Head trauma or injury, including concussion Low oxygen levels Medication side effects Nutritional deficiencies Seizure disorders Stroke Heat stroke or hypothermia
Many people suffering from confusion become frightened, which may lead to erratic or even violent behavior if someone perceived as a stranger suddenly approaches without warning. Set a calendar and clock in the confused person’s home so that they can check the date and time as often as they need to. If this is the very first time someone has become confused and this confusion was brought on seemingly out of nowhere, call emergency services. Abrupt confusion is a serious symptom that requires immediate medical attention.
Reminding the individual where they are at the moment. This can go a long way towards helping them maintain a solid understanding.
Rely on visual cues when you’re communicating instructions with a confused person. Keeping a whiteboard around can really help!
For instance, make sure they get up and go to bed at the same time each day, which can help improve their sleep and overall health.
If possible, remove things that might be traumatic or upsetting from the individual’s immediate area. Be aware of sundowning. At the end of the day people with dementia can become more confused and depressed. Talk with the person’s doctor if you think they are suffering from sundowning. They may have suggestions for medication or therapy that can help. Try keeping windows open during the day. This may keep the patient more alert, awake, and less confused.
Parkinson’s disease Alzheimer’s disease Schizophrenia Cancer Dementia
If you’ve been struggling with anxiety (or depression), seek help. A therapist or psychiatrist will be able to help your emotional headspace in the long run.
If you want something with a little more flavor than water, squirt some citrus into the water. If you suspect you’re severely dehydrated (indicated by a high heart rate, flushed skin, chills, and/or dark urine), see a doctor. Extreme dehydration requires immediate medical attention. [11] X Trustworthy Source National Health Service (UK) Public healthcare system of the UK Go to source
Juice is an excellent option if you’ve got low blood pressure. Small snacks, including a cookie or some pretzels, can also help. Your doctor may tell you to take glucose tablets if you have a chronic problem with low blood sugar.
Try keeping these lists on your smartphone for a convenient way to check them. Journaling may be a good way to keep your thoughts organized and keep track of your day-to-day life and obligations.
Cold or clammy skin Dizziness or feeling faint Rapid pulse Fever Headache Irregular breathing (slow or rapid) Uncontrollable shivering Diabetic complications A head injury Loss of consciousness
Practice good sleep hygiene. Create a pre-bedtime routine (such as taking a shower, listening to soothing music, etc. ) and stick to a sleep schedule by going to bed and waking up at the same time every day.
Following the Mediterranean diet is a good option if you’re looking for a healthy, diverse diet that is proven to keep your mind healthy and clear in the long run. [17] X Trustworthy Source Harvard Medical School Harvard Medical School’s Educational Site for the Public Go to source
Any kind of drug use can have a negative impact on your long-term memory and cognition, so don’t do drugs if you want to stay in good mental shape. Smoking may also impair your ability to avoid confusion as you get older, so cut the tobacco use if you’re a user. [20] X Trustworthy Source Harvard Medical School Harvard Medical School’s Educational Site for the Public Go to source
Moderate aerobic exercise might involve walking briskly, while vigorous exercise might involve running or bicycling. Practicing yoga is a phenomenal way to work out and stay active while engaging in mindfulness, which may have additional benefits for your long-term focus!
Talk to your doctor about your blood pressure if you’re unsure about whether your blood pressure is healthy or not given your age and activity level. If you’ve been prescribed medication for your blood pressure, take that medicine as your doctor instructed you.
For example, you could try playing Wordle, reading parts of the newspaper you normally don’t read, or taking an alternate route you wouldn’t normally take while driving. Other ways to use your cognitive abilities include reading, joining a book club (which incorporates social interaction), playing strategy games or taking classes to learn something new.
If you’re alone for long periods of time, you may increase your risk of depression, stress, and anxiety, and these symptoms can contribute to confusion and memory loss over time. [27] X Trustworthy Source National Health Service (UK) Public healthcare system of the UK Go to source
For example, the musical notes on a treble clef staff are E, G, B, D, and F. You can easily remember that with the sentence, “Every Good Boy Does Fine. " Creating and using mnemonic devices helps you strengthen both your thinking abilities and your memory. Finding ways to remember the steps of a certain process may also help free up your memory to process and retain new information.
Using more than one sense when you learn or experience something new helps keep multiple parts of your brain active and may help retain memories and learning abilities.
Ask friends or family members to help you tidy up if you are overwhelmed by the process. This should also reduce stress. Since stress has a huge impact on your mental state, a clean home should help on this axis as well.
Your body language in general can help people understand you a bit better. Emphasize key information with hand movements and move slightly as you speak to maintain an interesting posture.
If you’re teaching children, mentoring someone, or giving instructions to employees, feel free to ask people to repeat what you just said in their own words. This is a good way to ensure that everyone is one the same page.
Remind your class, employees, patients, or peers, “Hey, I’m always happy to answer questions if I say something confusing. ”
Just say something like, “Give me a thumbs up if you 100% understand what I’m saying,” or, “Please email me back to confirm that you’ve read and understood these instructions. ”
