Jools

Date posted: Yesterday

Cognitive Decline

I feel like my brain doesn’t function properly anymore. I used to be so smart. I had a 4.0 in college, I was president of a student organization, I interned at an ivy league. I genuinely felt smart and motivated to excel. Now I just feel like an idiot. I have no drive. I make small mistakes all the time. I feel like I can’t form a complete sentence without stumbling over my words. Thoughts get all jumbled in my head. It makes me wonder if there’s something seriously wrong with me like a brain tumor or early Alzheimer’s. I used to pride myself on being decently intelligent but now I just feel sad. Anyone relate?

Young adults with OCD

fruitbat42069

Date posted: Yesterday

Definitely relate. What a shitty feeling. Is there anything you're doing, maybe reading or emgaging in lately that reminds you that you've "still got it" or that you're still learning & stretching that mental muscle from time to time? Even if its small.

Jools

Date posted: 19h

@fruitbat42069 I’ve been trying to read more lately. My husband and I try to read for at least 30 minutes before bed instead of watching TV or doom scrolling

fruitbat42069

Date posted: 18h

@Jools Heck yeah, me too. Reading is a great alternative to TV or doom scrolling. Ive been playing some brain games, as well. Somehow i got myself hooked on sudoku a while back and it replaced my doom scrolling habits a lot.

sweet-potato

Date posted: Yesterday

I relate. Recently I’ve been taking more agency, finding new things to pursue to learn. I’m thinking about starting an online class at a slow pace when I can, just to feel like I’m making progress again.

Jools

Date posted: 19h

@sweet-potato Nice! I’m kind of doing the same with learning to program

Anonymous

Date posted: Yesterday

I felt that way a while ago, but the more of a handle I’ve gotten on my compulsions, the clearer my mind has been.

Jools

Date posted: 19h

@Anonymous That’s encouraging to hear. I definitely have weeks where my mind is more clear but then there are the days where I struggle to form a complete sentence.

Anonymous

Date posted: 19h

@Jools That’s good to hear. Improved sleep may also help. It may also help to commit to learning something actively, such as a language or coding.

Starrie

Date posted: Yesterday

Me too. It's the little things, like not being good at something I used to, feeling weak when I try to lift something, not understanding a phrase or word meaning right away. I feel stupid now, I really dont know what happened. My best bet is to just keep learning and trying to not scroll or rot your mind with stupid stuff yk, Ik I have that issue

Jools

Date posted: 19h

@Starrie Not understanding a phrase or word right away hits close to home. It freaks me out sometimes. I’ve been trying to read more or just spend time outside exploring instead of rotting

Starrie

Date posted: 15h

@Jools The worst for me is when I like forget how to spell a basic word I should know, idk why it happens but I feel genuinely dumb because of it lol

macarena3412

Date posted: Yesterday

Autistic burnout + skill regression at its finest

Jools

Date posted: 19h

@macarena3412 Interesting! I’ve always wondered if maybe that’s what’s going on with me too

macarena3412

Date posted: 18h

@Jools Possibly, though of course I’m not your provider, maybe it’s time to set an appointment for a psychological evaluation/testing?

Boognish

Date posted: 20h

I’m a PhD candidate who feels like they’ve forgotten how to write…solidarity.

Jools

Date posted: 19h

@Boognish I know your pain…I work in science around a bunch of PhDs

lemxn.zest

Date posted: 18h

i understand this completely. recently ive felt like all my thoughts are jumbled and i can't speak properly or read without having to reread it a few times. i do think it's probably a high-stress ocd thing, but it's super scary. i hope it'll start to recede when you get a better handle on your ocd <3 good luck mate

Jools

Date posted: 12h

@lemxn.zest Thanks and you too!

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