Have you noted lapses of short-term memory? Have you lost your sense of direction? Were you once the co-pilot because of your navigation abilities and now have trouble finding your way to the grocery store? Do you displace letters and words when constructing a sentence? Do you loose a word you wanted to use mid-sentence or forget names of lifelong friends? If you answered yes to these questions, then you suffer from brainfog.

People with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue immunodysfunction have a greater problem with memory and learning, this is called cognitive deficit.

According to Dr. Devin Starlanyl, (see resources), brainfog or "fibrofog", when related to patients with fibromyalgia or fibromyalgia/myofascial pain complex, can be aggravated by weather changes, cold, humidity, too much or too little physical exercise, hormonal fluctuations, sleeplessness, anxiety, stress, depression, and mental or physical fatigue. Reactive hypoglycemia can also be a major contributor and the forgetfulness and mental fog associated with it can be significant at the time of a flare (Starlanyl & Copeland, 2001, pp. 16-17, 140).

A high carbohydrate diet can also trigger mental fogginess along with a myriad of other symptoms.

Despite the term used to describe this collective set of symptoms, brain fog can be personally devastating. It is easy to become distracted. It makes others feel as though you no longer consider them important enough to remember their name or a date you planned. It can be a major obstacle for you. (See Avoiding Lockdown)

The good news is that treatments are being investigated.