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mzdawn74
11-11-15, 02:05
Hello,

This is my first posting here so bare with me if it's a long read. I also apologize in advance if it lacks flow or cohesiveness, as my brain is functioning very poorly, and continues to decline on a steady basis. I know you may read this post and think this woman has no issues, her post is very well written and easily understood. That maybe true in referring to how well my brain was functioning when I first wrote this post on another site over 2 months ago. It's definitely not the case now. It's taken me 10 minutes to compose this opening paragraph. I am desperately looking for some advice and help here! I walk around in a state of confusion all day long...so someone please read my post and provide me some reassurance, advice, support, or anything at this point! I've gotten to the point I've been thinking about hurting myself it's so bad. I don't want to, but at this point I feel hopeless. I guess I should stop rambling, and let you all get to know my story and why I'm here...

I have been suffering with anxiety and depression for over 4 long years now. When all of this began back then I had your typical run of the mill symptoms of both disorders eg(low mood, crying, lack of motivation, insomnia, panic attacks, trouble swallowing, heart racing, racing thoughts, and some slight memory and concentration problems).*

So,over the next 1-2 years I was placed on quite a few different SSRI's which didn't work it for me, and had almost gave up totally on medication until my psychiatrist started me on Zoloft.*

Zoloft worked well for about 4 months, and I was able to return back to my normal life, and not being in bed crying all day. However, I did end up taking myself off because I felt really good, and thought I could handle it on my own. Plus, I didn't really like the sedated feeling it gave me.*

After taking myself off I struggled on my own with my depression and anxiety, and ended up back at the bottom of the barrel wondering "why me"? I probably wouldn't have crashed again if I'd never stopped the Zoloft. But, it's too late to cry over that spilled milk!*

I continued to fight on my own without any medication, therapy, or any other type of assistance for another 6 months or so. I finally decided that I was tired of going through all of the ups and downs, and forced myself to get back to functioning on a somewhat normal basis even though it was hard. I started keeping up with my normal everyday responsibilities, got a job, and even returned back to community college.*

During this time I still had all of the original symptoms,and struggled a lot to keep up. My concentration and memory were still inpaired, but I did the best I could.

In November of last year I started to notice an increase of anxiety and actually had my first panic attacks in months. These panic attacks turned into severe confusion, memory problems, poor concentration, and other cognitive impairments. I ended up having to quit my job and school because i just couldnt function.

Since then I have done nothing but to continue to decline mentally, intelligence wise, and have become a nervous wreck! I would like to share some of my symptoms with you:

Confusion
Disoriented
More severe memory problems
Unable to comprehend conversations, TV programs, movies, books*
Word loss unable to recall proper words*
Saying incorrect words or using improper Grammer
Spelling, reading, and math difficulty
Forgetting how to do everyday things cooking, cleaning, putting on make up
Getting confused on freeway taking wrong exits
Feel dizzy and unbalanced*
Feel like I'm in a fog or dream
Indecisive
Unable to multi-task
Unable to sleep more than 3-4 hours
Have to write everything down
Thoughts are confused and disoriented and I am unable to express myself
Vision blurry and eyes feel like I am unable to focus*
Eyes are very dry and sensitive to light
Neck stiffness and pain
Headaches
Seeing shadows of things moving, but nothing is there
Feeling constantly on edge
Can feel adrenaline racing in my body
Hands and legs are shakey and weak

I have seen numerous doctors and specialists including GP, neurologist, rheumatologist, cardiologist, psychiatrist, psychologist, OB/GYN, and a few others. They have ran tests for auto immune diseases, thyroid, diabetes, heavy metals, Lyme disease, vitamin deficiencies, and many others along with ct-scans, mri's, x-rays, EEG, nerve testing, ect.

All of these tests have come back 100% normal. So, in the end all of the doctors attribute my symptoms to the depression, anxiety, insomnia, and I forgot to mention I do have mild sleep apnea (I use my cpap every night).*

Has anyone else experienced these symptoms, and it be just anxiety and depression? If so, how did you treat it? Did your cognitive functioning return to normal once your depression/anxiety was in check?

Should I be still looking for other possible medical/organic causes even though I've been tested for so much already, and they haven't found anything?

My history with medications is terrible, but I realize they areally gking to bensure key to my recovery. I always start a medication and then quit due to the increases in anxiety and cognitive impairments. How do I get through the start up side effects?*

Any advice, suggestions, opinions, and support is welcomed and very appreciated.

