Mental Fog
A subjective sense of mental cloudiness, difficulty concentrating, slowed thinking, and impaired clarity that interferes with cognitive functioning.
Quick answer
Mental fog (cognitive fog or brain fog) is a subjective experience of impaired mental clarity, concentration, and processing speed. Not a formal diagnosis; ICD-10: R41.3; ICD-11: MB21.3. Increasingly recognised as a hallmark of ME/CFS, long COVID, fibromyalgia, and other conditions affecting central neurological function.
Recognition
Do any of these feel familiar?
People often describe difficulty concentrating and remembering details.
What is Mental Fog?
A subjective sense of mental cloudiness, difficulty concentrating, slowed thinking, and impaired clarity that interferes with cognitive functioning.
Approaches Commonly Explored
Commonly explored for conditions related to Mental Fog, grouped by mechanism — select your subtype above to highlight the most relevant path.
How to use these approaches
Most people begin with Stabilise approaches, then progress toward Resolve and Sustain.
Nervous system regulation, brain function, and neural pathways.
Not sure what this means for you?
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Self-care
What You Can Do Now
Self-directed strategies that may support Mental Fog alongside professional care.
- Pacing cognitive activity — breaking tasks into manageable units with rest intervals — reduces post-exertional cognitive worsening in ME/CFS and long COVID
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