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No surprises

No surprises

Member
Jan 27, 2026
14
I am 18 years old. About two years ago, my memory started to fluctuate, and it was very poor most of the time. I couldn't remember plots of movies, books, and other things, which greatly impacted my studies as I was trying to study philosophy at the time. For some reason, it didn't significantly affect my normal life.

About a year later, I found that my writing ability and plot-planning ability also began to fluctuate. Before, I seemed unaware of the level of these abilities, and I don't know why. When my writing ability was poor, it was very difficult to organize language. At its best, my writing ability reached a level I had never achieved before, and the degree of this excellence varied. My memory seemed to have only two extremes: very bad and normal. Right now, I estimate my level is about 60% of my highest. I wanted to write this explanation now, so I didn't choose the best time to write it. My ability to conceive plots also showed a level of excellence I never had before, and the degree of ability seems uneven.

It may not be a problem with my anxiety disorder medication. Although my dosage has been decreasing—I used to take two tablets of aripiprazole and now have reduced to one—my cognitive ability doesn't improve as the medication decreases. I've never heard that medication can cause ability fluctuations rather than just poor stability. I take medication and have no other symptoms except for a slight shaking when my hands are stretched out.

I can write about my condition smoothly but have difficulty writing posts with social attributes. At the same time, I find it harder to forget knowledge related to memory and meditation than other things. I don't seem to have any physical symptoms, and my exercise ability is normal. The fluctuations in my ability seem unrelated to emotions.

This is the medical explanation I originally planned to write to my doctor. I've already seen the doctor twice but decided against giving it and went for another checkup. Both doctors said I was overthinking things. I wanted to ask if anyone else is experiencing the same thing. It would be great if someone could give me advice or a diagnosis.

Thank you everyone.

(I used a translator)
 
Last edited:
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DeathByBananabread

DeathByBananabread

Carol Kohl
Dec 30, 2025
82
COVID has a proven impact on cognitive decline worldwide.

But, mine started before COVID was ever even a thing, so. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

It makes me sad. I felt sharper as a literal child than this. Maybe I was just overconfident & getting too much encouragement but I literally feel like I had better problem solving skills at 10 than almost 30.
 
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No surprises

No surprises

Member
Jan 27, 2026
14
My cognitive impairment appeared long after I contracted COVID-19, so I think that can be ruled out as the cause. Thank you for telling me anyway!
COVID has a proven impact on cognitive decline worldwide.

But, mine started before COVID was ever even a thing, so. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

It makes me sad. I felt sharper as a literal child than this. Maybe I was just overconfident & getting too much encouragement but I literally feel like I had better problem solving skills at 10 than almost 30.
 
NormallyNeurotic

NormallyNeurotic

Everything is going to be okay â‹… he/him
Nov 21, 2024
743
My cognitive impairment appeared long after I contracted COVID-19, so I think that can be ruled out as the cause. Thank you for telling me anyway!
Not necessarily. There are plenty of COVID-linked issues that can show up years down the line. Some things can lay dormant.

Dude, definitely try to advocate for yourself. Keep fighting for a brain scan or a neurology refferal. This stuff can come from encephalitis, and that is something not only tied to COVID, but if it's autoimmune thrn it can lay dormant and go in/out of remission.

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No surprises

No surprises

Member
Jan 27, 2026
14
Not necessarily. There are plenty of COVID-linked issues that can show up years down the line. Some things can lay dormant.

Dude, definitely try to advocate for yourself. Keep fighting for a brain scan or a neurology refferal. This stuff can come from encephalitis, and that is something not only tied to COVID, but if it's autoimmune thrn it can lay dormant and go in/out of remission.

[Hidden content]
Thank you, you're truly a kind person. Including you, three people have now urged me to seek medical help, which has renewed my determination. This time, I absolutely won't give up!
 
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NormallyNeurotic

NormallyNeurotic

Everything is going to be okay â‹… he/him
Nov 21, 2024
743
Thank you, you're truly a kind person. Including you, three people have now urged me to seek medical help, which has renewed my determination. This time, I absolutely won't give up!
You can do it!
 
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violetforever

violetforever

Specialist
Dec 24, 2025
340
my memory is horrible too. i've noticed it get worse over the years. i just feel dumber too. it feels like i have to put a lot of thought into writing something simple yet intelligent. i also realized sometimes when i'm typing something i forget little words now. for me its probably years of anorexia and being underweight catching up to me.
 
