When I'm out and about I very often experience a feeling I call "brain fog".. it's been going on for quite some time so it is nothing new. I use to attribute solely to the fact I am sensitive to many chemicals which are everywhere and also cause a similar reaction,  but as I am beginning to become more in tune with my body and even improving on my sensitivities, I have realized there is much more to it. It's almost as if when I am out in public, my body perceives that there is some threat, and goes into some weird defensive mode which brings on the extremely foggy thinking and anxiety.. it's extremely difficult to even describe the feeling of coming on, one would have to experience it... which brings me here.

Has anyone experienced something similar?? Or even have any insights  or guesses as to what actually might be going on.

I'm not sure if what you are experiencing is the same thing I have had issues with in the past but it might be related to the fight or flight response to perceived danger or stress. I made some changes to my diet and added some supplements too. I cant tell you how much my brain improved after getting wheat and gluten out! Also, start taking fish oil. I used to get anxiety attacks and be very sensitive to strong smell, loud noise and bright light but making those changes really helped me and my migraines greatly improved as well. Hope this helps!
love steph

Hey,

Yes I have experienced what you've mentioned. And I've done the things Stephanie has suggested - fish oil, supplements, dietary changes (all targeted at supporting the adrenals - anxiety and the fight/flight response that arises from issues with that). Meditation and yoga too. Just doing things to support an already over-sensitized system.

I've experienced social anxiety and other forms of anxiety too. The brain fog also hit me when I tried to think too much (get too analytic). With my brain fog I would feel a compressed and jabbing sensation across the skull (as well as in the 'gut' area for a time). And just a lot of energy started to build up in the those areas (making it hard to think/focus). Overwhelmed is a great way to term it. I went through a stage of resisting it all and thinking it would never get better because there were things that I 'had' to do and was unable to -leading to feelings of despair.

I attribute the above to the blocks that I have in my Solar Plexus. There is a knot which occurs in the diaphragm area, which stops the flow of energy between the solar plexus and heart chakra. It's better known as the 'knot of vishnu'. The chakras below the heart represent duality and above it non-duality. The Solar Plexus is all about polarised power issues (win/lose, victim/tyrant, fear/courage, doubt/certainty, approval/disapproval, lack/abundance etc.) and the ego boundaries we have constructed to 'protect' ourselves (there is good reading on empathy and solar plexus stuff on the kundalini-teacher site).  All that stuff needs to clear out. The unconscious made conscious. The triggering in the outside world is pushing you to bring your attention to that area, so that you can surrender that stuff over to source. It does take time and diligence to clear out (however, source/goddess has it handled and won't give you more than you can handle. Keep on grounding and surrendering).

In those situations (when I am triggered) I would try to ask my body what exactly it is fearing or you could do it in meditation.... or the knowing may just come to you. It could be the fear of being a victim in which case you'd also have to look at the polar opposite (shadow).... which is the desire to be a tyrant.  Attraction vs. repulsion (positive vs. negative).

In truth, it can go a few ways...
- the desire to be a victim
- the fear of being a victim
- the desire to be a tyrant
- the fear of being a tyrant.

You need to move yourself into the middle-path (neutrality. Letting go of your attachment to both sides of polarity/duality) and we do that through acceptance/surrender.   


Blessings! 

Sorry! I forgot to add that the purpose of clearing that area is to dissolve the boundaries of separation between duality and non-duality.

And that the anxiety can be viewed as a gift because it's your body's way of letting you know that something is out of whack and it is pushing you to place your attention in that area, so that you can surrender it. 


Blessings!

  Its energy overload.

http://kundalini-teacher.com/chakras/empathy.php

All very good answers.. and believe it or not you all may be right some way or another as I certainly get the feeling there is few different contributing factors to this issue.. one thing is for sure, and the ones of you who have experienced something similar is it is quite life interfering and beyond frustrating at times.. I use to get the brain fog almost constantly in reaction to foods and chemicals as I mentioned before but has seemingly abated to a great degree .. that is until I get out in public. I do follow a pretty strict diet that falls somewhere along the description of "paleo" which seems to be the best for me.. I admittedly cheat from time to time.. but no wheat!

I actually went and sat in the public library today and awaited for the symptoms to come on as they usually do and simply tried to turn myself inwards and instead of trying to resist picking up anything or the feeling itself and release it to goddess if it were so. I thought it was working for awhile but I ended up leaving in quite the daze..

Anyhow, thank you all for your suggestions.