I feel like my brain broke

[DeerMousePhD]

I used to be good at focusing on the task at hand, at concentrating and being consistently productive. I used to be an avid reader and writer, but ever since 2019, when a lot of traumatic events happened as well as the fact that I was finishing my master's degree, I feel like my brain just stopped functioning like it used to. I have a hard time reading and finishing any books, I have to fight to stay focused on most tasks, I get easily distracted, it's difficult to finish most projects, I've become uncharacteristically forgetful, and I have a hard time with comprehension, particularly if it involves numbers and calculations, or if the instructions are complex. I'm currently in therapy and I'm on venlafaxine to deal with my anxiety issues, but I can't seem to fix or do anything about my "recent" concentration issues. It's frustrating because I can't rely on the one day I do feel focused and am productive out of the other seven when I'm not, because I have deadlines and need to get things done. Plus, on the one day I am focused, I'm likely to be interrupted and can't get as much done as I need to.

Not sure if I'm just venting or looking for advice. But thank you for reading

[Midori]

To me, it sounds like you are having a lot of stress in your life, stress you could do without.

I get all twittery when I'm under stress, and can't take in information, until I calm down.

Now this is mainly due to an abusive marriage, which has left me with cPTSD, Most of the time I'm fine, but informatioon overload, Arrggh!

Cheers, Midori

[samack]

Dr. DeerMouse, I say to myself regularly that " i used to be smart". I have a PhD. I used to speak Spanish and play piano. Now with trauma and a MDD diagnosis I'm lucky if I can read comics, attention span is out the door. I depress myself daily at my stupidity, .An ADD like condition is common with these conditions, and anxiety. Cognitions are out the door when we are on overwhelm. There's interesting material online about the polyvagal system. It speaks of the ways in which our brain affects our thinking more scientifically. Relax and you'll find a method to help you clear your thoughts..