Brain fog, but without the headache

I guess I’ve been having these weird little "glitches" popping up here and there in my head too. It isn't just the blood pressure stuff; it's more like this bizarre sensation where my brain feels totally clouded over—kind of like I'm walking through a fog. Everything starts feeling surreal, you know? Like the world around me just looks... off. And honestly, much like you, I’ve become way more forgetful lately. I just feel constantly muddled, and my brain doesn't seem to "function" the way it usually does whenever that mental haze kicks in. Last time it happened, it stuck around for a whole week. Usually, my blood pressure runs pretty low, though. I probably haven't been much help, really, just figured I'd share what I've been going through myself 🙂

I’ve been dealing with this brain fog since back in 2000, and honestly, I just live with it now because I’ve basically thrown in the towel. I’ve hit up every specialist under the sun, gone through endless testing, and even had an MRI of my brain done—everything comes back "normal." But man, it is obvious something is wrong because I’m experiencing these bizarre physical symptoms and nobody can tell me why.
First off, there were the sinus issues. I went through the whole nine yards there too, even had surgery to fix my septum, but after that, the fog just stayed. I used to get these sharp tingles in my head, and then out of nowhere, a massive wave of dizziness hits me so hard I have to close my eyes just to ride it out. I still remember one specific dizzy spell that was so intense it felt like it happened just yesterday; everything was spinning uncontrollably. I closed my eyes, but it felt like my actual brain was spinning inside my skull! You just can't stop it. I ended up in the ER, they ran all sorts of blood work and blah blah blah, but they never actually found the root cause. 🤷
Then there’s Gilbert’s syndrome, so my bilirubin levels are constantly elevated. My blood pressure also stays stuck right between 130 and 140. On top of that, about two years ago, I stumbled upon some hormone testing and found out my cortisol was spiking over 1000 when it should be around 700. But the absolute most traumatic thing? Finding out I have Sertoli cell syndrome. That was confirmed after a testicular biopsy—one side has no spermatogenesis and the other is severely reduced. Even my urologist couldn't believe it when he saw the results! And once I finally landed in the endocrinology department, the doctor looked at this mountain of conflicting test results and concluded that something is seriously, fundamentally wrong. So, yeah... I don't go to doctors anymore. I just deal with it. 🙄
It’s tough, really. I graduated from a super demanding university, but my grades have been tanking lately because my concentration is absolutely shot. It's all because of this weird sensation in my head—this constant fog, like all my thoughts are floating around in some thick liquid. It’s gross.
Could it be psychological? Maybe. But honestly, I have a massive phobia of psychiatrists. My brother has schizophrenia, so the whole mental health side of things just scares the life out of me.

Gregory Fox53 said:I guess I’ve been having these weird little "glitches" popping up here and there in my head too. It isn't just the blood pressure stuff; it's more like this bizarre sensation where my brain feels totally clouded over—kind of like I'm walking through a fog. Everything starts feeling surreal, you know? Like the world around me just looks... off. And honestly, much like you, I’ve become way more forgetful lately. I just feel constantly muddled, and my brain doesn't seem to "function" the way it usually does whenever that mental haze kicks in. Last time it happened, it stuck around for a whole week. Usually, my blood pressure runs pretty low, though. I probably haven't been much help, really, just figured I'd share what I've been going through myself 🙂

That "feeling" you're describing is called "depersonalization," and I really want to reiterate—it is absolutely one of the symptoms of anxiety.
Maybe try some breathing exercises or relaxation techniques? For me, everything shifted once I realized I was dealing with anxiety rather than some mysterious physical illness. Once you identify the culprit, it becomes so much easier to manage.
By the way, millions of Americans deal with various forms of anxiety and panic attacks.
Why mention Americans specifically? It's simply because our healthcare system is highly developed, so these disorders are recognized and diagnosed more frequently. It isn't always that way everywhere.
Please remember, you aren't alone in this. Help is available, and it can be relatively straightforward to find.
And one more thing—stay away from coffee, Coke, or anything else packed with caffeine, since it can act as a major "trigger." Hang in there!👍

Honestly, I’ve been struggling with this head sensation for two years now—dealing with doctors and these bizarre spinning sensations that I can't even put into words. It isn't your classic vertigo where things actually spin; it’s more like... waves? Or some kind of pressure? I guess I can't find the right term for it, but it is absolutely terrifying. It lasts for about 24 hours straight. What’s strange is that once I lie down and close my eyes, it feels even more intense—it's much worse when I'm just sitting still than when I'm moving around. Of course, I've had all the standard tests done, including an EEG which showed some dysrhythmic changes, but the specialists are insisting it isn't significant. I feel like I'm losing my mind here. Has anyone else dealt with anything similar?