Thank you,
Dawn*

---------- Post added at 02:05 ---------- Previous post was at 01:46 ----------

:unsure::scared15:

Micwal93
11-11-15, 02:37
Have you had any events recently that may have triggered these symptoms? When something bad happens in my life, I seem to get similar symptoms and they fade within a month or two, then start again when something else bad happens

mzdawn74
11-11-15, 04:45
Have you had any events recently that may have triggered these symptoms? When something bad happens in my life, I seem to get similar symptoms and they fade within a month or two, then start again when something else bad happens


Last year when this all began I was going through a pretty stressful time period with my teenage boys and some financial issues. But, I've always had a very stressful life. What makes this time different is the length of it (almost a year), with severe cognitive impairment. My issues before with concentration and memory were minor compared to now. I feel like I'm losing my mind 24/7. I feel so confused and just out of touch with reality. I'm losing hope and motivation to fight this...

rbm
13-11-15, 21:20
have you been hearing my cries ?!! i have the same issues you just described and i worries about it to such extent that i thought/think :scared10: i have dementia (even wrote about it in the forum)...

i wake up thinking it's monday for e.g, but by the time i get out of the house i have to think about what day it is....i forget to do daily things, misplace things, i get lost in my head pretty often, although i seem to do fine at work.one day i've asked someone the same damn question 3 times then remembered every time he answered me, i just couldn't keep up with my racy mind...

much like you, i've been so on edge i've even had some sort of hallucinations, i recognised my friends in prefect strangers on the street, never getting enough sleep, not paying attention to details.i work with numbers and sometimes i get simple math wrong...

absolutely everything you describe can be blamed on anxiety, i'm battleing them too, but once you convince youself there is a way out, you just need patience and confidence, everything will start to fade, to settle down

i know it's easy to say, but hard to get started....i take zoloft too, but once i started on xanax for a good night's sleep, it all got better and i was able to think strait, at least in the morning... now i'm only on zoloft, sleep through the night...

i deal with anxiety (in many forms) and depression and insomnia(sometimes)and muscle twitching and obesity and a recurring dermatitis triggered by all of the above....it's hard as hell but i push through it because i have a daughter who deserves better than a shodow of what i used to be !! i suggest you find your own incentive and focus on that, try yoga, meditation, walking, crying, shouting, whatever gets you to release that bad energy and gets you that small peace of mind that is able to grow back in your mind and subsequenly make those symptoms subside.

mzdawn74
14-11-15, 02:28
have you been hearing my cries ?!! i have the same issues you just described and i worries about it to such extent that i thought/think :scared10: i have dementia (even wrote about it in the forum)...

i wake up thinking it's monday for e.g, but by the time i get out of the house i have to think about what day it is....i forget to do daily things, misplace things, i get lost in my head pretty often, although i seem to do fine at work.one day i've asked someone the same damn question 3 times then remembered every time he answered me, i just couldn't keep up with my racy mind...

much like you, i've been so on edge i've even had some sort of hallucinations, i recognised my friends in prefect strangers on the street, never getting enough sleep, not paying attention to details.i work with numbers and sometimes i get simple math wrong...

absolutely everything you describe can be blamed on anxiety, i'm battleing them too, but once you convince youself there is a way out, you just need patience and confidence, everything will start to fade, to settle down

i know it's easy to say, but hard to get started....i take zoloft too, but once i started on xanax for a good night's sleep, it all got better and i was able to think strait, at least in the morning... now i'm only on zoloft, sleep through the night...

i deal with anxiety (in many forms) and depression and insomnia(sometimes)and muscle twitching and obesity and a recurring dermatitis triggered by all of the above....it's hard as hell but i push through it because i have a daughter who deserves better than a shodow of what i used to be !! i suggest you find your own incentive and focus on that, try yoga, meditation, walking, crying, shouting, whatever gets you to release that bad energy and gets you that small peace of mind that is able to grow back in your mind and subsequenly make those symptoms subside.

Thank you for responding. I'm sorry you are suffering too, but it is comforting to know that I'm not alone. How soon after you started zoloft and Xanax did you start to feel some relief? Are you still having a lot of difficulty struggling cognitively with the medication?

I wish I could work..I can barely function enough to come on here..let alone trying to work.

rbm
14-11-15, 07:38
it took me about 3 weeks to feel better, after which my psych cut down xanax by half and now, months later, i'm only on zoloft(i take xanax when i need it). i guess the most important step for me was to realize that this is common and i might be struggling with it for the rest of my life, might aswell make the best of it !!

it seems the hardest thing to do, i remember fearing i'd become suicidal because i've lost a colleague to suicide...i decided i wouldn't give up, there is much to live for and fight for!!

the mind gets less foggy not only due to meds but your effort to clear it ! you have to want to do that, meds help a lot (mo matter what skeptics say) , try to have a daily routine, an outlet for your fears.i've lost a lot of friends who don't understand the condition , it's important to surround yourself with positive thoughts and positive people !

PS : taking some magnesium helps, maybe some vitamins, try everything until you find what best suits you !!