![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 22 to 46 of 51. Go back in thread:
Posted by andrewb on July 15, 1999, at 22:31:16
In reply to Re: Brain fog, posted by Julia on July 15, 1999, at 16:37:55
Julia,
I think what I had was what Kaarina correctly termed as 'floaters,. They are worm-like spots on the visual field that look like microbes in a petri dish. They were brought on my fatigue and rising up to fast. I think it may have been related to temporary hypotension. Anyway, when I had the brain fog I would have these spots come on at times. Wellbutrin, amineptine, and amilsupride all are able to take away the brain fog and the incidents of 'floaters'.
Your condition sounds different. I'm sorry I can't think of much in the way of advice. Do you think keeping a detailed journal may help you identify something that triggers these episodes?
Best wishes
Posted by Julia on July 16, 1999, at 4:49:33
In reply to floaters, posted by andrewb on July 15, 1999, at 22:31:16
> Julia,
> I think what I had was what Kaarina correctly termed as 'floaters,. They are worm-like spots on the visual field that look like microbes in a petri dish. They were brought on my fatigue and rising up to fast. I think it may have been related to temporary hypotension. Anyway, when I had the brain fog I would have these spots come on at times. Wellbutrin, amineptine, and amilsupride all are able to take away the brain fog and the incidents of 'floaters'.
> Your condition sounds different. I'm sorry I can't think of much in the way of advice. Do you think keeping a detailed journal may help you identify something that triggers these episodes?
> Best wishesBoy, this is getting frustrating......but, thank you both for your help and support.
I think the journal suggestion is excellent, if for nothing else, then to help me keep focused at my next dr. visit.....
Andrew, you mentioned hypotension as being a catalyst, excuse my medical ignorance, is that high or low bp? The reason, I used to be chronically low, doctors often either worried (when I was young) or congratulated me as I got older. Then after a couple years of drug abuse (I'm, historically, a speed freak, but have been clean for a while now....)my bp went through the roof (no surprise...). But,although speed free, its still way up there.....Maybe there is a correlation....?
ANyway, I'm not really looking for you guys to play dr., I will bring this all up with him,I'm really just looking for shoulders to lament on, and I thank you guys for being there...
Posted by andrewb on July 16, 1999, at 12:10:31
In reply to Re: floaters etc., posted by Julia on July 16, 1999, at 4:49:46
> Andrew, you mentioned hypotension as being a catalyst, excuse my medical ignorance, is that high or low bp? The reason, I used to be chronically low, doctors often either worried (when I was young) or congratulated me as I got older. Then after a couple years of drug abuse (I'm, historically, a speed freak, but have been clean for a while now....)my bp went through the roof (no surprise...). But,although speed free, its still way up there.....Maybe there is a correlation....?
> ANyway, I'm not really looking for you guys to play dr., I will bring this all up with him,I'm really just looking for shoulders to lament on, and I thank you guys for being there...Julia,
Hypotension = low blood pressure
hypertension = high blood pressureFloaters can be brought on by low blood pressure in the head such as can happen when a person stands up.
Keep us posted on how the naltrexone is working for you.
Best wishes.
Posted by Julia on July 16, 1999, at 12:24:05
In reply to Re: floaters etc., posted by andrewb on July 16, 1999, at 12:10:31
> Hypotension = low blood pressure
> hypertension = high blood pressure
>
> Floaters can be brought on by low blood pressure in the head such as can happen when a person stands up.
> Keep us posted on how the naltrexone is working for you.
> Best wishes.
I'm on neurontin and ambien....what's naltrexone?As always, thanks to all
Posted by Kaarina on July 16, 1999, at 16:03:40
In reply to Re: floaters etc., posted by andrewb on July 16, 1999, at 12:10:31
Julia
You had originally mentioned that longterm depression was a problem for yourself. I believe that I suffured from depression because I couldn't work due to health reasons. I started keeping a journal, wrote down all sorts of things.(what mad me sad, angry, happy, etc. anything that came to mind) Make a point of ending always with good thoughts. (I am a strong person.) The results willnot be seen overnight, took me several months. However, it gave me the insight into what made me "click." Now I can identify things that trigger my emotions, and I can turn a bad situation around. Most importantly it helps to have someone close to talk to.
