While the instances of COVID have dramatically declined over the past year or so, certain effects from the illness are only beginning to emerge. These ongoing symptoms may last a few weeks or years, long after the initial COVID ailments are gone.
COVID brain fog tops the list.
Here’s what you need to know.
What is COVID Brain Fog?
COVID brain fog is a collection of symptoms that occur during and after the virus affects a person. Brain fog is not a recognized medical term, but it is often used to describe the many different symptoms that can affect memory and cognitive function.
Some of the most common COVID brain fog symptoms include:
- Fuzzy or sluggish thought processes
- Difficulty planning
- Mental fatigue
- Struggles making decisions
- Trouble paying attention
- Memory issues
- Concentration problems
- Confusion and uncertainty
- Difficulty handling money
How Long does COVID Brain Fog Last?
There have been several studies on brain fog and how long it lasts. In 2021, a study found many people who had COVID experienced much greater difficulty with memory and cognition. What’s more, there is a likelihood that symptoms would increase, or return amplified.
Another study found that people who had COVID brain fog noticed it within the first few months after their initial symptoms of COVID appeared.
In several studies reviewed, brain fog symptoms persisted months after the onset of COVID, often extending beyond a year.
What are the Best Practices for Managing COVID Brain Fog Symptoms?
There is no known or widely accepted method for minimizing COVID brain fog, but there are a few ways you can manage it effectively.
- Don’t push yourself too hard. Take breaks when needed and pace yourself.
- Sleep. Make sure you get plenty of sleep by keeping a regular sleep schedule and taking appropriate measures to ensure your sleep is of the best possible quality.
- Minimize your stress. Any illness is stressful on the body and mind, but COVID seems to be especially stressful. Take deliberate steps to minimize your stress.
- Establish a daily routine and set goals so you can do all you want to do each day.
- Exercise regularly and remain active several days a week.
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet and choose brain-friendly foods.
- Maintain your social connections and spend time with family and friends.
- Do brain-friendly workouts and challenges to keep your mind sharp.
What Treatments are Available for COVID Fog?
There are no known treatments for COVID brain fog, but some therapies are emerging that are quite exciting. Neurofeedback therapy is one such treatment that is enjoying great success. This non-invasive, pain-free treatment retrains the brain so that it works in a healthier, more regulated manner thus dramatically reducing many brain fog symptoms.
For many people, this means that they can break free from COVID brain fog and move on to a healthier, improved quality of life.
If you’d like to find out if neurofeedback is right for you, contact us at Sandstone Center for Neurofeedback today.
*Sandstone Center for Neurofeedback does not diagnose medical conditions. Sandstone Center for Neurofeedback is a nonmedical, medication-free program for children and adults who struggle with symptoms related to mental health.
