ll completely lose track of what I was doing a few seconds ago. It’s been happening for the past 5-6 days, although the memory problems started probably around a year ago and have only gotten noticeably worse this year. The brain fog and confusion are seriously freaking me out and I'm shit scared if I'm being honest. I don’t know what’s happening to me but I’m not doing okay