FibroFog: Thinking Through A Sheer Curtain

This photo of our backyard early one stormy morning is the easiest way I can explain one of the most difficult struggles someone with fibromyalgia has to go through. You can see the trees, you know they're trees, but you can quite get them into focus. 

That's what fibrofog feels like.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that presents as widespread pain, never-ending fatigue, numbness and tingling, depression, and - of course - fibrofog. I was diagnosed when I was 16, so I've lived at a 4 on the pain scale for most of my life.

The difficult part of fibromyalgia is that it's not like a broken leg: you can't look at someone with fibromyalgia and see that there's anything wrong, you can't treat it (just manage it), and it weighs on your in every sense of the word.

This frustrating symptom of fibrofog just blends right in to the other cognitive issues like depression, anxiety, memory troubles, and focus. The only way I can describe it is like looking through a sheer curtain in your living room without pulling it back. You can tell there are houses there, cars going past, a squirrel in the yard, but you can't squint enough to get your eyes to focus. 

I've noticed a real difference in the past couple of years in finding specific words. I know the concept, I know the experience, but I may not be able to find that certain word or phrase for a couple of seconds. I just pray I don't sound ignorant because I'm not. I just need an extra moment to process and find exactly what I'm looking for.

If you or someone you love has brain fog, less mental clarity than before, or anything that you suspect is the beginning of dementia, please go to your doctor and talk about it. Rule out anything serious and let them know what your concerns are. There is absolutely no reason to suffer through any kind of chronic condition, especially one that affects your brain, alone.

But don't think that it's all downhill from here and there's nothing you can do to protect your mind. Here are just a few things I've learned from trial and error, years of practice, and lots of naps.

1. Create a daily routine. If I stray from the normal, everyday routine that I've established over the years, it throws me out of whack. But I've found the sequence for my at-home time that has become second nature, I get in the groove first thing, and I'm comfortable in that pattern. That minimizes the stress on my brain when I need it to be geared up and ready to take on the day.

2. Make sleep the most important part of that routine. The worse I sleep, the worse my fibrofog is. The more I sleep, and the better quality it is, the more clarity I have. I limit how much evening screen time I have, I try to go to bed at about the same time every night, and I don't eat for several hours before bedtime. Find what works for you, and make sure you get any underlying sleep disorders like sleep apnea or restless legs treated.

3. Fuel your brain the right way. Sorry for the common sense approach here, but healthy food supports cognition and not-so-great food stunts it. You've heard it before and I'll risk saying it again: omega-3s, leafy greens, berries, lean protein, and whole grains are the absolute best combination of good-for-you foods for supporting your brain. And the more water you drink, the better.

4. To the best of your ability, reduce your stress levels. Easier said than done, right? It's a fact, though, that stress and anxiety intensify brain fog and mental clarity. Techniques that promote mindfulness like deep breathing, Scripture meditation, stretching, and quiet time help calm the mind and improve focus.

5. And finally, keep your brain active and engaged. This is your permission slip to do puzzles, read books, play games, learn something new, and spend time outside. Any kind of positive mental stimulation - not to the point of stress but enough to make your brain do a little work - will keep your mind agile. So go do something fun!

Fibrofog and other cognitive issues may not be visible, but they're very real and can severely impact your daily life. Understanding the condition and learning what helps and what doesn't can help those of us with fibromyalgia and other chronic conditions manage them more effectively and retain a sense of control over our minds and lives. Do you have certain things you do to help overcome these mental clarity issues?

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