Concentration & short term memory completely shot

maxxis said:
I recently found myself struggling with short memory and concentration.

Not sure if this is just an early sign of burning out and needing a proper holiday or at worst a sign of something more serious.

Naturally the doc wants to throw Concerta or Ritalin at me and I'm really not in the mood for that ****.

Current medication includes a very mild anti anxiety drug but also an anti-epileptic which is known to cause the above issues as well but recently it's become worse.

I exercise regularly but my diet needs a little work. For example I drink way too much coffee. Zero alcohol intake though.
I supplement with Folapro (folic acid)

Anyone else experience this? Any tips on how to improve overall brain function?
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What anxiolytic are you on ?
 
maxxis said:
Fluanxol
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That's a bit extreme. Has this been assessed by a proper psychiatrist ?

How long have you been using this drug ? Are you not using a reliever medicine for panic attacks ?
 
RiaX said:
That's a bit extreme. Has this been assessed by a proper psychiatrist ?

How long have you been using this drug ? Are you not using a reliever medicine for panic attacks ?
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I’m on a very low dose (1mg daily) and yes, it was prescribed by a proper psychiatrist

I’ve been using it for about 3 years +-

I don’t suffer from panic attacks. What is considered a reliever medicine?
 
maxxis said:
I exercise regularly but my diet needs a little work. For example I drink way too much coffee. Zero alcohol intake though.
I supplement with Folapro (folic acid)

Anyone else experience this? Any tips on how to improve overall brain function?
Click to expand...
Is this exercise outdoor exercise? For me, it helps if I go out for walks/jog, even if it is for just 30 minute a day. Sometimes we drive a bit and then park car and walk if it gets boring close to house. Even if we don't exactly live in a scenic area but it is green in general and feels great.
 
maxxis said:
I’m on a very low dose (1mg daily) and yes, it was prescribed by a proper psychiatrist

I’ve been using it for about 3 years +-

I don’t suffer from panic attacks. What is considered a reliever medicine?
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A reliever medicine is usually a benzo (which cause short term amnesia). Since it's done via a psychiatrist I won't question their assessment.

You need to take this to the psych the 1mg dosing might need adjustment.

You might be suffering from an alert surge with fluanxol.

It would be wise to maybe split the dose to 0.5mg morning noon. Make an appointment and go discussing it here wouldn't help you
 
joeline said:
Take L-theanine, In South Africa it is known as Relicalm but you can order it from Iherb as L-Theanine. At least 200 mg. It works best if you can drink it with caffeine (coffee) or buy the one mixed with caffeine. Believe me, it works.
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What does it do?
 
surface said:
To OP - FFS - go to actual doctor and don't take medical advise on the forum. There are too many wannabe doctors here that couldn't become doctors.
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Why do people always say this, asking on the forum gives you a good overview and often some handy tips, it's not a stand in for seeing the doctor but can be very helpful nevertheless.

Especially seeing doctors are only human and can often be a little narrow minded in their point of view. If anything a thread can just give you the info to be asking the right questions when you see them.
 
surface said:
To OP - FFS - go to actual doctor and don't take medical advise on the forum. There are too many wannabe doctors here that couldn't become doctors.
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FFS i’m not taking medical advice here. I’m merely asking if others experienced the same in the past and what course of action they took.

Definitely not dense enough to change my meds because someone on a forum suggested it.
 
surface said:
Is this exercise outdoor exercise? For me, it helps if I go out for walks/jog, even if it is for just 30 minute a day. Sometimes we drive a bit and then park car and walk if it gets boring close to house. Even if we don't exactly live in a scenic area but it is green in general and feels great.
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2 to 3 times a week outdoors for an average or 1 to 2 hours at a time. The remainder of the week is spent in the home gym.
 
maxxis said:
FFS i’m not taking medical advice here. I’m merely asking if others experienced the same in the past and what course of action they took.

