My brain has turned to mush

[therestissilence]

Sorry if a similar thread has been started (I am too thick to notice, at the moment!)

Over the past 6 months I have been really down on myself due to being increasingly and drastically less 'intelligent'. I can't multitask properly, answer complex questions (or, often, even simple ones from DC), deal with more than one person talking at once, or read a whole newspaper article. I feel really, really stupid.

I used to be really sharp. Is it all this covid-crazy-nutty-weirdness? I'm hoping it is. I have felt really freaked out since the whole thing started - not from a 'health' point of view (though this is important) but from a 'what the hell is going on sociologically' point of view. And I just feel my brain has degraded massively. I feel like I'm depressed actually, but what I'm really wondering is if other people feel like their brains are working less well, in the (selfish) hope that it's not only me.

It’s not just you.

Looks like it might just be the two if us though. We can start a club!

I think you should speak to your gp op and see if there are any underlying causes. It could be it is mental health, anxiety or depression or it could be something else, but I think you need to give them a call. 💐

I felt like this. It was stress. Physically I also found my heart rate shot up as soon as I did any even moderate exercise that previously wasn’t an issue. I have to deliberately slow down, work fewer hours (I’ve gone back to the reduced hours I had during home schooling) and I’m slowly slowly recovering a sense of “me” again.

Lack of certain vitamines can do this to you (in my case D), too.

I feel like this too OP. I’ve put it down to anxiety (even though I’m not feeling especially anxious on the surface. Perhaps it’s unsettled instead) I can’t look ahead and plan anymore, so am living literally in each moment which is good in some ways but means my organisation brain has stopped functioning.

Me too. While I wouldn't wish this feeling on anyone else, it's kind of a relief to know it isn't just me being rubbish. Am finding I have little energy, motivation or imagination, flit between things and even small tasks feel overwhelming. I read somewhere that it's to do with lack of novelty to stimulate the mind, so am hoping it gets better naturally as we can get out more 🤞

Always worth a quick thyroid, iron etc blood test MOT. My thyroid brain fog is terrible some days. Plus lockdown impact, argh makes it doubly as!

I feel like this! Complete and utter overwhelm at even basic tasks, can’t think straight, can’t make a decision to save my life. I’ve also gone very “numb” and almost emotionless, if that makes any sense?! I can’t tell if this is some kind of weird subconscious coping strategy or whether I’m depressed!

Yep, me too. I'm on so many zoom calls now and apparently that makes your brain tired.

I can't remember anything either.

Mind you I've drunk a lot during lockdown so maybe frazzled my brain that way?

Apparently our brains have suffered from the lack of stimulation - not seeing new places, not socialising etc. It’s a known phenomenon. I’m sure things will improve as we start living a more normal life again.

Perimenopause does weird things to your brain too though.

I feel much less intelligent.

Find that words drop out of my mind - sound like a blithering idiot.

I've started to stammer.

Possibly lack of sleep 🤔

I've really missed my family and my old routine of visits.

Both daughters had premature babies/poorly babies during lockdown and we were isolated and not allowed to help.

Everyone has endured massive amounts of stress.

The mind boggles at the potential damage done.

Oh god yes. This is me too. I can't get on top of the organisation side of life these days which just isn't me!!

It could be your thyroid and/or vitamin B12 deficiency, OP. Not everything is about stress. Would be a good idea to get these checked.

I also feel like this although I am also on mat leave from a challenging role that required a lot of brain power and communication so that will also be contributing.

I do think there will keep being issues like this cropping up though and that we are only just starting to understand the quite severe psychological consequences of lockdowns. I have noticed a difference in a lot of friend and family members as well.

The quicker we start to move on and realise restrictions are causing all sorts of harms the better.

There are a couple of articles in the Guardian about this, perhaps other media sources I don't know, brain fog it is being called.

You are not alone.

I got lost, on a main road of a route I knew well - and it was simple stress.

Terrifying and frustrating in equal measure.

I read an article somewhere that there are many cases of loss of the cognitive function due to quarantine and lack of human interaction. You're not the only one OP.

Same here, in fact I was going to respond to this earlier but forgot! Wouldn't say I've got less intelligent and can still do my job, but outside of that my memory is hopeless and I stumble through day to day a disorganised mess!
Can't get used to social planning and find it hard following a group conversation now.