Regaining cognitive function

[Zebrawhite]

How long did it take for you to regain your cognitive function after psychosis? I have started a job and find it harder to retain information now. Did anyone else notice a decline in cognitive function post psychosis? Is there anything I can do to help?

[Maria_at_APP Moderator]

Hi Zebrawhite,

Glad to hear from you. I found it difficult getting back into work after pp, part of it was my confidence was bottom low but in no small part it was also part of my recovery.

I think if you are feeling like this could be affecting your work it may be an idea to discuss it with your doctor. I understand you are in a new job, do you know if they offer occupational therapy for their employees? It would be a good resource to tap into if that is offered.

Also, therapy has helped me in the past to accept and understand my new situation, and that some things are temporary and will definitely get better in time. Perhaps this could be something to explore with the team following you?

Take very good care, hope you are able to have some time off during the holidays to yourself and enjoy it with your family,

Maria

[Sillywhabbit]

Hi there

congratulations on your new job!

I returned to work just under a year after my PP episode, and definitely struggled with both my cognitive function and confidence for a few years. There were a few things that helped me.

1. HR, occupational health and my manager knew so I did a phased return and my manager was a real help with advice etc. This really helped my confidence as I felt supported.

2. Some practical tools helped. Because I had memory problems I kept a lot of lists and notes of meetings etc which I could refer to. I still do this - 5 years on. I also made a lot more use of outlook calendar to help me plan and remember what I needed to do.

3. The thing that made the biggest difference was coming off olanzapine completely , which really helped with my cognitive function particularly (I found olanzapine really slowed everything down). I did this after a couple of years and under medical supervision.

Don’t know if any of this is helpful/ relevant to you or your work, but maybe some things in there!

Good luck! It’s a big thing starting a new job and I hope that you can find some things that help you.

X

[NMG1991]

Hi lovely,

Congratulations on your new job.

I found it really difficult returning to work and really struggled to retain the information I was being told.

I think it's a good idea to take lots of notes and that way when you're told something you don't need to keep asking if you're struggling to remember as the notes will be right there with you.

I did end up leaving as I sadly hit a depressive period which wasn't easy to cope with at the time but I do feel had I stayed things would have continued to get better day by day with regards to learning and retaining information especially as I was tapering Olanzapine.

Are you still on Antipsychotics? I'm finding now I'm on a very low dose my memory is definitely getting better.

N x

[Jenny_at_APP Partner]

Hi Zebrawhite,

I hope you're doing ok. Yes, I also found it difficult going back to work - I think as well as the impact of having had PP, our brains are different after having a baby (at least for a period of time). Confidence definitely played a part for me too.

Making lists and notes became a habit for me as well, even now if it's not written down somewhere it's not happening!! We have so much to 'hold'!

I hope you have good support and understanding at work. It takes time to settle into any new job but they should also make some reasonable adjustments for you if you feel comfortable sharing that these may be needed. If you don't feel comfortable talking to work about what you've been through, I wonder if you could maybe tell them that you've not been very well and are on some medication that has some side effects and just make them aware that you need a bit more time and support...? I would hope there is a lot more awareness and support out there with regard to mental health amongst employers now but appreciate it may be a case of feeling your way a bit. Being on medication is hard going but important, and hopefully once that has settled things will start to feel a bit easier too.

Take good care and be kind to yourself, you're doing so well.

Sending very best wishes,

Jenny x

[Antitodo]

Hi Zebrawhite ,I think my cognitive functions were very much diminished until a month after I stopped the antipsychotics. Luckily I was still on maternity leave so I was able to focus on only recovering. My memory hasn't quite been the same, although it is getting better, but I am not sure if that is because of PP or just having a baby (I had a really bad case of 'baby brain' while pregnant).

Our brains change when we have a baby (cortex decreases...) and these changes can take 1 or 2 years to reverse.

[Survivedwithcolor]

Hey there, sorry you're still struggling with all of this.

Some of the medications I took affected my cognitive abilities dramatically. That's probably culprit number one. What are you taking now? Look at the side effect profile for those meds.

Once I started taking a better medication, my cognitive function improved dramatically. I'd like to say that it's better now that I'm off antipsychotics, but it's really not. I'm not as fatigued, but I don't think my ability to think and remember is any better. My memory these days is not what it used to be. I don't think I'm having significant memory issues, but I definitely struggle with the older adult recall of names and even things I used to know well. I play the piano, and have almost completely lost the ability to play pieces from memory. I used to be able to play hours of music from memory. Now I can play two short songs. It's just gone.

I do make lists constantly, and refer to them, and my calendar. I set alarms on my phone. I play word games and exercise, that's all supposed to be helpful. That's about all I know to do. It's pretty frustrating, I know. My mental stamina is pretty poor these days as well. After an hour or two of concentrating, I'm just fried. I'd never be able to go back to a full day job, I wouldn't be able to do it.

Hang in there, we get you.