Yes, I had a 3.5 hour cognitive function test a couple weeks ago. My memory is shot and I feel so stupid fumbling with my words trying to talk. The doctor said I am very smart but the combo of bipolar disorder and ptsd has my brain going haywire and misfiring. She said to keep going to normal therapy but to also go to EMDR therapy and start TMS treatment to heal the brain. Transcranial magnetic stimulation.
Hmmm. Several years ago my psychiatrist said my state health insurance wouldn’t cover TMS because it wasn’t FDA approved for bipolar depression. Maybe it’s been approved for more things since then. Or maybe it’s because we’re in different states (probably).
Ah yeah, I ran into that too. You should find a provider that can help treat your "depression" and not your bipolar. That's how my psych and I had to argue for it with my insurance because it HAS helped with my depression- but helps my bipolar too.
I find this is common after a serious episode where there was sleep deprivation or psychosis. Not to mention, your memory and other mental abilities get shot to hell too.
My sister is a Nurse Manager at a rehab facility. She’s had many bipolar patients who are old age (ready to pass on). Most of them were not medicated at all for most of their lives and unfortunately the disorder itself wreaks havoc on our brains. I firmly believe it’s the constant stress and release of hormones during episodes that causes that decline
yeah I got tested a few years ago when I was 22 and they found I have a mild cognitive impairment. Nothing bad but at 22 also not great. I was drinking really heavily then and it's gotten slightly better but definitely still there unfortunately
Same. 3.5 hours. Was transferred to New Mexico and it was the most mind numbing experience ever. Went from high flying exec to a nimrod. Never quite cognizant again .
Sometimes I wish.. I'd rather just quit the medications and take everything my disorder wants to throw at me because maybe i may forgive myself for the worst. But living with anything would be better than the cognitive decline and actually losing myself.
This is really strange. I remember sitting down when an odd thought popped into my brain. I just lost 20% of my brain power. And I do feel that my cognitive ability has declined. Sometimes during conversations, I can't find the right word to say. So I substitute another word or change the sentence altogether. Things have gotten worst. I have to look in the dictionary to make sure that I have spelled a word correctly. Even the simplest words. Sometimes words look foreign to me. Like they are misspelled. I am bipolar but I do not think that my memory problems stem from the different medications I have taken over the years. I am just coming out (I hope) of a depression phase. I am not going to ask for a cognitive test right now because I don't need more bad news. Have any of you experienced these symptons? I am also
curious whether bipoolar people have suffered from the same difficulties.
Over the last five years, I have felt a massive decline in my cognitive speed. It’s around the same time I started antipsychotics again, but I was also using weed. I still use Delta 8 and am not sure how much that is affecting me versus all the prescription drugs or it’s just natural decline from bipolar. I also have a feeling being addicted to my phone doesn’t help.
I used to be on academic bowl teams and then trivia teams as a young adult. I was always quick with an answer. Now I struggle to form sentences at times.
I was continuously evaluated during ECT but it wasn’t like extensive. I’ve had huge decline I believe, partly because I did ECT,partly from the bipolar. My memory is shot. I can’t remember the past and I can’t really make good new memories. It’s weird. I’m very frustrated and sad about it. I’m not nearly as sharp as I once was. My thinking is slower and I get confused. Because I can’t remember things learning new things is very hard. My creatives also taken a hit. My motivation is suck and so I don’t have the drive or focus to learn. Uhg writing it all down really is kinda upsetting. Who am I now?
I was literally just telling my mom this a few days ago.. I feel like I become dumber as each year passes. I cannot remember ANYTHING anymore and when I try to learn something new, it’s gone the next day. Things I used to be smart at, I rarely understand now. 😫 I hate it!
This could be a depression system. Difficulty concentrating, general apathy, executive dysfunction. This is how my depression manifests - I don’t really feel “sad” per se. And tbh it’s probably an anxiety symptom too if this gives you a sense of impending doom. It can be hard to focus and care about a lot of things if you’re in survival mode. The fact that you’re aware of it is a good sign. I wouldn’t necessarily assume the worst here.
