Fibro-Fog is one of the more difficult symptoms to deal with (and explain) for those of us who live with fibromyalgia day to day. Fibro fog is a tenuous, cognitive impairment that is not psychological in nature. It is also NOT psychosomatic. Fibrofog is real and it is annoying.

Here are some of fibro fog’s symptoms:

• Mental confusion and fatigue
• Loss of short-term memory
• Inability to concentrate
• Trouble thinking
• Absentmindedness
• Problems with recognizing familiar surroundings
• Disorientation
• Difficulty with comprehending written or spoken words
• Inability to remember words you want to speak or saying words you know
• Trouble following or giving directions
• Short attention span
• And more

Just like fibromyalgia, the causes of fibro fog are not known. Perhaps it’s due to a lack of sleep, poor nutrition, depression, decreased oxygen flow to the brain, certain medications or some other cause. The fact is that managing fibrofog is more important than trying to figure out what caused it. The condition can really be a sticky one to contend with.

Many find that sticking to a regular routine, i.e. going to sleep and waking up at the same time each day works well for them. Others practice relaxation techniques to ensure that stress is kept at bay. Still others make sure that exercise is a part of their day-to-day lives so that they raise their endorphin levels and manage their depression and pain naturally.

Other ways to help cope with fibro fog include:

1. Eating well. Proper nutrition is a key component in managing fibromyalgia in general and has been shown to make a difference in sharpening the mind. A diet high in healthy fats such as EFAs (essential fatty acids) such as those found in certain fish (salmon, tuna), nuts and avocado, vegetables and low in sugar, processed foods will go a long way towards helping you find your way back to better health.
2. Get restorative sleep. Purchase a high quality mattress. Use pillows to provide extra cushion in sore spots and limit the consumption of caffeine and/or food before bedtime.
3. Repeat yourself. Repetition will help you to remember things better. Repeat things over and over so you’ll be more likely to keep them fresh in your mind.
4. Write stuff down. Put it in your calendar, in a notebook or on sticky notes. Keep a notepad near your fridge or your phone. You can even use a calendar or notepad function in your computer.
5. Keep your mind active. Read books. Do puzzles. Play brain games. Keep your mind engaged in activities that will exercise it. Remember the old adage “Use it or lose it!”
6. Be gentle with yourself. Don’t stress when you can’t remember something. That will make things harder for you. The best thing to do is learn to relax and you will then be able to recall things easier. If not, don’t worry.

The most important thing to remember is that you are not alone in suffering with fibro fog. Most people with fibromyalgis report struggling with the condition at some point in their fibro-life. However, many also admit that the condition is not permanent. When they work on taking better care of themselves, especially in the sleep department, the fibro fog improves.