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How Long Does Brain Fog Last and Can You Clear It Quickly?

Want to know how long brain fog lasts and how to clear brain fog quickly? Good news. We have answers to both questions on HealthyPlace. Read on.

Two very common questions about brain fog are, “How long does brain fog last,” and “Can you clear it quickly.” Brain fog is a frustrating and draining experience that is all-encompassing. With brain fog, you can’t think clearly, remember things big and small, or focus and concentrate (Symptoms of Brain Fog: What Does Brain Fog Feel Like?).

It can seem like you’re trapped in a gauzy shroud, able to see the world around you but unable to fully join it or find the words to call out for help. Brain fog is not an enjoyable condition, and asking how long brain fog lasts and how you can clear it quickly are logical questions. Read on for some answers and the beginning of the end of your brain fog.

How Long Does Brain Fog Last?

Brain fog typically doesn’t persist indefinitely but instead comes and goes (Causes of Brain Fog: What are the Reasons for My Brain Fog?). When it strikes, it can stick around for just a few hours. Unfortunately, it can also linger for months. Both are extreme, though.

The duration of brain fog varies from person to person. In general, brain fog lingers between several days and several weeks.

You can do things to reduce the duration of brain fog. How long brain fog lasts depends largely on things that are under your control. This means, of course, that you can reduce the symptoms of brain fog and shorten their duration. Let’s look at how to clear brain fog quickly.

How Do You Clear Brain Fog Quickly?

You can clear brain fog. The fact that it lasts from hours to months and everything in-between, means that it’s not permanent brain damage. You can indeed do things to clear your brain fog. You can even unblock your brain fairly quickly by taking the right actions.

One caveat to solutions for how to clear brain fog quickly: there isn’t a magic wand or special elixir that will blow away the fog instantaneously. The steps you can take are actions that reduce the symptoms by working to help the brain heal itself and return to proper functioning. Clearing brain fog doesn’t have to take months, but it takes more than a couple of hours.

The overarching theme in how to clear brain fog quickly is self-care. Lifestyle has a big impact on brain health. Intentionally doing a thing that nurtures your brain will help brain fog go away and stay away. Important components for self-care for brain health include such things as:

  • Proper sleep
    Most people need 7-9 hours each night to recharge the brain.
  • Eating well
    Proper nutrition is essential for the brain to work and think clearly. Eat healthy foods and avoid processed junk foods to clear brain fog (Brain Fog Supplements, Vitamins, Remedies: Hoax or Real Deal?).
  • Regulating blood sugar
    Avoid consuming lots of simple carbohydrates, including refined sugars, as these cause blood sugar levels to fluctuate drastically, taxing the brain.
  • Hydration
    Drench your brain in water all day, every day. Sugary drinks can harm the brain and make it foggy, but water helps it. Sometimes, dehydration can induce brain fog, and drinking water is truly a quick fix.
  • Oxygen
    Sometimes, we don’t give our brain enough oxygen. We hold our breath without realizing it, or we breathe in short, shallow breaths. Practice deep breathing. Take time out to take several slow, purposeful breaths. Train yourself, too, to breathe deeply from your belly all the time for a steady supply of oxygen for the brain.
  • Exercise and movement
    Be purposeful about getting up and walking around or stretching for several minutes every hour. Also, make it a habit to exercise several times a week.
  • Pursue passions
    Doing things you love stimulates the brain and keeps you focused and alert.
  • Manage stress
    Meditate. Practice mindfulness. Take baths. Read. Learn a new skill. Keep a stress ball nearby. Find what lowers your stress levels and consistently do them. Your brain fog will leave and quite possibly stay away.
  • Create an optimal environment.
    To better focus and concentrate, own your space. Remove distractions and add elements that are visually pleasing as well. This will help you concentrate. Consider what little things might be toxic in your environment. Strong scents like perfumes, lotions, and candles can make your brain foggy, as can excessive noise and lights. Manipulate your physical environment, and you might be surprised how much better you feel and function.

How long brain fog lasts can vary from person to person. A common duration is a range from several days to a few weeks. You can clear the fog sooner rather than later by making positive lifestyle changes and taking care of yourself, especially your brain. The added benefit of working to clear your brain fog quickly is that, if you continue to live with the changes you’ve made, brain fog won’t just go away, it will be prone to stay away.

article references

APA Reference
Peterson, T. (2021, December 30). How Long Does Brain Fog Last and Can You Clear It Quickly?, HealthyPlace. Retrieved on 2024, December 4 from https://www.healthyplace.com/depression/symptoms/how-long-does-brain-fog-last-and-can-you-clear-it-quickly

Last Updated: January 9, 2022

Medically reviewed by Harry Croft, MD

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