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No surprises

No surprises

Member
Jan 27, 2026
14
my memory is horrible too. i've noticed it get worse over the years. i just feel dumber too. it feels like i have to put a lot of thought into writing something simple yet intelligent. i also realized sometimes when i'm typing something i forget little words now. for me its probably years of anorexia and being underweight catching up to me.
OMG, have you been to the hospital?
 
violetforever

violetforever

Specialist
Dec 24, 2025
340
OMG, have you been to the hospital?
no, i never felt like it seriously affects me enough to consider going to the hospital. maybe i just don't see the severity in living like this idk. i feel like i function well enough since i'm able to do school and get good graces and also practice driving.
 
No surprises

No surprises

Member
Jan 27, 2026
14
You mentioned that it's getting worse, and I think it will eventually become serious enough to affect your normal life. No offense intended, but I suggest you see a doctor. If you ask other people you know, they would probably say the same thing.
no, i never felt like it seriously affects me enough to consider going to the hospital. maybe i just don't see the severity in living like this idk. i feel like i function well enough since i'm able to do school and get good graces and also practice driving.
 
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violetforever

violetforever

Specialist
Dec 24, 2025
340
You mentioned that it's getting worse, and I think it will eventually become serious enough to affect your normal life. No offense intended, but I suggest you see a doctor. If you ask other people you know, they would probably say the same thing.
oh i meant to type good grades in my last reply, not good graces. i just caught that. this is making it look worse lol. yeah it's pretty bad. thank u 💗 i just suppose it doesn't matter to me bc i plan to die anyway.
 
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capi

capi

Just a matter of time.
Nov 13, 2023
232
my memory is horrible too. i've noticed it get worse over the years. i just feel dumber too. it feels like i have to put a lot of thought into writing something simple yet intelligent. i also realized sometimes when i'm typing something i forget little words now. for me its probably years of anorexia and being underweight catching up to me.
exactly the same, my writing is terrible. though my issues arent from weight, i have a theory its from severe social isolation causing brain damage
i first noticed my issues in middle school, during that time i had almost no interaction with people. i didnt know wht was going on
 
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violetforever

violetforever

Specialist
Dec 24, 2025
340
exactly the same, my writing is terrible. though my issues arent from weight, i have a theory its from severe social isolation causing brain damage
i first noticed my issues in middle school, during that time i had almost no interaction with people. i didnt know wht was going on
lol my brain must be broken from everything bc that is another issue i had too. almost 10 years of isolation from homeschool and putting off college. i know for sure that worsened my social skills. i never imagined it could cause more damage but ur probably right. its probably mostly irreversible too? .-.
 
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capi

capi

Just a matter of time.
Nov 13, 2023
232
lol my brain must be broken from everything bc that is another issue i had too. almost 10 years of isolation from homeschool and putting off college. i know for sure that worsened my social skills. i never imagined it could cause more damage but ur probably right. its probably mostly irreversible too? .-.
oh damn thats def a contributing factor.
based on my studies, technically everyone has "neuroplasticity" as in, everyone's brains can recover from brain damage and rewire itself somewhat.
but in cases of cptsd, especially in lifelong childhood experience, its kind of incurable and the neuroplasticity is mostly for coping mechanism development rather than the disability going away.
there are some novel drugs but its not like we can afford or legally get those anyways.
ive decided its not worth the trouble
 
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violetforever

violetforever

Specialist
Dec 24, 2025
340
but in cases of cptsd, especially in lifelong childhood experience, its kind of incurable and the neuroplasticity is mostly for coping mechanism development rather than the disability going away.
there are some novel drugs but its not like we can afford or legally get those anyways.
ive decided its not worth the trouble
i also accepted that this is just who i am at this point too. thanks for that info btw <3
 
A

Always-in-trouble

Member
Jan 14, 2026
72
oh damn thats def a contributing factor.
based on my studies, technically everyone has "neuroplasticity" as in, everyone's brains can recover from brain damage and rewire itself somewhat.
but in cases of cptsd, especially in lifelong childhood experience, its kind of incurable and the neuroplasticity is mostly for coping mechanism development rather than the disability going away.
there are some novel drugs but its not like we can afford or legally get those anyways.
ive decided its not worth the trouble
i also accepted that this is just who i am at this point too. thanks for that info btw <3
Did you guys bedrot as well in certain periods? That along social isolation killed my ability to use common sense or use cognitve motor skills i a lot things. (Also terrible at grammar too lol)
 
capi

capi

Just a matter of time.
Nov 13, 2023
232
Did you guys bedrot as well in certain periods? That along social isolation killed my ability to use common sense or use cognitve motor skills i a lot things. (Also terrible at grammar too lol)
i bedrotted my entire life lmao
my motor skills are trash as well, someone described it as if im going 12 fps
 
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A

amerie

Warlock
Oct 6, 2024
750
Yes, a lot of autistic people experience this along with other types of neurodivergent people. It's not exactly clear why.