I ADMIRE YOUR STRENGTH!
Posted by JUlai on July 17, 1999, at 1:53:48
In reply to Re: journal, posted by Kaarina on July 16, 1999, at 16:03:40
Kaarina (I love your name, by the way), actually, I started keeping "diaries" when I was just 12 years old (step-parent molestation and a house of alchohol abuse can really isolate a kid.....)
But, I am a word lover (although recently my ability to put two words together has declined, I fear....) and did find that just the act of penning my feelings was often a comfort.
Anyway, after about 25 semi-faithful diary-keeping years (with an occisioanl break to get married and divorced) I stopped again, as the current spouse sort of precludes just an indulgent and defiant activity. Hence,I have barely written 25 pages over the past 8 years.....maybe the thought of recording my own culpabilities has silenced me.....
This group and my secretary (0f all people) have gotten me talking and mirror-looking again (not counting the shrinks.....)....which is a good thing...Your comment about ending an entry on a positive note will stay with me,as that (I hope) will re-open this one thing I could ,again (I hope) do for myself....
Again, I ramble, my isolation from the outside world is bordering on unbearable....Thank you all so so much.
Posted by Kaarina on July 17, 1999, at 11:45:54
In reply to Re: journal, posted by JUlai on July 17, 1999, at 1:53:48
Julia
You probably live in the States, I live in Canada. Our health systems are different. However AA has a branch called, Al-Anon which has a group for adult children of alcoholic parents. I'm sure you can find it on the internet, but I strongly advise calling - speaking hearing someones voice is better, and you'll reach someone locally. Network too making friends, make an appointment just like it was a "work commitment" to do something fun, perhaps volunteer an hour (library?) SMILE!!!!
Contact a local hospital to inquire about "positive support groups for depression."You had said that you had stopped keeping a journal 8 years ago, and your depression started 5 years ago. Even though you are married you still need to look after yourself first.
If you would like to correspond with me, I would enjoy it. I'm pretty much "housebound" and would like writing back and forth with an adult.
For Julia: [email protected]
Hope to hear from you!
Posted by jesse on July 20, 1999, at 16:04:52
In reply to Re: journal, posted by Kaarina on July 17, 1999, at 11:45:54
hey,
julia, i'm a writer too, maybe we should talk?
my email is: [email protected]this is a response to the brain fog commentary,
etc....the whole thing comes as a
revelation to me as well. i told my friend that
i thought it was the antidepressant, that i was
even more absent minded than usual. i mean, hell,
i will be talking to someone and forget what they
just said two seconds after they say it. my short
term memory is unreliable, to say the least. it's
really embarassing. oh yeah, today i greeted the
intercom like i was answering the phone (and i
was the one who pushed the button....)
i mean, walking out of the bathroom with toilet
paper stuck to my shoe and getting my dress caught
on doorknobs is par for the course, but i'm
thinking, how am i going to take the GREs?
i can't think straight. totalabsofogination.
total dream state.so, my question has to do with celexa. that's
what my therapist suggested and i've been taking
it for about 6 weeks now.
i've tried, thus far, zoloft (made it worse),
paxil (made me feel weird and then stopped
working), wellbutrin (stopped working)...anyway, i'd like to know if anyone has any
info or resourse links on celexa....i've found
very little info on it so far. apparently,
it's been available in europe for some time and
has just recently been fda approved.i admire all of you. reading this has given me a
shot of strenth and i needed it today.yours truly,
jesse
Posted by Kaarina on July 20, 1999, at 19:57:05
In reply to my first time on this msg. board, posted by jesse on July 20, 1999, at 16:04:52
"oh yeah, today i greeted the
> intercom like i was answering the phone (and i
> was the one who pushed the button....)"Jesse, I must apoligize because I literally laughed out loud. I myself will do similar things, its not bad when you don't notice or if nobody is around. Once I was going to a parking centre, a line up of cars built up behind me, my friend asked what I was waiting for, I thought the ticket machine was a phone, then I couldn't figure out what button to press. I told my friend it must be broken, she rolled her eyes and corrected me. It does go away though, becareful driving when you notice it though.
