Trading Through Brain Fog: How Chronic Malaria Nearly Broke Me (and What I Wish I’d Known)
I thought it was food poisoning.
A rough few days — cramps, weakness, no appetite, and a general fog over everything. Running businesses in two countries, juggling affiliate marketing, copy trading, and trying to stay on top of life, I figured it was something I ate. Happens.
So I went to the clinic for a check. They ran some tests, then came back and dropped the bomb: chronic malaria.
“You really should be admitted,” they said. “A week of intensive treatment to clear it properly.”
Now, I’m not a fan of hospitals — far too many sick people there. (Pun kind of intended.) But this time, I agreed after a lot of persuasion by my family. (I think they wanted rid of me for a few days) I ended up spending seven days in the clinic on intensive treatment. And even after being discharged, it took a long time to fully recover.
What followed during and after that week was rough.
Hallucinations. Fevers. Days where I didn’t know what time it was — or what planet I was on. My brain wasn’t functioning properly. But in my stubbornness, I still tried to work, especially on the trading side. Huge mistake.
I ended up losing a trading account, simply because I wasn’t in the right mental space to make clear decisions. Brain fog is real. And when you’re dealing with something like malaria, it’s not just “feeling off.” It’s like trying to navigate a minefield blindfolded.
In hindsight, I should’ve hit pause completely. Let everything wait. But when you’ve run businesses as long as me you’re used to pushing through, you don’t realise how dangerous that can be.
It’s taken me a while to regain momentum. Physically, mentally, and emotionally. But I came away from it all with one big takeaway: your health is the foundation of everything else.
If you’re ever feeling seriously unwell, listen to your body. Step back. Rest. Protect your future by giving yourself the space to recover properly. Don’t try to be a hero in the middle of a health crisis. That’s not strength — that’s stubbornness dressed up.
Hope this story helps someone else make a better call than I did.