Don't feel like myself. Muddled head

[Coffeeshop]

Does anyone else feel their brain is muddled all the time? I just don't feel like myself. It's hard to explain. It's so abstract. I'm just not functioning. I can't think straight, concentrate or absorb anything. Reading and watching tv is difficult to follow. I'm easily overwhelmed. Its hard to be social.

At first I thought I was simply over medicated. I went off one medication that took me over a year to do so. I lowered another and tried to lower a third. But My head keeps getting worse. I just can't seem to "just be". I have to push through everything like molasses. I have to force myself to do everything. Even things that I'm supposed to enjoy but I don't anymore. I feel so disconnected from everything.

Does this make sense to anybody? Someone mentioned to me this could be ADHD but my head is a constant condition. Any help is greatly appreciated. I've had MDD and anxiety for at least 35 years but it's only the last couple of years that I've been having this trouble with my head.

Thank you for listening.

[LazyXrayEyes2255]

Have you spoken about this to doctor?

Maybe stress, burnout or side effects to medication etc

[Coffeeshop in reply to LazyXrayEyes2255]

Yes. I constantly complain about it to my psychiatrist and therapist. I've been to a neurologist too. All they gave me were pain pills for the headaches. I've had a CT and an MRI. Negative.

[Cherryfizz34 in reply to Coffeeshop]

might be psychological? How's your environment?

[Coffeeshop in reply to Cherryfizz34]

It could be psychological. My environment is crap. My marriage is on life support. I have a wonderful son though and this gets in the way of the time I spend with him. He's 14. I really want to enjoy him as he's getting older but my head just blocks everything out. My head won't let me enjoy anything. Nothing gives me a respite.

[Cherryfizz34 in reply to Coffeeshop]

Maybe you feel you don't deserve to spend quality time with him due to your health?

[Coffeeshop in reply to Cherryfizz34]

No, that's not it. That I'm sure.

[Cherryfizz34 in reply to Coffeeshop]

okay

[LazyXrayEyes2255 in reply to Coffeeshop]

Please do blood test and check vitamin and minerals level. Also try eating oily fish or walnuts or blueberries as this has omega 3 which helps brain. But could it be worries or stress or trauma or burnout?

[Coffeeshop in reply to LazyXrayEyes2255]

It could be any of those. I'm on lithium so I get regular blood tests and I do take vitamin D. The question is what do I do about it.

[LazyXrayEyes2255 in reply to Coffeeshop]

Either you take vitamin and minerals and all work with each other

Or

You increase fruits and vegetables in diet

They recommend five servings at the very least

[LazyXrayEyes2255]

have you hurt your head even. Bump or bruise small. But that would have been in mri and nothing. Dehydration or illness maybe

[Downinil]

I’m telling you ya, some psychotropics cause this.

[Coffeeshop in reply to Downinil]

That's why I eliminated one med and lowered two. I have been going through this for years. It's not like I just started something and can pinpoint right away what the problem is. What do I do?

[Downinil]

If I had the answer to that question of “ what do I do” I would be relieved. It is a battle and we need to think of the risks, benefits, alternatives to psychotropics. That’s all I can say. I’ve been treated for depression most of the last 24 years. This is a lifelong struggle. I’m here.

[Coffeeshop in reply to Downinil]

I have to do something. I can't live like this.

[Downinil in reply to Coffeeshop]

Have you asked about alternative treatments?

[Coffeeshop in reply to Downinil]

Such as? I've done TMS, ECT and ketamine already.

[Downinil in reply to Coffeeshop]

Have you asked if a Stellate ganglion block could help? I’ve heard it can relieve symptoms of some mental health conditions such as PTSD. I’ve also heard it treats pain but has some me efficacy in treating mental health conditions. I don’t know enough about it to tell you more. Only what I’ve heard.

[GoodGreatWonderful]

I can relate. You described pretty much exactly how I feel. My head is in a muddle. I can't focus or remember anything. My thinking is disorganized. I feel like I'm on a powerful sedative, except that I'm not sleepy. I don't like to talk much, because I get so frustrated with my inability to think of words. My thinking is just impaired.

Unfortunately, I don't know what to do about it. I've always assumed that it's a cumulative side effect of all the meds I take. Like you, I've tried eliminating some of them and reducing my dosage of others. None of it made a noticeable difference. My psychiatrist did recently prescribe Adderall, which may help a little.

I wonder if we have any meds in common. I take bupropion, clomipramine, Vraylar, lamotrigine, clonazepam, and Adderall. It's kind of depressing to write them all out like that. Do you take any of those?

[Oregonbasinman in reply to GoodGreatWonderful]

I feel the same way. Tomorrow I am reviewing meds with my Dr. I wake everymorning with a bad headache. Today's was the worst right on top of my head. I couldn't open my eyes until about Noon. I ache and joints ache and I feel pushed down. See my therapist Monday. I have depression, Anxiety, ptsd and adhd.

[Coffeeshop]

Thanks for replying. Feel free to PM me. So what do you think it is? I always thought it was meds too. It's been going on for years for me. How long have you had it. Lamictal I just dumped bc I thought it was the culprit, but I was wrong. I took wellbutrin years ago. I'm on klonopin too. I've been on vraylar but not now. I'm on rexulti instead. In addition to those two, I'm also on prozac, lithium and provigil. I'd love to know if the Adderall helps you. Please keep me posted. Take care.

[SsgCulldelight]

Hi one thing is great you turned off the TV, did you know you can have a withdrawal symptoms from that. Understand this friend, they don't call it programing because it's entertaining, the body and mind will conform, adjust, assimilate and respond to ALL stimuli once it has validated what infirmary can be used. Metabolically it will break down chemicals for use, a resistance will build and require more to attain the same effect and is known as dependence addiction or whichever we like to call it, they are the same. Like air, water, and food we are creatures of habit hence the habit because of dependence you get me. I think u know where this is going, CHOICE is the Only activity we control and no one or thing can influence that Unless we show it to. Our body will respond to what we put in it or expose it to. We worry and become anxious because of fear teak or imagined shit things, people and situations that we have No control over and cannot change. Know yourself, believe yourself, and trust Yourself, you know right from wrong and most things in between are BS. Be safe and do what makes you happy for 2morrow can be very different in many ways. You have the reigns rite Now, so do good for You. Cheers love n light.

[Weatherwoman]

Hard to know what the cause of this "Brain Fog" is! Could be a combo. of physical & mental fatigue, your meds., --check with your medical doctor & maybe some blood tests might be recommended. I will say that I had suffered with muddled hear, unable to concentrate, mental fatigue & physical --burnout. What helped was reading & following one of Dr. Claire Weekes books --More Help for your Nerves. You might say how can I read when can't concentrate -as Dr. Weeks talks about this --She says that anything that pertains to nerves can be read even while mental fatigue (Not her exact words, but paraphrasing)! In the book that I mentioned, Dr. Weeks talks about the four fatigues --physical, mental, emotional, and spirtitual are all symptoms of nervous illness (the Anxiety State), and she gives her "remedy" for this. The more upset you get about this more the mental fatigue which causes the not being able to concentrate, can't follow a conversation, fuzziness, muzzley, etc. Anyway, her book helped me.