![]() That might sound counterintuitive for survival, but it’s your brain’s way of trying to conserve as much energy as possible for the very act of survival above all. When we’re stressed, our bodies secrete cortisol and adrenaline, which help us react appropriately to a perceived threat, but that stress can cause a range of cognitive challenges (like slowed concentration, decision-making, and processing). Though brain fog is frustrating, experts view it as a defense mechanism, at least when it comes to stress in particular. With COVID-19 activating our fear and stress responses, we might not have a lot of leftover energy for the email on which we were cc’d. If you were already dealing with brain fog sometimes before the pandemic, it could be intensified right now. “The is pulling our attention toward issues directly impacting our survival: our health and wellness, ability to support ourselves, and our social connectivity,” Green explains, adding that this leaves very little extra energy for things that “our brain may experience as less urgent or necessary.” On any given day, brain fog could be easily triggered due to stress, grief, and trauma. ![]() Why might brain fog be happening to you right now? Given the circumstances, it’s really only to be expected. Feeling pretty mentally foggy right now doesn’t necessarily mean you have a mental health condition. It’s key to note that you can experience brain fog even if you don’t meet the full criteria for a mental health diagnosis, Green says. “When we experience serotonin depletion-the very mechanism that cause a depressive mood-it is also going to impact the ability to think…and make decisions,” Green explains. Brain fog might occur with depression because this condition is thought to be caused by low levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that’s central to many functions of the brain, including cognition, memory, comprehension, and concentration. "Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness” is listed as one of the nine symptoms of depression in the fifth version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V). There’s also the fact that brain fog can make getting things done much, much harder than usual. Whether you’re caring for loved ones, working on the front lines, doing your usual job from home, or simply trying to get through the day, there are tasks that need your time and attention. But even with all of the chaos, there’s the unavoidable truth that, well, we still have to get things done. Wherever you are in the world right now, it’s likely that you’re feeling the impacts of the new coronavirus too-whether it’s financially, physically, mentally, or all of the above. It’s not pretty, but I take comfort in knowing that there is no right emotional response, according to my therapist. Now that the coronavirus crisis has forced us all into various states of physical isolation and social distancing, my mind dances between numbness and helplessness (with the occasional downward spiral thrown in). For many of us, brain fog is an unavoidable part of living through the new coronavirus pandemic.
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