steelhawk132 said:That "feeling" you're describing is called "depersonalization," and I really want to reiterate—it is absolutely one of the symptoms of anxiety.
Maybe try some breathing exercises or relaxation techniques? For me, everything shifted once I realized I was dealing with anxiety rather than some mysterious physical illness. Once you identify the culprit, it becomes so much easier to manage.
By the way, millions of Americans deal with various forms of anxiety and panic attacks.
Why mention Americans specifically? It's simply because our healthcare system is highly developed, so these disorders are recognized and diagnosed more frequently. It isn't always that way everywhere.
Please remember, you aren't alone in this. Help is available, and it can be relatively straightforward to find.
And one more thing—stay away from coffee, Coke, or anything else packed with caffeine, since it can act as a major "trigger." Hang in there!👍

Hmm, I think I’ve read a bit about that, though I don't feel like it quite applies to my situation. I suppose I do experience those specific sensations—where everything feels surreal and I feel somewhat lost—but I haven't noticed any of the other typical anxiety symptoms. I'm a little worried that what I'm going through might actually be something else entirely, unfortunately.
My head still feels this way; it’s been about two weeks now. Even though I had four days where things felt calm, it feels like I'm right back at square one. At times I feel okay, but then suddenly there's this total fog and pressure, almost as if my head doesn't even belong to me.
I'm not quite sure what else to say, other than I should probably go see a doctor... 😢

Melissa Booth56 said:Hmm, I think I’ve read a bit about that, though I don't feel like it quite applies to my situation. I suppose I do experience those specific sensations—where everything feels surreal and I feel somewhat lost—but I haven't noticed any of the other typical anxiety symptoms. I'm a little worried that what I'm going through might actually be something else entirely, unfortunately.
My head still feels this way; it’s been about two weeks now. Even though I had four days where things felt calm, it feels like I'm right back at square one. At times I feel okay, but then suddenly there's this total fog and pressure, almost as if my head doesn't even belong to me.
I'm not quite sure what else to say, other than I should probably go see a doctor... 😢

Ugh, I know that feeling all too well! 🙄

Everything I’ve shared comes straight from my own life. Honestly, I was dealing with these exact same sensations for years BEFORE my very first panic attack hit. Back then, I had absolutely no clue what was happening to me. It kept coming back even after the attacks started—but once I finally understood what I was actually facing, things gradually began to space out. Don't laugh, but I remember being so desperate that I stumbled upon some advice saying meditation and yoga could help. (Keep in mind, we didn't have the internet at my fingertips back then).
I still remember how my whole family would tease me whenever I tried to sit in that "lotus" position; but for me, it actually worked.
In my opinion, this is a clear precursor to anxiety. If it were a neurological disorder, there would be a whole different set of symptoms involved.
The real struggle, though, is actually finding a decent psychiatrist. I finally sought help after one particular attack—which was absolutely TERRIBLE—because I was gripped by this intense fear that I was losing my mind. I saw this psychologist who told me, quite literally, "Oh, those are just war traumas; you're such a wonderful, intelligent young woman, it's nothing to worry about." She clearly had no idea what she was talking about.

steelhawk132 said:Everything I’ve shared comes straight from my own life. Honestly, I was dealing with these exact same sensations for years BEFORE my very first panic attack hit. Back then, I had absolutely no clue what was happening to me. It kept coming back even after the attacks started—but once I finally understood what I was actually facing, things gradually began to space out. Don't laugh, but I remember being so desperate that I stumbled upon some advice saying meditation and yoga could help. (Keep in mind, we didn't have the internet at my fingertips back then).
I still remember how my whole family would tease me whenever I tried to sit in that "lotus" position; but for me, it actually worked.
In my opinion, this is a clear precursor to anxiety. If it were a neurological disorder, there would be a whole different set of symptoms involved.
The real struggle, though, is actually finding a decent psychiatrist. I finally sought help after one particular attack—which was absolutely TERRIBLE—because I was gripped by this intense fear that I was losing my mind. I saw this psychologist who told me, quite literally, "Oh, those are just war traumas; you're such a wonderful, intelligent young woman, it's nothing to worry about." She clearly had no idea what she was talking about.