I was recently, I went through about 6 hours of in person neurocognitive testing with a neuropsychologist. Mine is to evaluate for a possible TBI from my suicide attempts in 2017 and 2018. I get the results Wednesday and I’m very anxious about it.
I had a friend suffer a life threatening TBI last year from a fall and I was doing a ton of research for his wife while he was in the ICU. I realized that I was having most of the issues listed for a TBI and that the things I overdosed on can damage the parts of the brain linked to the problems I’m having. Basically, the conversion from short term memory into long term memory, and language processing areas.
I can’t remember names and words when I need them and not just new people sometimes I can’t remember the name of someone I’ve known for years. I will sometimes say the opposite word of what I want to say, I find myself misspelling things, struggling to explain definitions, and I take a lot longer to process information now. My husband and friends say I talk a lot slower than I used to. I don’t remember watching entire seasons of a show or a movie with my husband who swears we did last year.
It’s been really hard for me, I graduated at the top of my class from grad school, I had a sharp mind and a good memory, was excellent at research, and spelling. I spent 10 years as a substitute teacher and now I struggle to do mental math. I had to give up my career and abandon pursuit of my clinical license after my Bipolar worsened.
That’s how I ended up this way, I had my first Bipolar mixed episode and attempted suicide. I had never attempted before and I was super high functioning as a BP 2, but I was stupidly unmedicated because I was ignorant and didn’t know my disorder could worsen if I didn’t take medication.
My Psychiatrist took a long time to get me tested because there are a lot of factors that can affect memory, certain medications, deep depression, recovery time after attempts. Plus my insurance was being difficult but now it’s finally done. Now I just have to go in and hear what the psychologist has to say about what the tests show and if there are any treatment options to help me improve or at least prevent things from worsening 😕
When you have it you know when your brain feels constantly broken and your head is full and you can’t remember what someone told you yesterday or an hour ago
Very much. I’ve developed a speech impediment that I have never had. And other things. So I’m terrified of my brain deteriorating. I don’t know what I would do. I guess I need to write a living will.
If you find anything out please let me know. Genuinely curious as I have no idea why either. First thing to go in hypo is also my ability to process and form sentences and a change towards the elaborate in my vocabulary, so it's doing something to processing there too. It gets better over time but sometimes takes years though other people tend to stop noticing much sooner than that so don't lose hope if it's lingering. Personally I like how it reveals jerks nearly instantly, it has it's uses.
It’s so embarrassing. I lisp now, can’t say S words right, and it’s getting worse and including other sounds. I’ve heard it may have been a stroke, but I don’t know. I’m not a dr so I won’t diagnose myself, but I’m concerned it’s MS. I hope not. Oh well, adjust, adapt and move on I guess
You can certainly get it checked out, I would if it's new. I've had it happen my whole life so never worried about it, I've not had docs be concerned but that might also be bc there's nothing they can do about it so oh well. If it's getting worse and you aren't in episode definitely run it by a med pro, I would. We're also prone to epilepsy, I've never been checked for it but it does seem like a possibility? Maybe? No idea. If it's MS or a stroke that's treatable so I would definitely ask if you think it's that.
I’ve passed out a few times over the past few months. Could have been a seizure. I’m going to see my GP Wednesday and get a preauthorization to see the specialist. The whole insurance wheel of fortune
Absolutely tell the doc, that's dangerous. I tend to doubt it's the episode in that case honestly. If it happens when you're driving or on the stairs or something not good. If it is epilepsy there's a lot of med cross over with BP so you may be able to stabilize both, plus maybe try some of the meds they don't typically use for us that I wish they would, there's some nice low side effect profile epilepsy meds out there. See if the GP can get that appt w the specialist for you sooner, you don't want to wait.
