Coping Strategies for Bipolar "Brain Fog"

For those of you who experience the Bipolar "brain fog" (disorganization, groping for words, difficulty learning new information), how do you cope with it? It seems to have gotten much worse since starting meds, though I feel much more mentally stable otherwise. I'm returning to college in a few weeks after a 4 year break (because of mental health stuff) and I'm terrified it's going to affect my studies. This brain fog has also affected jobs and job performance. So, how do you cope?

I don't cope, at least not well. I'm looking at filing for disability because my brain fog is so bad, between the meds and the fact that I went untreated for several decades. You probably have a much better shot at recovering and continuing your education because (I'm assuming) you are young and your brain has more 'elasticity' so to speak.

Some things you can do are to keep lists and make notes (I am the Post-it note Queen!!), set alarms on your smartphone as reminders to help keep you on track, and repeat important things OUT LOUD to yourself. For example, say you've made an appointment to see your professor about an assignment and tell yourself "I am seeing Prof. Smith at one o'clock on Friday August 22nd". For some reason, talking to ourselves aloud like this can help us reinforce our memory and remember things we might not otherwise recall.

Just a few thoughts. Wishing you well!

You might need a medication adjustment.

Even though I don't have fog from meds, my verbal memory is shot. At work I take time to rehearse my dialogue in my head because I cannot speak on the spot without stammering. It's also part of the reason I have social anxiety. I have my good and bad days.

I agree with BipolaRNurse that smartphone calendar alerts are a good idea (I use them to remind me to take my meds) and leaving yourself voice recordings with details can help. I use to work with attorneys that walked around the office all day with their hand-held recorders because no one can remember it all. Hang in there. Hope things go well for you at school and work.

That's one thing I haven't been able to overcome. I was in college with a 3.9 GPA and doing great. Then one day I noticed I couldn't remember anything I just read and my test scores were getting lower and lower. I went from remembering everything to remembering nothing & I have a hard time with conversations also. I just feel so ignorant & useless.
That was four years ago. I'm still the same.
The brain fog, to me, is one of the worse feelings ever. To know what you are capable of and knowing you're actually pretty smart but being unable to lift the veil. What I wouldn't give to have my clarity back, to go back to school and finish my nursing degree.
I hope you figure it out, and if you do please let me know.

Not too long ago, I felt the same way. I had trouble coming up with simple words. This lasted for years. Now I am doing much better. I do not know why.

Four years & counting for me. I'm tired of it. I wish mine would go away. I'm glad yours is.

Thanks for the replies, all. I will try the tips you mentioned and see how they work out. GALAXYGAL, I agree that I might need to try a new med. The only issue is I'm in between doctors since I recently moved. I'm doing my best to get in with a new one ASAP, though.

I just called my college and left a voice mail to inquire about student accommodations, so we'll see how that goes.

I'm glad you mentioned this. As a person new to bipolar disorder I have problems verbalizing what it is I'm experiencing. "Brain fog" as you described fits me perfectly (hence the reason I can't even describe the foggy feeling accurately)

sdguy- good luck! that's very admirable that you're wanting to complete your education. what did your college say about accommodations?

It's something that I don't see talked about often enough. Click here for an interesting article that talks about it more in depth.

Thank you. The college said I need to bring in some paperwork proving I have Bipolar Disorder and that we can sit down and chat about individualized accommodations from there. Fair enough. I'll update on how it goes. Reached out to my therapist a few hours ago to see when we can meet so I can get the paperwork completed.

I'm glad your school is willing to chat about accommodations, because I've got nothing, nada, diddley squat!

The only reason I'm even responding is to empathize, meds made me downright stupid, never mind caused brain fog.

I obviously did do the logical thing and made lists, notes and reminders, but the killing of the self-esteem due to diminished cognitive functioning was just toooo much for me to bare.

What can I say? I like my brain, having it sit there and suddenly refuse to perform basic functions killed my soul.

All my faculties have thus returned after ditching my brain killers, not that I'm suggesting you do the same. Just sharing the joy

I hope college is accommodating enough and that maybe your pdoc has a solution we haven't thought of.

I am a lawyer. Yeah, brain fog is an issue. I work for a corporation, and have been passed over for promotion for over 10 years. I have been a lawyer for 18 years, and still work at a junior level. All due to being seen as a scatterbrain, being inarticulate at times, forgetting major things. That said, I have not been fired and I make a respectable living. So while you may not feel sharp as a tack, you can still fulfill your goals of finishing school.

I think the best way to cope is with a day planner. My preference is a paper one. I collect pens and love to write. I think an electronic calendar might work too, but it seems actually writing by hand helps get things into my memory more than typing.

Just don't get too down on yourself. Remember, you have a psychiatric disability. But, you can still persevere.