Discussion cognitive effects of trauma and mental health issues

[sadmarmoset]

I am 21 and was diagnosed bipolar at 19, started showing symptoms at 18. I've had a lot of major traumas take place in the last 18 months. I felt like a slug before the trauma happened but now I feel completely brain dead. I haven't been able to finish a course at college in almost two years now, and I'm terrible at taking care of myself. I feel like I can't do anything despite wanting to. Ive been on and off meds periodically during this time, & seeing psychiatrists and therapists pretty routinely as well. I feel like my brain has genuinely rotted; one of my friends said it sounded like I was listening to her 50% of the time once. and yeah I feel like I can't listen for very long. I can't articulate my words or speak well. I can hardly feed myself somedays. But I was wondering if there's any basis to this feeling, or if others have felt the same. Can this terrible feeling go away?

 

[NormallyNeurotic]

If it's not medical like some sort of tumor, it's dissociation. I've been like that too recently. I swap words and say things I don't nean to too.

 

[GlassMoon]

Sounds like you are and have been going through a lot. Is it possible that these problems are due to unresolved emotions and trauma which constantly keep you busy, even without noticing? I've processed some heavier memories last year and felt like I could not concentrate afterwards for some time, though I was not affected as much as you appear to be.

When I was in a clinic, the occupational therapists did memory training with us. According to them, depression causes one to let the brain muscles get weaker, possibly because one is less active. But the concensus there was that this is not permament and can be retrained.

Did you address this with your therapists and psychiatrists? They could run a test on how well you can concentrate under various circumstances and how fast you react to different stimuli (visual, acoustical, both at the same time). Then you'd have a quantitative value which they can compare against the norm. They can basically run an IQ test which is composed of several components like speed, concentration, etc.

I know some people who used programs like NeuroNation to improve themselves, but I don't know details of how this worked out. They had a different illness, though.

There is also the book "Peak mind" which claims that emotional load could be responsible for issues with concentration if I understood correctly. That suggests mindfulness exercises as a general way to keep the brain focused and not get overwhelmed with emotions so much.

I sincerely hope things will improve for you again

 

[Hollowman]

Medications are neurotoxic they could have damaged your brain.