Aging and Life Enhancement
By Kathryn Kilpatrick, M.A.
The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another. ~William James
Take notice when you lose your train of thought, forgot a name or where you just put your “whatever.”
These moments are certainly frustrating, but in some cases, you may be wondering if this is just normal aging or something else. Perhaps it is impacting your personal or professional life. If there is dementia in your family and this forgetfulness is happening more often, it may trigger another level of concern.
Chronic stress may be a significant factor in what may feel like “brain fog” settling in. Other habits may complicate your situation. Perhaps you are not paying attention because you are on overload. Maybe that change in your hearing is more noticeable, perhaps in noisier places or when some is speaking to you in a softer voice.
Are there some new issues that you are dealing with personally, professionally, medically or have taken on another level of caregiving? Chronic stress can also impair your ability to not only process information properly but interfere with your ability to make appropriate decisions.
Looking for mental clarity? Chronic stress is one of the many factors that can contribute to brain fog since your body releases cortisol, which can impair your focus and memory.
Your personal habits can also have an impact on that brain fog feeling you have. Perhaps you are slipping with some of the healthier habits you have been trying to incorporate into your daily routine more often than not. You may not be sleeping well, dehydrated or just dealing with a change in your typical routine. Maybe you are exercising less or making less healthy food choices.
Equally important is what you surround yourself with. Connecting with people matters as well as what you surround yourself with, such as your choices with television, radio and internet options. Exercise more at whatever level is appropriate for you; it’s essential. Sitting in front of the television too much is not a good idea. Get up and move around and monitor what you watch or listen to prior to bedtime.
There is also good stress or eustress when you feel more excited, such as special gatherings. Try to create more connections that you can look forward to and spend more time connecting with those who lift your spirits.
Years ago, I had a dear friend who was dealing with a lot of frustrations and I became her go-to person when she needed to unload. She was a night owl and when her calls came later in the evening, I realized I was not in the right frame of mind to go to sleep after her call, so I decided instead to periodically connect with her earlier in the day.
Some people react strongly to the slightest stress while some handle it better. Taking care of yourself means being more aware of what might be a trigger for your stress, then implementing some strategy to manage those feelings.
Options to consider when feeling stress lingering or increasing might be meditation, perhaps pray or even just do frequent deep breathing. Exercise or even yoga are just a few of the many options and I have been known to do some cleaning or cooking to shift my mind out of worry and do something more productive.
When possible, consider reading something positive or inspirational. I often listen to books on my iPhone and always have a book available that is more light-hearted and one I have already started and have been enjoying. Depending where I am, I may even switch to some favorite uplifting songs I have saved on my iPhone for just those situations and perhaps turn up the volume, maybe even dance around for a bit.
For those who are homebound, family and friends can be instrumental in creating some distractions when frustrations increase. Try something more positive by shifting the conversation or introducing an activity that interests them and is more uplifting.
Remember two things in life: take care of your thoughts when you are alone and take care of your words when you are with other people. ~UNKNOWN