Take care!
>
Posted by nancy on July 22, 1999, at 18:07:06
In reply to Re: Brain fog, posted by andrewb on July 13, 1999, at 1:28:48
Wow, you guys. I've had the dream-like stuff from the beginning of this LOOOOOOONG episode (three years of traumatic treatment resistivity...finally, relieved with much improvement). I still have "the fog". But, I thought that it was just depression-related.
BTW, I told my pdoc about the brain fog. He said that the term was not the scientific one. But, he didn't have a scientific term available. ???Maybe, he has brain fog, too??? hee, hee, hee
Some literature says that the "dream-like" state is a psychotic feature. It may be associated with either schitzophrenia or bipolar psychosis. Other resources qualify this fog as related to other conditions. So, I'm not really sure what to do to "air out" this fog.
This Must Be London???
nancy> Sharon,
> However, it did not help that much with the anxiety. My concentration was better, but (and I know this sounds weird)everything outside of my head still seemed as if it was dream like. The reason I discontinued the Parnate is it stopped working even when the doc tried to add toher things.
>
> Things outside the head seeming dream-like doesn't sound so wierd to me. When I was taking Serzone I felt that way all the time! It was if I was inside a cacoon and everthing outside was somehow distant. When feeling this way I would often be reminded of a phrase from an old Beatles song, Penny Lane, "She feels as if she is in a play, and she is anyway". The more Serzone I took, the worse it got. I presume the feeling is due to an excess of seretonin at certain receptor sites. I've read of others having similar feelings when on SSRIs.
Posted by Elizabeth on July 23, 1999, at 0:10:27
In reply to Re: Brain fog, posted by nancy on July 22, 1999, at 18:07:06
> BTW, I told my pdoc about the brain fog. He said that the term was not the scientific one. But, he didn't have a scientific term available. ???Maybe, he has brain fog, too??? hee, hee, hee
I don't have brain fog at the moment, but I do have head chatter. (I told my pdoc that today, and he instantly knew what I was talking about.)
> Some literature says that the "dream-like" state is a psychotic feature. It may be associated with either schitzophrenia or bipolar psychosis. Other resources qualify this fog as related to other conditions. So, I'm not really sure what to do to "air out" this fog.
It could be a residual symptom - i.e. you're not experiencing full-blown psychosis or anything like that. Some people I've met have said that antipsychotic drugs help make their thinking more clear, so maybe that should be on the menu. Though I have to say, antipsychotics or meditation was what my pdoc suggested for head chatter, and I wasn't thrilled.
So, does anyone have any idea of what to do about brain fog and head chatter? :-)
Posted by AC on December 11, 1999, at 0:09:32
In reply to Re: Brain fog (and other unscientific terms), posted by Elizabeth on July 23, 1999, at 0:10:27
I thought I'd contribute my experiences (and
thought) regarding depression, anti-depressants
and their side-effects in the sincere hope that
they may help someone.I have been (clinically) depressed for most of my
life. I can recall being depressed since I was
ten, and I am now in my (early) thirties. Treatment
has been off-and-on over this period. I have
experienced the entire gamut of depressive symptoms
over this time including planning suicide.I am currently on Luvox and am doing
(comparatively) OK.Firstly, I had been on most of the available
(at the time) SSRIs before I tried Luvox.