See, I’ve always been fascinated by how our own consciousness can just slip out of our control; it was such a cool concept to me until I actually started experiencing it myself. It especially intrigued me because my brother deals with schizophrenia, and I used to wonder what it must be like inside his head when he has an episode and his thoughts start racing and tangling together. Since I’m pretty big into science, I found the whole thing incredibly interesting. I even tried running some "tests" on myself—it sounds kind of cliché, but I practiced thinking in parallel, almost like operating on three levels at once. I was actually pretty good at it and could even use it while hanging out with friends, but then suddenly, that boundary between those parallel thought streams just vanished, and everything collapsed into one giant mess. It started getting really depressing because I used to have such a sharp, analytical mind; I live for logic and my brain usually works like a dream, but now I’m struggling to handle even the simplest tasks. Over time, when I realized I couldn't fix it, I started pushing it down into my subconscious. Now, for the last year, I’ve been living in this state of "dosed consciousness" (yes, I'm making up terms here, folks 😁). In conversations, I function at a very basic level; I don't have much of a mental range, everything feels sort of cramped. Then, when I finally calm down and lie in bed at night, those thoughts from my subconscious start bubbling up, and since they aren't "active," it leaves me with this heavy, dull sensation in my head... Anyway, I hope that gives you a decent idea of what I'm going through. I think I explained it pretty well there—I don't remember ever describing it so vividly! 🙂
As for the exercises, like yoga—it's the real deal, it definitely helps me! But honestly, my biggest struggle right now is that I’m a bit of a shut-in. I’ve been trying to be more social lately (mostly because of college, since I have a mountain of exams and my tuition waiver expires this year 😢), so when I am out socializing and having fun, and then I come home to work out, I get such a rush of energy that by the time I hit the pillow, I don't even have time to feel that dull heaviness before I pass out cold...
Can you tell me more about your panic attack? Was there a specific trigger, like a certain "spark," or does it just hit you out of nowhere? And do you manage to push through it on your own, or do you rely on medication? Also, how much do you think luck plays into all this? You know, that raw, fundamental luck? Because you can practice and work on yourself as much as you want, but if life keeps throwing curveballs at you—and I'm mostly talking about family, relationships, and work stuff—it isn't easy.
I’ve gone off the deep end and started rambling again 😛

I was right around your age when it happened to me—I’d had three espressos back-to-back, and things were chaotic, like everything was falling apart at once. I won't get into the full backstory because it's far too long, and honestly, you probably wouldn't care to hear it. Long story short: a guy I'd been with for four years left me, and all my closest friends—every single one of them—had moved out of state.
I was completely on my own.
I experienced this intense sensation, like I wasn't even in my own body; it was a total suppression of consciousness. I knew what I was doing—the basic motor functions were all there—but my body felt like a hollow shell while my mind had somehow "drifted away." I felt so disconnected, and it terrified me so much that I just spent days crying...

Slowly, things started to mend. By some stroke of luck, I was hanging out with a young man at the time who had this strange, positive influence on me. I wasn't in love with him or anything; he just radiated kindness. And that was actually what helped me most.
Later on, I did fall in love, and we ended up getting married a couple of years after that.

Dear, I can see that you are incredibly sensitive and intelligent. But this "excess" of free time you're spending on introspection? It’s actually hurting you. I'm telling you this strictly out of good intentions—which, let's face it, isn't exactly common on this forum: try to engage in more "manual" activities to relax. Focus on those simple, primal things; fall in love, spend more time outdoors, maybe start a vegetable garden and just enjoy watching things grow. Learn only as much as is necessary. Don't spend so much time online; instead, keep seeing people in person. Live a clean life, without stimulants.

And regardless of everything else, find a good psychiatrist. There might be some underlying psychosis there; these things can be managed quite well with modern medication nowadays, with fewer relapses. Though, if I'm being honest, I think you'll feel better once you have some direction in life (like having children). Children provide such a sense of purpose.

Praying the Rosary works just as well as meditation does. It calms the mind. Give it a try. 🙂

I’ve been dealing with a lot of the same stuff lately. It’s mostly this constant brain fog centered right behind my forehead, coupled with poor circulation and this weird weakness in my hands—which I’m pretty sure is just the blood flow acting up. On top of that, I get these sudden waves of restlessness that just take over my whole body. I actually went to see a neurologist about it, and they prescribed me some Baclofen at 2mg just to help ease the muscle stiffness I've developed from all of this. But if you ask me, nothing compares to how debilitating that "foggy head" feeling is; it’s this terrifying sensation where you feel like you’re losing control over your own movements, even though I know logically that I am still in charge. My doctor keeps insisting it’s all just physical manifestations of extreme stress and that things will settle down eventually, though I have to say, that sounds incredibly far off from where I am right now.

Hey there.
I’m 21, and I’ve been dealing with this constant brain fog since I was just a toddler, I guess.

It all kicked off when I was seeing a cardiologist for some tachycardia issues, and while they told me my heart was perfectly fine, that weird, hazy feeling in my head just wouldn't go away.

I ended up going through psychological testing too, which apparently showed some low moods and a bit of anxiety.

Then I had an EEG, where they claimed certain frequencies were elevated, supposedly because of stress or tension.

Since then, things have just been up and down—sometimes I feel okay, then suddenly everything gets blurry, or I feel like I’m losing my balance, or I get these dizzy spells where it feels like my vision is crossing and I’m about to pass out (though, thank God, I haven't actually fainted).
It makes me so restless, moody, and honestly, just totally obsessed with it all; the second the fog lifts, I’m suddenly all smiles and ready to hang out with everyone again.
The doctors seem to think this cloudiness is just a byproduct of being anxious, but I feel like I'm only anxious because the fog won't leave me alone.

I'm just really worried, and I suppose I don't really know how to help myself...🤷
Thanks for any advice you might have.