Your brain fog issue could be medically caused. I certainly had that problem in my 20s.
Coming from a poorer background I was infected with Helicobacter Pylori (like 70% of world population). For years I couldn't beat brain fog no matter what I did (special diets, exercise, meditation etc.). Doctors kept telling me I'm having these issues cause I stressed a lot and I believed them and went through college and first job suffering terribly. Finally I managed to read about Helicobacter. My symptoms were matching 100%. Got the test and sure it was. Got a course of antibiotics for a week and it felt like being transported from hell directly to heaven. I've never experienced anything like it. After 5 days of taking antibiotics I've had the most amazing night of sleep that I remember to this day. That said, supposedly Helicobacter is not all that bad and even sometimes considered good according to some doctors I've spoken to. But I don't buy it, I just think that they think that on the population level it's unfeasible to treat everyone (due to antibiotic resistance issues) and because most people infected are in the poor countries - and you know how it goes "fuck the poor".
Excluding Helicobacter, brain fog can be caused by food intolerances (FODMAP, gluten etc.) and lack of exercise.
Good point. Persistent brain fog shouldn’t be taken lightly, it might result from underlying (treatable) health issues. Regardless of what career I chose, the ability to focus and think clearly are fundamental to my personal quality of life. I would search for answers if I found myself struggling to concentrate effectively. Must agree with the people saying, “Look after your health first.”
To the OP, sounds like you need a new job, the current one is not meeting your needs. Don’t be afraid of change, sounds like your compensation is unlikely to be significantly lower, and there’s meaningful possibility of upside in terms of job satisfaction and career development. You need quality mentorship, which appears to be lacking at your current employment. Your manager’s role is to help you get better at your job.
Without focus and confidence, it’s hard to imagine becoming highly skilled at anything. At the same time, realistic assessment of where you currently stand in your skills is vital to improvement. That’s where solid mentorship can make a major difference.
Coming from a poorer background I was infected with Helicobacter Pylori (like 70% of world population). For years I couldn't beat brain fog no matter what I did (special diets, exercise, meditation etc.). Doctors kept telling me I'm having these issues cause I stressed a lot and I believed them and went through college and first job suffering terribly. Finally I managed to read about Helicobacter. My symptoms were matching 100%. Got the test and sure it was. Got a course of antibiotics for a week and it felt like being transported from hell directly to heaven. I've never experienced anything like it. After 5 days of taking antibiotics I've had the most amazing night of sleep that I remember to this day. That said, supposedly Helicobacter is not all that bad and even sometimes considered good according to some doctors I've spoken to. But I don't buy it, I just think that they think that on the population level it's unfeasible to treat everyone (due to antibiotic resistance issues) and because most people infected are in the poor countries - and you know how it goes "fuck the poor".
Excluding Helicobacter, brain fog can be caused by food intolerances (FODMAP, gluten etc.) and lack of exercise.
(my $0.02 from my experience fighting brain fog)