Depression: Brain Fog, Clouded Thinking and Confusion

A “heaviness” in our thought process is a common symptom of depression, long-term shock and despair.

Depression is an umbrella term for a host of biological, chemical and emotional processes taking place all at once.

Here, I am focusing on the emotional and psychological aspects that might be contributing to the “brain fog” that settles over your mind, weighing it down and preventing clear and lucid action-orientated behaviours.

Self Worth

People are special because each one of us wants to mean something. Deep down, we know we have a purpose that is special and unique to us and we strive to achieve it – I think it’s part of the pursuit of happiness and our self-worth contributes to this.

Issues around self-worth create a muddled brain fog feeling. We’re torn between a sensation that there must be more and the “reality” that we are unappreciated or unsure of our capabilities. We re-live “evidence” from our past that supports our excessive guilt and doubt – this keeps us locked into the state of depression or helplessness.

Therapy and coaching that taps into and addresses these self-worth issues allows you to feel appreciation, love and understanding coming from within yourself – this strengthens your self image and the brain fog and clouded thinking gives way to purpose and more focused thoughts.

Excessive Analysis

Sometimes we can think too much and become adept at concluding that every issue needs the same level of detailed picking-apart, processing, examination and analysis.

We have trouble separating important things and letting go of the things that don’t really matter.

We live in an emotional state of high alert and have trouble with trust. Our thinking has become quite fixed and regimented, holding firm to assumptions and biases that we don’t feel we can challenge.

Because analysis is already a part of your natural behaviour, analyse and challenge your thought patterns. What point of view are you firmly refusing to consider? What would happen if you chose to think about a certain issue in a different way? What beliefs and limiting thoughts are causing the painful and conflicting thoughts?

Place in the World

Just like we want to mean something, we want to feel as if we belong too. Not necessarily as belonging in a group or in a society – but belonging on a more worldly, spiritual level. We need to know we belong in this world and that there is a place here for us.

Unlike self-worth issues that have their root in self-image and capabilities, here we can feel overwhelmed by the opportunities open to us and how we are not making the most of them. We know we can do it, but it’s too overwhelming and it’s easier to fit in with the flow of others. We then become despondant about the way our life is going. This causes a kind of emotional freezing brain fog within depression where we can’t even approach thinking about our opportunities, let alone do anything about them.

Breaking problems and challenges down into their component levels helps you to stop being overwhelmed and thaws the freezing fog. Because the issue lies around your place in the world, you also need to break this down too so that when you look at your place in the world, it becomes more manageable.

How have you experienced the emotional aspects of depression? Which areas would you prioritise?