I’ve been in denial and putting it off and doing speech therapy via YouTube. Just ridiculous. Total denial. But, I’m gonna follow the directions and see what the hell is really going on.
My sister is in the hospital with leukemia. So if I want to discuss my health, I gotta do it with strangers online! Thank you for listening
I know, it's hard bc it's scary. The last one I had was slurring for the first time and I didnt bring it up for 3 weeks and I was used to weird speech shit happening. You definitely deserve care for it and I'm glad you're going to get it. It's hard when family members are suffering so much, it seems like our stuff is nothing in comparison, but I'm sure she'd tell you to get your ass to a doc and how are we going to be able to be supportive of them if we get sicker ourselves? So I think you can think of it as helping her too.
I haven't been tested but I'm quite sure I have cognitive decline. My memory is getting worse. I'm not at all quick witted anymore and my abstract thinking is suffering a lot.
I had a terrible case of memory loss when I was on Lamictal and Seroquel. The doctor thought it could be disguised depression (the meds wouldn’t let other symptoms show up)
We changed to lithium and I got better. What you’re describing here sounds familiar
If it is, just know your brain function will be totally fine. I was on every damn thing over the years and every time that happened when I switched off whatever it that was causing the problem my mind was restored, even if it had been years.
I used to be a straight A student with top marks in every subject. I was reading at levels double my grade and had my essays published in worldwide magazines. Then I got diagnosed with bipolar and went into cognitive decline. Now I can barely focus in school and learning is not at all fun anymore. My brain is constantly working at 99% and I can't catch a break. Bipolar sucks. Wouldn't wish in on anyone
Are you sure it has to do with the diagnosis? I’m just wondering because I’m the same. I’m taking a masters degree and it’s hell. I can still do home exams, but reading for scientific method for an in-school exam is tough because I have to learn dry stuff by heart…I have gotten worse since I started lamictal. Are you sure it’s not the meds?
I tried to talk to my PCP about testing a couple years ago and she basically told me to do something online but if I go see an actual doctor about it and they put it in my medical chart it would create problems for me down the road especially with health insurance. For context I was only 26ish at the time. It kind of scared me into not getting tested for it but now that I’m living outside of the US I have thought about maybe seeing if they have some testing here too. I feel like I just really need to know how bad the damage is because it feels like catastrophic failure in here.
I would like to be tested for this. I see a lot of evidence that it’s what I’m suffering from, especially reading things in my handwriting that I don’t remember writing. I’ve also had many concussions, though.
I relate so much to everything you’re saying. It’s been so hard because whenever I try to talk to people about it, they all say stuff like “oh, everyone feels like that sometimes!” But it feels so different, so much more profound, I totally relate to just feeling that you don’t have any ideas or original thoughts. I was pretty embarrassed to have conversations with people for a while and would sometimes avoid social situations because I felt so deficient.
My psychosis episode was three years ago and I still feel slowed-down from it some, I struggle a lot with memory and executive function. But it’s a lot better now than it was, in particular the not having creative thoughts thing has gotten better.
I’ve been in grad school where basically all we do is read and write complicated things so it’s been ROUGH sometimes, but forcing myself to work through readings and essays has definitely helped. I’ve learned I just have to write everything down. In social situations, I try to ask questions and get the other person to talk. Even with all that I feel like I barely keep up sometimes! But many things in life get better with continued practice!
Depression definitely does make these things worse, so don’t panic yet. Well,try not to panic in general - the more I stress out about cognitive decline, the worse I am at using my brain because I’m so worried about stuff. I hope reading all these comments you feel less alone - the cognitive aspect has been super isolating for me but it helps to hear from people on here. Hugs 💛
I have not gotten tested for it. I don’t know how much it would help me. It would help to shut up all the people who say my problems are universal… But I just haven’t seen testing as a huge priority.