Definitely not dense enough to change my meds because someone on a forum suggested it.
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LOL sorry man - cool then. I would say walk outdoors as much as you can. It works for me and I am sure being with nature (even if it is townhouse nature) would lift your mood. At times, talking with a very close friend (even on whatsapp video) works.

p.s. ok - you are doing that outdoor thing already. ah well.
 
RiaX said:
A reliever medicine is usually a benzo (which cause short term amnesia). Since it's done via a psychiatrist I won't question their assessment.

You need to take this to the psych the 1mg dosing might need adjustment.

You might be suffering from an alert surge with fluanxol.

It would be wise to maybe split the dose to 0.5mg morning noon. Make an appointment and go discussing it here wouldn't help you
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The last discussion was around these symptoms and the dosage was kept the same.

Will evaluate again later.

Since my precious post, which was months ago, things improved a lot. Especially with a good rest during December and also a change in diet, supplements, and increased exercise.
 
maxxis said:
The last discussion was around these symptoms and the dosage was kept the same.

Will evaluate again later.

Since my precious post, which was months ago, things improved a lot. Especially with a good rest during December and also a change in diet, supplements, and increased exercise.
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I suffered from brain fog for the past couple of years and it was due to me being burnt out. Long Covid did not help.

Took a couple of months of therapy for me to recover last year with a neuro life coach.

What really helps for me is bilateral exercise which I continue to do whenever the brain fog sets in. I do sometimes put on bilateral music as well when I go for a walk and I try and walk across open fields with uneven ground.

My take on this is medication gives you the boost to start the process and a lifestyle change is what keeps the momentum. I would have gone on medication if access to doctors was not so restricted with Covid lockdowns then.
 
Other Pineapple Smurf said:
I suffered from brain fog for the past couple of years and it was due to me being burnt out. Long Covid did not help.

Took a couple of months of therapy for me to recover last year with a neuro life coach.

What really helps for me is bilateral exercise which I continue to do whenever the brain fog sets in. I do sometimes put on bilateral music as well when I go for a walk and I try and walk across open fields with uneven ground.

My take on this is medication gives you the boost to start the process and a lifestyle change is what keeps the momentum. I would have gone on medication if access to doctors was not so restricted with Covid lockdowns then.
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What is bilateral exercise and music?
 
airborne said:
What is bilateral exercise and music?
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Bilateral music is any type of music that is edited to constantly move back and forth from the left to the right side of your headphones.

The idea behind bilateral therapy is to stimulate the brain and communication between hemispheres. It's used to treat anxiety, PTSD, stress, and insomnia. Enter a state of deep relaxation, drift off into a deep sleep, or meditate.

A bilateral exercise movement is when both limbs are used in unison to contract the muscles, which creates force, and subsequently moves a given load ( 6 ). A unilateral exercise movement is when each limb works independently of the other to create the desired movement ( 6 ).

Bilateral exercises have advantages and drawbacks. Overall they are better for increasing overall muscle strength, although they could cause unequal muscle weaknesses. Bilateral exercises work both sides of the body, meaning both limbs share the stress and can be multi-joint or single-joint movement.
 
maxxis said:
The last discussion was around these symptoms and the dosage was kept the same.

Will evaluate again later.

Since my precious post, which was months ago, things improved a lot. Especially with a good rest during December and also a change in diet, supplements, and increased exercise.
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Maybe you were lacking the b complex vitamins.

Always take a bco tablet when on that medicine. You don't need the expensive branded stuff just the basic one from the dispensary will do.
 
airborne said:
What is bilateral exercise and music?
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Walking is a simple example where you place one foot in front of the other - I know you will say that is walking but there is an emphasis on how you walk.

The music moves from one speaker to the other in rhythm, has a wave sound effect. The idea is to keep your steps in sync with the music.

Example:

Walking over an uneven surface, like a park lawn, helps to strengthen muscles and balance. That was a little trick my dietician taught me years ago when I struggled to get fit on the treadmill.
 
Are you getting older? Age is known to cause these symptoms. I went to a doctor and that is the first thing he said to me. Paraphrasing, but he said "Sorry boet, cannot help your ageing"
 
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