Fucking brain fog

[IamAporcupine]

In my 50s well into the menopause. I have a rather senior position in a medical research setting. I gave a talk today - I never liked public speaking but now it's not just the stress but I always end up feeling extremely dissapointed about myself.
I not only forget what I want to say (and the words to say it!) but I lose the overview of the subject. It becomes a vomit of data without context or meaning. it's embarrassing

Is this brain fog or I've become incredibly stupid 😩

It’s brain fog. Happens to me all the time - I forget names, words, lose my train of thought. Also have senior job. I have a 30 minute presentation at the end of the week and will be reading from a script.
Unfortunately I can offer you nothing but solidarity.

Thanks. I feel so upset about todays talk. It was an important project, something that Ive spent a very long time working on. My field, etc etc it could have been brilliant, it was mediocre 😭

. Double post 🙄

I’m the same with brain fog it REALLY affects my work. I do occasional presentations which thankfully are quite informal so advise the audience of my menopausal brain fog before starting- in a jokey way 😬

I have brain black holes rather than brain fog…and appalling short term memory too. Very difficult to work around.

Does this improve post menopause or is this it? Feeling intelligent and articulate was such an integral part of my identity, I feel like I’ve lost myself.

Viv Groskop’s book How to own the room has excellent tips on public speaking - there’s also a great accompanying podcast. I really recommend it. Also don’t feel bad about using speaker notes - everyone uses them and they allow you to focus on the delivery rather than content.

I know you feel you sold yourself short but I can guarantee that your perception and the reality are likely poles apart.

Many thanks for this. I'll get the book.
I do use some notes on the PowerPoint slides but yesterday because I know the subject so well I didn't think it was necessary.

I agree that my perception might be wrong. That's also very difficult to deal with. I've always been very harsh with myself but at least I could tell when I performed well. Now it's just a huge confusion.

as @GooseyGandalf said, I feel I lost myself.

It's horrendous - I went to introduce my project team, who I had worked with for over 2 years and total blank on their names - brutal - you feel like such an idiot

Have a look at postcards from midlife on facebook - lots of menopausal women struggling with the same.

I think you have two options - one is to read / coach yourself to manage it or two (and with one) explain that you have brain fog as you present - but the most important thing is to not let it knock you and your confidence or drive further anxiety about mucking up next time etc - as that spirals and gets worse x

If it was just words that I forget I guess it would be easier?
but I actually forgot WHY I was giving the talk, if that makes sense?

Have you tried magnesium supplements ? They have significantly improved my brain fog and overall memory.

OP, are you on HRT? Brain fog, feeling confused, feeling overwhelmed, not functioning cognitively like you used to - all symptoms of low oestrogen levels and HRT would help you massively

I had similar symptoms but they have almost disappeared since I've been on HRT

I’ve been on HRT for 5 years with regular reviews of dosage. While there has been some improvement it has not been a cure, some degree of brain fog persists.

Creatine has been the answer for me. Life changing.

Apologies I didn't see these replies!

Yes I'm on HRT which massively helped when I first started.
Had the dosis increased 6 months later as the (physical) symptoms were coming back and now again changed to systemic (pills) as the brain fog/confusion/depresssion was very bad 😓

I haven't, no
Will try, thanks

Testosterone helped me with this, sadly you’ll have to say you need help with your libido but I found it greatly helped with brain fog/forgetting words

This is me. Also a professional career, and if stuff isn't written down in front of me, I literally can't verbalise it. Its awful. I've been googling supplements and magnesium comes up a lot, but a pp mentioned creatine - does anybody know if it helps?