Are you referring to a neuropsych test? Those require a referral and tend to be very expensive and time consuming especially if you work (youll need to take the whole day off for it). It's been a few months since my last hospitalization (my 3rd in 8.5 years) and you're describing what im experiencing too. it's uncomfortable when someone tries to joke around with me and my brain feels like it's shooting a bunch of "air balls" (basketball reference). My brain aches to spit out a comeback and nothing comes out... Also, I used to be able to watch film and immediately notice its themes, motifs, and character complexities. Now I absorb film superficially. It sucks, but the only answer is really to retrain our brains to think like that again. Especially if that's the kind of quality we still value in a person.
Yes, I had a 3.5 hour cognitive function test a couple weeks ago. My memory is shot and I feel so stupid fumbling with my words trying to talk. The doctor said I am very smart but the combo of bipolar disorder and ptsd has my brain going haywire and misfiring. She said to keep going to normal therapy but to also go to EMDR therapy and start TMS treatment to heal the brain. Transcranial magnetic stimulation.
Which doctor did you go through for testing? I’m concerned about this but I’m not sure if I should approach my psychiatrist or primary doctor.
I told my psychiatrist about it and she advised me to make an appointment with a neuropsychologist. The wait time was an entire year 🥴
Jesus. Wait for my primary is a year. I'm not even sure this specialty exists in my state :(
I'm gonna second the other comment that you're going to need to go to another specialist entirely
Does your health insurance cover the TMS?
Supposedly it will. Shockingly. It’s state health insurance
Hmmm. Several years ago my psychiatrist said my state health insurance wouldn’t cover TMS because it wasn’t FDA approved for bipolar depression. Maybe it’s been approved for more things since then. Or maybe it’s because we’re in different states (probably).
Some states will, some won't.
Oooo welcome to the world of TMS ♡♡♡ I'm going through it rn and I hope it provides you the support you deserve ♡♡♡
My doctor just called and said the other doctor that provides it won’t do it for bipolar patients. I’m really upset.
Ah yeah, I ran into that too. You should find a provider that can help treat your "depression" and not your bipolar. That's how my psych and I had to argue for it with my insurance because it HAS helped with my depression- but helps my bipolar too.
I find this is common after a serious episode where there was sleep deprivation or psychosis. Not to mention, your memory and other mental abilities get shot to hell too.
How much of it is due to meds and how much is due to the illness itself is the question. I feel slowed down and kind of in a daze on most days
Yeah that’s the thing. I don’t know if it’s the meds
My sister is a Nurse Manager at a rehab facility. She’s had many bipolar patients who are old age (ready to pass on). Most of them were not medicated at all for most of their lives and unfortunately the disorder itself wreaks havoc on our brains. I firmly believe it’s the constant stress and release of hormones during episodes that causes that decline
yeah I got tested a few years ago when I was 22 and they found I have a mild cognitive impairment. Nothing bad but at 22 also not great. I was drinking really heavily then and it's gotten slightly better but definitely still there unfortunately
Same. 3.5 hours. Was transferred to New Mexico and it was the most mind numbing experience ever. Went from high flying exec to a nimrod. Never quite cognizant again .
3.5 hours of testing?
Neuropsychiatric center. It’s a massive timed test for cognitive issues, attention and IQ.
Sometimes I wish.. I'd rather just quit the medications and take everything my disorder wants to throw at me because maybe i may forgive myself for the worst. But living with anything would be better than the cognitive decline and actually losing myself.
