Brain fog
Lately, my mind hasn’t been working the way it used to.
Over the past four months, I’ve gone through a moderate depressive episode and had to take several additional medications.
For reasons I don’t fully understand, even the simplest tasks have become difficult for me—I make mistakes, complete things very slowly and with delays, and sometimes I can’t complete them at all.
This really worries me.
Has my mind been permanently damaged?
@tiredbubble00
I'm sorry to hear you are struggling.
Things take a little time to settle down but your mind is not damaged permanently.
You've been through alot.
Be gentle with yourself as you get back to feeling yourself again 🤗💚
@tiredbubble00
Hi bubble. I can understand feeling like your mind might be permanently damaged. Brain fog can definitely feel like an eternity. Sometimes depression causes us to go slower than normal. You mention that you have had to take several additional medications, so I wonder, have you told the doctor about how doing tasks has become challenging for you?
@Remina Yes, I did mention it to my doctor, but they did not recommend any changes to my current treatment.I couldn’t work at home, so I came to a ‘safe place to work’ café. Unfortunately, I’m sitting next to a woman who seems to believe that every living being who breathes is somehow obsessed with her, and she’s been loudly explaining this on the phone nonstop.
@tiredbubble00
Hey Bubble, thanks for your response. I am glad that you have kept your doctor informed. So your doctor did not recommend any changes to the current treatment. Did your doctor say how long this feeling would last and what you could do in the meantime? I am sorry that you could not work from home today. Gosh, sitting next to that lady sounds SO irritating. I can imagine how that would be unfortunate. I hope that this experience did not last too long.
@Remina My doctor didn’t really say much, other than that I should continue my medications and set clear boundaries with people’s demands. She didn’t answer all of my questions, and she didn’t say anything about my eating disorder either :(
Anyway… that woman was on the phone chatting non-stop for two hours, no exaggeration. She managed to irritate at least three or four other people who were trying to work on their laptops. When I left, she was still there.
@tiredbubble00
I am sorry to hear that your doctor did not say much other than the usual "continue your medication" and "have clear boundaries". I imagine it was frustrating to leave the appointment with questions unanswered and to not have your eating disorder addressed by your doctor. Being told to do something is not always enough, sometimes we need to be told how. Do you know how to set clear boundaries? How long have you been seeing this doctor and is she a specialist?
Oh, my, god. That woman sounds so oblivious, self-centered... I am so sorry you had to put up with that. People like her are so frustrating. What kind of work do you do, if that ever happens again, can you use headphones with music?
@ReminaMy doctor is a specialist. I was referred to her because my previous doctor is currently taking a break from work. To be fair, she is right about one thing — I really don’t know how to set boundaries. My self-confidence isn’t great, and I’ve been a people pleaser for as long as I can remember.
You’re absolutely right about the headphones — apparently this is common knowledge, except for me 😅
@tiredbubble00
Ah, I see, what kind of specialist is she? And boundaries would be good for you! Do you know how to go about it? And ahaha yeah, invest in a good pair of headphones!
@Remina She’s a psychiatrist. She mostly works with people who struggle due to workplace stress, so I honestly expected more from her in that regard.
I don’t think there’s an easy or simple way to set boundaries — it really comes down to learning how to say no. And it’s hard to learn something your parents never taught you.
@tiredbubble00
Ah, I see, I know it can be frustrating to have someone professional not meet our expectations. How many times have you met with her? And agreed, you are starting at a spot where many start when younger. Have you read up about boundaries and understand what good boundaries look like?
I visit her twice,she regulated my medications for therapy she referred me to phycologist.
I did a little about boundries,mean point is sticking your wellbeing i think,everything make me sick literally is a big no
@tiredbubble00
Sticking to your well-being is important and avoiding what makes you sick is a good policy. When do you see the psychologist?
Weekly, i also talking on seven cups daily
@tiredbubble00
I am glad you have support. do you think it has been helpful?
I think so,i m talking to my family ,but they are overwhelmed already,taking professional help good both for me and people i care
@tiredbubble00
Very true
It is good to have been informal and formal support services in place.
I am glad that you are getting help.
Hows the fog today?
Sending you many hugs 🫂
I'm not doctor but I've been through the same thing as you . The medication is probably relaxing you too much and lowering your inhibit reactions in your body .
Maybe your brain chemistry is changing but only a professional can know that for sure. Maybe your nervous system is just different. You may be neurodivergent and the treatment may be effecting you otherwise .
I'm speaking from my experience and maybe you might be going through the same thing.
I hope this helps , 🙏🏽 keep safe 🙏🏽 💖
@indigoCupMokahThis is not good news — my treatment will continue in the same way for the next six months. I had never considered that I might be neurodivergent before; I will look into this. Thank you.
Hey there!
It's unlikely. Depression does that. Think of your arm getting hurt badly, it won't feel normal until it heals. Give yourself some time, it should be back to normal.
I'm here if you'd like to talk in the meantime. I should be plenty available in a week or two.
Let me know.
@SailOnTheMoon I’m not sure either whether this is due to depression or the medication. Either way, I don’t really have a choice but to endure it. I just hope it doesn’t get worse.
I’d really like to talk too — I’m around during this period as well, though I’m active on Sevencups only intermittently.
By the way, the site used to be much more crowded before. Where did everyone go?
I'll reach out as soon as I can.
As for where everyone is... I am not really sure! Are you comparing it to COVID times?
@SailOnTheMoon I was actually thinking even before COVID it felt more crowded, unless I’m remembering it wrong. Hope to talk soon.
@tiredbubble00 medications cause brain fog. I suffered brain damage from 1 medication(cymbalta/duloxtetine. The only medication I took for depression. It ruined my life 6 yrs ago. After all the research performed. Discovered these medications do more harm than good. People are not making full recoveries. Please be careful adding medications. I have permanent brain fog now.
2 news articles are out now on this issue. The medical community is finally getting informed on this worldly/national level problem. Less is better and more natural options even better.
It's always best to remove toxic people or problems from your life. And any street drugs. Or other bad habits.
Good luck ☺ I wish you all the best and hope this helps.
@convivialCurrent5450 I couldn’t agree more with ‘It’s always best to remove toxic people or problems from your life, as well as street drugs or other bad habits.’ My stubbornness cost me my mental health and led me into depression. I haven’t had such a severe episode since my twenties.
I had experienced brain fog before from a single medication — it lasted almost a year and it was terrifying. With the medications I’m using now, there’s no official data suggesting this kind of effect, but I’ll do some more research.
Whether it’s from depression or from the medication, I really hope it ends as soon as possible.
@tiredbubble00
I wouldn't want to offer any advice about the medicinal aspect of this as I have no experience with it.
At the risk of this maybe sounding like advice that totally misses the point, and I apologize if it does, can I ask what your diet is like?
My wife has dealt with something that isn't exactly what you're going through, but similar, and has seen a lot of benefits from eating cleaner.
@HearshotKid I do have an eating disorder, and it’s gotten worse with depression. I mostly eat home-cooked meals, maybe eat out once a week at most, and I don’t really consume junk food. I’m not following a specific diet like gluten-free or anything like that, though.
@tiredbubble00
Got it, thanks for sharing that. I'm sorry to hear about your struggles with it. I see you have that in your bio and I apologize for not checking first before I responded. That's my bad.
No problem ,i am not offended. i make peace my ilnesses many years ago.you are trying to help, and this is important
Get yourself a vitamin B complex test. Including B12, B1, and B6. Also, check your vitamin D levels. Its mostly due to deficiencies of those. You're not permanently damaged.
I m taking b complex ,iron supplemant and omega 3 .You have got a point , i neglected Vitamin D.