I don’t remember hearing people complain about having issues with brain fog, and memory issues when I was first in practice, until they were old (old then was 60 or 70 – now in my mid-sixties, I don’t see that as old at all!). We saw our share of lack of focus and concentration in the lives of children, but not in adults. So why are all these complaints so prevalent in society today?
I believe there are lots of reasons. First, lifestyle could certainly be on the list. Never in the history of man have we had so much on our plates. We are pulled in so many different directions that all that, in-of-itself, is exhausting! We’re running errands, running kids around, have our ears plugged into media devices and so much more that our brains don’t have an opportunity to just stop. We have forgotten how to be still. We have so much to focus on, that it is no wonder we can’t keep all our thoughts organized and clear. How can we remember all this?
Secondly, because we are always on the run, many people don’t take the time to make a nutritious meal. One that holds us, supports us, and keeps us going. Not just one meal, but three! If you were to take a long distance trip, you would plan the trip down to making sure you have gas in the car. But in our lives, we forget to fill up our tanks and our brain is trying to focus, to remember, to see the clear picture we need, without the gas to fuel it.
Instead, many people fill their tanks with sugar (don’t put that in your car’s gas tank or you’ll ruin its engine!) Unfortunately, it is ruining our engine as well, but it’s not as obvious. Instead, many prop up their lack of energy and ability to concentrate by drinking coffee, soda, energy drinks and consuming other things that give the illusion of a sharper brain, but in fact, it isn’t any sharper at all.
Another lifestyle contributor is lack of sleep. In an effort to keep up on everything, we sacrifice sleep. Some can’t sleep because they can’t shut their brain off. Lack of sleep can definitely add to foggy brain, lack of concentration, fatigue, etc.
Certain medications, many with those side effects, can be to blame. I continue to be astonished at the amount of medications my patients are on when they come in. It seems like diseases in my first decade of practice were much simpler. Today they’re complex and getting more so, so it’s not surprising people are on so many medications. I actually find it more rewarding to work on complex health issues, because when they get resolved, and their medical doctors tell them they no longer need their medication(s) anymore – I feel like I’ve given not just their brain back, but their life back as well! I can’t imagine a better profession!
©2022 Holly A. Carling, O.M.D., L.Ac., Ph.D.