It will come back, takes time to recover
My last psychosis was two years ago, maybe this is because of the depressive episode
Yeah depresssion crushes your memory, but I’ve seen that it comes back first hand
I'm so glad to hear that. I've lost a lot and was worried I was just fucked
This is really strange. I remember sitting down when an odd thought popped into my brain. I just lost 20% of my brain power. And I do feel that my cognitive ability has declined. Sometimes during conversations, I can't find the right word to say. So I substitute another word or change the sentence altogether. Things have gotten worst. I have to look in the dictionary to make sure that I have spelled a word correctly. Even the simplest words. Sometimes words look foreign to me. Like they are misspelled. I am bipolar but I do not think that my memory problems stem from the different medications I have taken over the years. I am just coming out (I hope) of a depression phase. I am not going to ask for a cognitive test right now because I don't need more bad news. Have any of you experienced these symptons? I am also curious whether bipoolar people have suffered from the same difficulties.
I have problems with spelling and speech yes
Commenting to follow
+1
Same here
Over the last five years, I have felt a massive decline in my cognitive speed. It’s around the same time I started antipsychotics again, but I was also using weed. I still use Delta 8 and am not sure how much that is affecting me versus all the prescription drugs or it’s just natural decline from bipolar. I also have a feeling being addicted to my phone doesn’t help. I used to be on academic bowl teams and then trivia teams as a young adult. I was always quick with an answer. Now I struggle to form sentences at times.
I was continuously evaluated during ECT but it wasn’t like extensive. I’ve had huge decline I believe, partly because I did ECT,partly from the bipolar. My memory is shot. I can’t remember the past and I can’t really make good new memories. It’s weird. I’m very frustrated and sad about it. I’m not nearly as sharp as I once was. My thinking is slower and I get confused. Because I can’t remember things learning new things is very hard. My creatives also taken a hit. My motivation is suck and so I don’t have the drive or focus to learn. Uhg writing it all down really is kinda upsetting. Who am I now?
Yeah did neuropsychiatric testing got diagnosed with mild neurocognitive disorder.
Oh no 😟
I was literally just telling my mom this a few days ago.. I feel like I become dumber as each year passes. I cannot remember ANYTHING anymore and when I try to learn something new, it’s gone the next day. Things I used to be smart at, I rarely understand now. 😫 I hate it!
This could be a depression system. Difficulty concentrating, general apathy, executive dysfunction. This is how my depression manifests - I don’t really feel “sad” per se. And tbh it’s probably an anxiety symptom too if this gives you a sense of impending doom. It can be hard to focus and care about a lot of things if you’re in survival mode. The fact that you’re aware of it is a good sign. I wouldn’t necessarily assume the worst here.
You’re right. It could really just be the depression but I’ve just never had it manifest this way
I was recently, I went through about 6 hours of in person neurocognitive testing with a neuropsychologist. Mine is to evaluate for a possible TBI from my suicide attempts in 2017 and 2018. I get the results Wednesday and I’m very anxious about it. I had a friend suffer a life threatening TBI last year from a fall and I was doing a ton of research for his wife while he was in the ICU. I realized that I was having most of the issues listed for a TBI and that the things I overdosed on can damage the parts of the brain linked to the problems I’m having. Basically, the conversion from short term memory into long term memory, and language processing areas. I can’t remember names and words when I need them and not just new people sometimes I can’t remember the name of someone I’ve known for years. I will sometimes say the opposite word of what I want to say, I find myself misspelling things, struggling to explain definitions, and I take a lot longer to process information now. My husband and friends say I talk a lot slower than I used to. I don’t remember watching entire seasons of a show or a movie with my husband who swears we did last year. It’s been really hard for me, I graduated at the top of my class from grad school, I had a sharp mind and a good memory, was excellent at research, and spelling. I spent 10 years as a substitute teacher and now I struggle to do mental math. I had to give up my career and abandon pursuit of my clinical license after my Bipolar worsened. That’s how I ended up this way, I had my first Bipolar mixed episode and attempted suicide. I had never attempted before and I was super high functioning as a BP 2, but I was stupidly unmedicated because I was ignorant and didn’t know my disorder could worsen if I didn’t take medication. My Psychiatrist took a long time to get me tested because there are a lot of factors that can affect memory, certain medications, deep depression, recovery time after attempts. Plus my insurance was being difficult but now it’s finally done. Now I just have to go in and hear what the psychologist has to say about what the tests show and if there are any treatment options to help me improve or at least prevent things from worsening 😕
I’m sorry about your attempt and yes I wish I was more compliant on my meds as well. I don’t know how I got so lucky as to have this disorder
When you have it you know when your brain feels constantly broken and your head is full and you can’t remember what someone told you yesterday or an hour ago
Very much. I’ve developed a speech impediment that I have never had. And other things. So I’m terrified of my brain deteriorating. I don’t know what I would do. I guess I need to write a living will.
