My brain doesn’t work any more?

[Ivycrescent]

Cognitively, I’m just not as sharp as I used to be.

I sit in meetings and struggle to follow the logic of what’s being discussed. These meetings are about complex topics, but rewind a few years I never had any difficulty following anything.

I struggle to focus on reading for more than a few minutes at most.

I don’t seem to absorb new information, it’s like I struggle to ‘hook it onto’ anything, if that makes any sense, new information is like sand through my fingers.

My attention is poor, if I listen to an audiobook I’m always having to go back and listrn to chunks again because my mind has wandered and I’ve lost the plot.

I used to be an articulate person but I’ve found that I often struggle to find the words I need and I’m just not fluent in expressing my ideas any more.

I’m coping fine with everyday life. I’m disorganised but that’s nothing new. But I don’t feel “sharp” any more, and quite often feel dull, stupid and slow or guilty for not paying better attention at work.

I don’t know when this started really, definitely felt worse since working at home this year. I don’t think it’s long covid, I live in a place where there was hardly any infections and track and trace never got in touch with me even once. I also think maybe this was happening before lockdown? I changed jobs in 2019 so it’s hard to compare my performance but I’m definitely not as ‘on it’ with this new job as I hoped to be or expected to be, or I should be, based on past experience. I live alone, so nobody around me to ask if they see a difference.

I’m 35. Should I go to the doctor? There is no history in my family of altzeiners or dementia, although I know it can happen to anyone. I’m worried I’ve got really early signs of something.

I’m 35 and felt like this when I’ve had quite a lot of anxiety, or when I’ve been on maternity leave but I’m still not as sharp as I’ve felt I have been in the past so following to see what others say

The pandemic/lockdown/egg has been enormously stressful and distracting for everybody, I think. Even people who haven't been directly affected by illness or loss. I wouldn't be surprised if that had this effect on you.

Having said that, speaking to your GP it probably a good idea. They'll be able to rule out anything more sinister or refer you if necessary. Good luck

35 also and following. I'm exactly the same. I feel blunted somehow. It's most noticeable in my wit. Possibly covid related, possibly not!

egg = WFh

I felt like this a few years ago, now 40. I found sorting the blue light setting on my devices made a massive difference. I genuinely thought I had early onset dementia or Alzheimer's and had a doctor's appointment booked when I read about the light settings. Also, I think being approaching burn out wasn't helping! Although that has taken many years to get over but I do feel that my concentration has improved again.

Also this did coincide with my DD starting school and finally sleeping through.

‘Brain fog’ as it is sometimes called can be a sign of certain vitamin deficiencies such as b12 which can easily be replaced. It’s worth speaking to your GP about and getting a check up. Also if you haven’t had an eye test recently I would recommend that too.

Could you be peri menopausal? 35 is really early but I guess will happen to some. Brain fog is a symptom of that.

Have you looked into ADHD in women? I have just been diagnosed (in my mid forties). The symptoms can get a lot worse as women get older and many women are diagnosed after believing they are experiencing early-onset dementia.

Some great resources here:

www.additudemag.com/adhd-symptoms-in-women/

Of course to get a diagnosis, adhd traits must have been there in childhood- it's just they can be very different in girls, especially if you were bright and could mask.

I read a Guardian article a couple of weeks ago about mass numbers of people suffering lockdown brain fog. It’s partly a stress reaction and partly (and perhaps counter intuitively) under stimulation while WFH.

It could be to do with lockdown, or it could be perimenopause or a thyroid problem. Can you ask your GP for a full blood work?

Thanks for the replies, I’m sorry you feel the same way BonesJones and Onedropbeat. Thanks everyone for the ideas I’ll read up on adhd. I take vitamins so I don’t think it’s that, but I have noticed my pms is worse than usual so maybe peri menopause could be setting in. I hope it isn’t in one way but it would also be a relief to have an explanation.

I will book to see my GP. Although, I really want to move surgery, I’m just anxious about doing the switch now because I might get missed off the vaccine list. Is this a valid concern do you think? I don’t want to go back my my surgery because one of the doctors is really dismissive, one is somebody I know through work, and the other one has some sort of specialism and I’m never offered to see him. Sorry, this is a side issue!!

What else is going on in your life? Are you very stressed or have any other big issues you’ve been dealing with emotionally? Also how is your diet, sleep and exercise?

I had an issue a few years back with not being able to remember things, and struggled to concentrate and pay attention and it was due to a combo of stress, overwhelm and also too much time on things like my phone where short and snappy bits of information cut through rather than things that require a deeper level of concentration. Im in my 40s now, less stressed, more exercise and better diet and the brain fog lifted some time ago. Looking back, for me it was stress more than anything that was making me confused and forgetful and affecting my concentration - but I think all my other habits like sleep, exercise and the sort of things I was paying attention to to ‘relax’ (like Twitter or FB etc) played a part.

Audiobook wise it helped me to focus again listening during other tasks that were simple like doing the dishes or walking etc. But i’ve noticed if my inner chatter is really loud it makes it hard to focus on someone else talking!

Also, don’t underestimate how ‘foggy’ moving less as most of us have during lockdown can affect your sharpness mentally.

I’m 40 and have felt the same for a few years, probably since having kids. I take multivitamin everyday so not a deficiency. I went to my GP back in 2014 as I was so worried. She asked me what the date was and a few easy sums and said it just that I’m a stressed mum . It’s getting worse and I’m worried about early onset Alzheimer’s or dementia but can’t really go back to the GP.

I'm 42 and have felt this way for a few years. Sentences coming out all jumbled up and not following conversations at work. Maybe menopause brain fog and hormonal changes start earlier than we thought?

I have a b12 deficiency and this is partly how I felt before it was diagnosed, so it is worth seeing a GP incase it is anything like that. It was easily fixed, I now have 3 monthly injections and am back to normal. There are many things that could cause this and many are easy to sort 😃

Priestess, I’m not really that stressed, but I am a bit down. I live alone and have been working from home for over a year. I feel useless at work, but I don’t want to tell me boss because I think she’ll think less of me for it. Onviously my social hobbies have stopped and I haven’t seen many friends.
So not stressed day to day, but long term not very happy.

I was very, very, stressed in my last job (2015 - 2019) which is why I left. I can’t even tell whether I had this difficulty then, because I was over tired and wasnmt looking after myself.

So in this context some “down time” in lockdown should have done me some good, but I really don’t think it has.

That’s me! I have spent all this week sweeping up broken glass off the kitchen floor (it is becoming a regular morning ritual - I keep dropping things).

I assume it’s age/peri menopause/stress.

I read an article a few years ago which said that the rise of smart phones and technology was causing this for some people - because they encourage us to flit between things and we forget how to concentrate.

Try and gradually reduce your use of phones, read more books, do more puzzles (eg crosswords etc), try and do activities which involve your hands (eg sewing/gardening) which allow you to get into the zone.

Like others, this is how I felt before I got diagnosed with B12 deficiency. A trip to the doctors for a blood test can't hurt.

This resonates with me. Dh kindly jokes that I'm "shot to pieces"

So I shouldn’t go stamping to my boss and tell her where she can stick her job sideways?

It’s the lack of B12 talking?

My first thought is exhaustion or stress but yes iron and b12 deficiencies are also common in women. Can you take a holiday, a complete break from work, see friends socially, look at diet/ sleep? If those don't work get yourself checked out. Good luck OP. Hope you manage to sort it

Sounds like you need some blood work to check your thyroid, iron, b12 etc...brain fog and fatigue.