There was a time when I could walk into a room and know exactly why I was there.
Apparently that was pre-menopause Melisa.
Current Melisa walks confidently into the kitchen, stops dead in the middle of the floor and thinks:
“Well. This feels important.” 😂
Was I getting water? Feeding the dog? Putting something away? Looking for my glasses THAT ARE CURRENTLY ON MY FACE?
No clue.
So naturally I go back to the room I came from hoping my original thought is still sitting there waiting for me.
Welcome to menopause brain fog.
First: yes, brain fog during menopause is actually a thing.
Difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness, losing words, feeling distracted and having trouble remembering names or numbers are commonly reported during the menopause transition.
So if your brain occasionally feels like it has 47 browser tabs open, three are frozen, one is playing music and you cannot figure out WHICH ONE...
You have company. 😂
What can menopause brain fog feel like?
For me, it’s not necessarily forgetting huge things. It’s the tiny ridiculous things that make me question whether my brain has resigned without giving notice.
Walking into a room and forgetting why.
Opening the fridge and staring into it like the answer to life is behind the yogurt.
Starting a sentence and suddenly losing the ONE WORD required to finish it.
Picking up my phone to do something, getting distracted by something else on my phone, putting the phone down... and remembering 20 minutes later that I never did the original thing.
And my personal favourite:
Looking for something while I’m holding it.
At this stage I feel like I should just start attaching AirTags to everything I own, including myself. 😂
Why does this happen?
The menopause transition involves hormonal changes, and cognitive complaints are common during this stage of life. Sleep problems and mood changes can also affect how sharp and focused we feel.
In other words, when your hormones are changing, you’re exhausted because your sleep has gone rogue, and your brain is trying to manage normal life at the same time...
it’s perhaps not shocking that remembering where you put the car keys becomes an Olympic event.
Does brain fog mean something is seriously wrong?
Typical menopause-related brain fog is usually subtle. Forgetfulness and concentration problems are common in midlife and don’t automatically mean dementia.
That said, noticeable, worsening or concerning changes in memory or thinking deserve a conversation with a healthcare professional. Not every cognitive symptom should automatically be blamed on menopause.
What do I actually do about it?
I stopped expecting my brain to function exactly the way it did before and started giving it more support.
I write things down. Immediately. Because “I’ll remember that” is one of the biggest lies I currently tell myself.
I use reminders.
I try to protect my sleep.
I try not to have 900 things happening at the same time—which, admittedly, remains a work in progress. 😂
I also pay attention to hydration, food, movement and stress because my brain is definitely less cooperative when the rest of me is running on fumes.
And then there is Sip ’n Sanity.
It earned the name because apparently “the beverage I consume before attempting to remember passwords, names, appointments and why I entered the laundry room” wouldn’t fit on the tumbler. 😂
The bigger thing I wish women knew
I spent way too much time thinking I just wasn’t functioning like myself anymore.
There’s something incredibly reassuring about learning that other women are standing in their kitchens doing the exact same confused little spin.
You are not the only one forgetting words.
You are not the only one rereading the same paragraph four times.
You are not the only one wondering where your phone is while TALKING ON IT.
Menopause can be messy. It can be frustrating. And sometimes the best thing we can do is learn what’s happening, support ourselves where we can, and laugh at the parts that are objectively ridiculous.
Because I may not remember why I walked into this room...
but at least I remembered my Sip ’n Sanity. 😂💗
What I personally use
I’ve built a menopause support routine around the areas I personally want to support during this season of life. It’s part of my overall wellness routine—not a treatment or cure for menopause or cognitive problems.
💗 See My Menopause Support System →
Keep reading 💗
The Menopause Symptoms Nobody Warned Me About →
Why Am I Waking Up at 3 AM During Menopause? →
Why Is Everyone So Loud During Menopause? →
This article shares my personal experience and general wellness information and is not medical advice. New, severe, rapidly worsening or concerning changes in memory, thinking or mood should be discussed with a qualified healthcare professional.
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