It could just be that due to long severe depressive episodes, you're spending so much time surviving (not leaving the house or doing anything "productive" other than eating and using the bathroom) that you're just having bouts of skill repression and need to start getting active again to revive them.

Trauma also causes your brain to not allow you to remember a lot of things to protect your psyche in the best way that it can.

Either way, remain active. My grammar has been getting slightly shittier ever since I started my gap year, I'm back in college and I'm going to be doing a lot of it so hopefully it'll come back to me.
 
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violetforever

violetforever

Specialist
Dec 24, 2025
340
Did you guys bedrot as well in certain periods? That along social isolation killed my ability to use common sense or use cognitve motor skills i a lot things. (Also terrible at grammar too lol)
yeahhhh i've been bedrotting for the past 10 years. the only time i'm not doing that now is when i'm at school, driving or at my grandparents house. i'm just gonna assume everything ive done my whole life has not been healthy for me.
 
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No surprises

No surprises

Member
Jan 27, 2026
14
Yes, a lot of autistic people experience this along with other types of neurodivergent people. It's not exactly clear why.

It could just be that due to long severe depressive episodes, you're spending so much time surviving (not leaving the house or doing anything "productive" other than eating and using the bathroom) that you're just having bouts of skill repression and need to start getting active again to revive them.

Trauma also causes your brain to not allow you to remember a lot of things to protect your psyche in the best way that it can.

Either way, remain active. My grammar has been getting slightly shittier ever since I started my gap year, I'm back in college and I'm going to be doing a lot of it so hopefully it'll come back to me.
Thank you for your response. Some evidence suggests my condition isn't caused by long-term depression or trauma; I may be neurodiverse. You mentioned that many neurodiverse individuals experience this situation—information I've never encountered on Google or elsewhere. Where did you learn about this? If you could share your sources, I could gain further insight,maybe including the average recovery time.
 
H

Hollowman

Empty
Dec 14, 2021
2,246
Yeah I have something similar, it's ruined everything. I should've ctb decades ago.
 
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No surprises

No surprises

Member
Jan 27, 2026
14
Yeah I have something similar, it's ruined everything. I should've ctb decades ago.
This illness truly makes life unbearable. Sending you a hug. If you've already been to the hospital, could you tell me what diagnosis the doctor gave you?Thank you
 
NormallyNeurotic

NormallyNeurotic

Everything is going to be okay â‹… he/him
Nov 21, 2024
743
Thank you for your response. Some evidence suggests my condition isn't caused by long-term depression or trauma; I may be neurodiverse. You mentioned that many neurodiverse individuals experience this situation—information I've never encountered on Google or elsewhere. Where did you learn about this? If you could share your sources, I could gain further insight,maybe including the average recovery time.
I can only assume they're talking about Skill Regression during "neurodivergent" burnout and/or after diagnosis/realization.

(I put neurodivergent in quotes because that type of burnout is more common in autism/ADHD, not as much all neurodivergencies)

But neither of those situations seem to fit your description, and I too have no idea what else they could mean. Burnout can cause memory issues from dissociation, and Skill Regression can cause some worsening disability, but if it rarely affects anything this severely.

If anyone's Burnout is causing Skill Regression to the point of worsening disability this bad, GO TO THE DOCTOR.
 
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T

Thia

maybe recovering (maybe not)
Nov 24, 2023
56
Disclosure about things mentioned in this thread: I take 2mg of aripiprazole every day. I have ASD (diagnosed) and probably ADHD (also diagnosed) as well. I have been socially isolated from ages 9–19.

My experiences have been… somewhat similar, but still not the same. My memory has been impaired, and so has been my reading ability. I am not sure about the rest. But these were gradually affected during my onset into depression a few years ago, stayed horrible for a while, and has now improved somewhat (although not at baseline levels) these days. I'm not sure if it really fluctuates on a daily basis.

Also possibly worth mentioning is that I am going through an extended period of fatigue where life makes me too tired to function. Over and over I have neglected basic life tasks to the point that my parents have had to intervene. At my worst sometimes I couldn't even go to university.

My hypothesis is either burnout or a form of depression but I am not sure at all.
 

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