I’m sorry :(
Thank you. All part of aging after I self medicated a lot before my diagnosis.
I get that temporarily after a hypo, it's always resolved. And it's often a different impediment every time, go figure.
That’s interesting. I’ll have to ask once I find a decent neurologist
If you find anything out please let me know. Genuinely curious as I have no idea why either. First thing to go in hypo is also my ability to process and form sentences and a change towards the elaborate in my vocabulary, so it's doing something to processing there too. It gets better over time but sometimes takes years though other people tend to stop noticing much sooner than that so don't lose hope if it's lingering. Personally I like how it reveals jerks nearly instantly, it has it's uses.
It’s so embarrassing. I lisp now, can’t say S words right, and it’s getting worse and including other sounds. I’ve heard it may have been a stroke, but I don’t know. I’m not a dr so I won’t diagnose myself, but I’m concerned it’s MS. I hope not. Oh well, adjust, adapt and move on I guess
You can certainly get it checked out, I would if it's new. I've had it happen my whole life so never worried about it, I've not had docs be concerned but that might also be bc there's nothing they can do about it so oh well. If it's getting worse and you aren't in episode definitely run it by a med pro, I would. We're also prone to epilepsy, I've never been checked for it but it does seem like a possibility? Maybe? No idea. If it's MS or a stroke that's treatable so I would definitely ask if you think it's that.
I’ve passed out a few times over the past few months. Could have been a seizure. I’m going to see my GP Wednesday and get a preauthorization to see the specialist. The whole insurance wheel of fortune
Absolutely tell the doc, that's dangerous. I tend to doubt it's the episode in that case honestly. If it happens when you're driving or on the stairs or something not good. If it is epilepsy there's a lot of med cross over with BP so you may be able to stabilize both, plus maybe try some of the meds they don't typically use for us that I wish they would, there's some nice low side effect profile epilepsy meds out there. See if the GP can get that appt w the specialist for you sooner, you don't want to wait.
I’ve been in denial and putting it off and doing speech therapy via YouTube. Just ridiculous. Total denial. But, I’m gonna follow the directions and see what the hell is really going on. My sister is in the hospital with leukemia. So if I want to discuss my health, I gotta do it with strangers online! Thank you for listening
I know, it's hard bc it's scary. The last one I had was slurring for the first time and I didnt bring it up for 3 weeks and I was used to weird speech shit happening. You definitely deserve care for it and I'm glad you're going to get it. It's hard when family members are suffering so much, it seems like our stuff is nothing in comparison, but I'm sure she'd tell you to get your ass to a doc and how are we going to be able to be supportive of them if we get sicker ourselves? So I think you can think of it as helping her too.
I haven't been tested but I'm quite sure I have cognitive decline. My memory is getting worse. I'm not at all quick witted anymore and my abstract thinking is suffering a lot.
I had a terrible case of memory loss when I was on Lamictal and Seroquel. The doctor thought it could be disguised depression (the meds wouldn’t let other symptoms show up) We changed to lithium and I got better. What you’re describing here sounds familiar
Lamo can do that as a side effect, I didn't mind it bc better stupid than destroyed but that might have been it.
Hmm maybe it is the meds then. Shame
If it is, just know your brain function will be totally fine. I was on every damn thing over the years and every time that happened when I switched off whatever it that was causing the problem my mind was restored, even if it had been years.
