Anyone who’s dealt with anxiety knows it’s a constant battle and a disorder you have to deal with every day. People often overlook it and push it under the rug. But in this present day, mental health has been put on a pedestal, and the stigma attached to it has been aborted considering how anxiety affects so many individuals, especially young adults.

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Foggy Brain

Many people are unaware of the physical effects anxiety can cause. It takes a toll on the body. This includes muscle tension, headaches, loss of appetite, insomnia, loss of energy, etc. Overall, it puts the body in a state of fight or flight.

One thing anxiety causes that many are unaware of is a foggy brain. What does this mean?  It means your brain doesn’t feel as sharp and well equipped to function properly. It feels like pudding. And when it’s really bad, you even feel that your memory is shot.

Why and how does this happen? Well, when one is experiencing anxiety, they might have trouble sleeping at night. When this adds up, the lack of sleep can make you feel irritable. In addition, the anxiety can bring a lot of negativity into your brain, and this negativity takes away creativity, which makes you feel like you’re losing your mind.

Similar to writer’s block, it’s a very frustrating thing to go through because you feel like your brain isn’t working properly. But don’t despair as it won’t last forever and there is a way to fight it.

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How To Conquer It

First of all, don’t panic.

If you feel like your brain is a pile of mush, then start by taking things easy.

Don’t be hard on yourself. Take things day by day and focus on getting your mind relaxed. Try doing some yoga, or exercise to relieve your mind. Exercise is also an efficient way to help make yourself tired and keep your mind occupied. All in all, this will help you get a better night’s sleep.

Another way to help relieve your foggy brain is by meditating.

Meditation is great for getting in tune with peace and tranquillity. Take 15-20 minutes out of your day and do some deep breathing. Find some soothing music and start by focusing on your breathing and nothing else. You may find your wandering thoughts make it difficult to concentrate, and that’s okay. The point is to try and put aside all the things you’re worried or stressed about and just focus on the present moment.

Last but not least, a simple way to relieve a foggy brain is to not focus on it.

Easier said than done, of course. But by doing the things you enjoy doing and taking your mind off of it,  you’ll more than likely start to forget about it.

Listen to some of your favourite music, watch a funny show, go for a walk or run. Doing things like this will help you let go of your worries, fears and concerns. This is a very important concept as it will help you focus on the present and not worry about the future or reminisce about the past.

Lastly, it ’s important to know that matters like this don’t last forever. They’re only temporary. And soon enough, you’ll be back to a normal state of mind.

Article written by Vanessa Serrao, author of “Anxiety Girl”