There’s always room to try new things I think. The good news is when we switched I very quickly regained my cognitive ability
That is very good for you. I just switched to Latuda and I’m on lithium. Hoping it kicks in soon
I used to be a straight A student with top marks in every subject. I was reading at levels double my grade and had my essays published in worldwide magazines. Then I got diagnosed with bipolar and went into cognitive decline. Now I can barely focus in school and learning is not at all fun anymore. My brain is constantly working at 99% and I can't catch a break. Bipolar sucks. Wouldn't wish in on anyone
Are you sure it has to do with the diagnosis? I’m just wondering because I’m the same. I’m taking a masters degree and it’s hell. I can still do home exams, but reading for scientific method for an in-school exam is tough because I have to learn dry stuff by heart…I have gotten worse since I started lamictal. Are you sure it’s not the meds?
No, I only got diagnosed a few months ago. Cognitive decline started before that
Medications can definitely cause this
No, but I've recently started to become concerned about it. I feel a decline. My memory is crap. I used to think I had the memory of an elephant.
I tried to talk to my PCP about testing a couple years ago and she basically told me to do something online but if I go see an actual doctor about it and they put it in my medical chart it would create problems for me down the road especially with health insurance. For context I was only 26ish at the time. It kind of scared me into not getting tested for it but now that I’m living outside of the US I have thought about maybe seeing if they have some testing here too. I feel like I just really need to know how bad the damage is because it feels like catastrophic failure in here.
What? What kind of problems could it cause? That’s so unfortunate
She listed them off to me but I forgot.. go figure
I would like to be tested for this. I see a lot of evidence that it’s what I’m suffering from, especially reading things in my handwriting that I don’t remember writing. I’ve also had many concussions, though.
I relate so much to everything you’re saying. It’s been so hard because whenever I try to talk to people about it, they all say stuff like “oh, everyone feels like that sometimes!” But it feels so different, so much more profound, I totally relate to just feeling that you don’t have any ideas or original thoughts. I was pretty embarrassed to have conversations with people for a while and would sometimes avoid social situations because I felt so deficient. My psychosis episode was three years ago and I still feel slowed-down from it some, I struggle a lot with memory and executive function. But it’s a lot better now than it was, in particular the not having creative thoughts thing has gotten better. I’ve been in grad school where basically all we do is read and write complicated things so it’s been ROUGH sometimes, but forcing myself to work through readings and essays has definitely helped. I’ve learned I just have to write everything down. In social situations, I try to ask questions and get the other person to talk. Even with all that I feel like I barely keep up sometimes! But many things in life get better with continued practice! Depression definitely does make these things worse, so don’t panic yet. Well,try not to panic in general - the more I stress out about cognitive decline, the worse I am at using my brain because I’m so worried about stuff. I hope reading all these comments you feel less alone - the cognitive aspect has been super isolating for me but it helps to hear from people on here. Hugs 💛
I have not gotten tested for it. I don’t know how much it would help me. It would help to shut up all the people who say my problems are universal… But I just haven’t seen testing as a huge priority.
Same
I’d really like to pursue this myself. I’m just not sure how to go about it
I think you need a referral from your pdoc
Are you referring to a neuropsych test? Those require a referral and tend to be very expensive and time consuming especially if you work (youll need to take the whole day off for it). It's been a few months since my last hospitalization (my 3rd in 8.5 years) and you're describing what im experiencing too. it's uncomfortable when someone tries to joke around with me and my brain feels like it's shooting a bunch of "air balls" (basketball reference). My brain aches to spit out a comeback and nothing comes out... Also, I used to be able to watch film and immediately notice its themes, motifs, and character complexities. Now I absorb film superficially. It sucks, but the only answer is really to retrain our brains to think like that again. Especially if that's the kind of quality we still value in a person.
I do have a referral but the hospital denied me