The other SSRIs made me sick: bloating,
indigestion, extreme drowsiness, nightmares,
weakness, vomitting, difficulty urinating,
feeling 'spaced-out' (which I think is similar
to 'brain fog. When experiencing all this it is
most definetely disheartening and (paradoxically)
depressing. Luvox lifted the depression and had
negligeble side-effects (dry mouth, drowsiness,
"myoclonic jerks" whilst falling asleep, and very
low libido and difficulty reaching climax). I am
not suggesting that Luvox is the "magic bullet",
but rather that there are many anti-depressants
and some experimentation may be needed.Secondly, on the matter of "brain fog", "spacing
out", "brain chatter" and other such strange
perceptual/coginitive disturbances I have a few
things to add:
* The presence or at least severity
of these may change with another medication;
* In addition to the other conditions that
produce these sort of symptoms is migraine. The
"vasoconstrictive" phase of a migraine attack, ie.
the time before the pain when the blood vessels
are constricting, can give you visual disturbances,
olfactory (smell) "para-hallucinations", and spaced
out feelings. Make sure you do not have any
other problems with your health.Thirdly, it may sound trite but diet and adequate
sleep are important. I found that my "floaters",
and emotionally volatility dissappeared when I
started eating properly. My diet use to consist
largely of carbohydrates (especially sugary food)
at the best of time and no food at all on bad days.Fourthly, recreational drugs (eg. speed, qualudes, LSD,
E(cstasy) ) are bad news for the chronically
depressed. A small amount of pot or alcohol is OK
when you are not feeling profoundly depressed but
by no means use these habitually and stay off the
others, they will only complicate your treatment.
Fifthly, ranquilizer's have received lots of bad press
due to there abuse and over-prescription but
I think they have a legitimate use. The occassional
Serepax, Ducene or other such anxiolytic can help
you get through some life crises that would
otherwise cripple you.
Sixthly, mental illnesses -- even depression -- have a
stigma associated with them. News reporters are quick
to add that the perpertator of a mass murder/suicide
was being treated for depression and was on
Prozac, Luvox etc as if to imply a causal
connection. Don't cave in to this modern day
medieval mindset. Antidepressant drugs can
improve the quality of your life and are not the
work of the devil.
Seventhly, if you are not happy with your treating
doctor(s) find another.I hope this speaks something useful to someone
out there. For what it is worth, know that there
are other depressives out there that appreaciate
how you feel.Best of health to all the depressives out there.
AC
Posted by LightShifter on November 4, 2003, at 17:28:09
In reply to Re: Brain fog (and other unscientific terms), posted by Elizabeth on July 23, 1999, at 0:10:27
I believe many of us with "brain fog" have a form of Inattentive ADHD with anxiety and that we "burn out" from being "on" all the time -
just as anyone would if they were over-concentrating all the time.I also have expereinced that any kind of SSRI (serotonin reuptake inhibitor) makes mine worse. Paxil, Zoloft, Effexor etc. all work on reuptaking Serotonin - I believe our problem is with too much Serotonin or inadeqaute processing of it and not enough norepinephrine and perhaps dopamine.
I came to this conclusion after trying Effexor and having "brain fog", stopping it, trying Strattera (which only works on norepinephrine reuptake) and having both my anxiety and "brain fog" go away which in turn makes my depression go away because I am no longer "on" all the time with anxiety constantly trying to make myself concentrate.
I recommend trying Strattera standalone and seeing how it works. I'm only on 40 mg p/day and it seems to work fine.... no more anxiety, no more "brain fog", a lot more contentment and peace of mind.
...Dan
Posted by KimberlyDi on November 5, 2003, at 7:58:59
In reply to Re: Brain fog (and other unscientific terms), posted by LightShifter on November 4, 2003, at 17:28:09
I agree with your post. I believe though, in the past, I welcomed having the "brain fog" instead of over-whelming anxiety. Effexor and Strattera was a fantastic combination for my mind, but not for my heart. I tried going the Strattera alone but my old companion, depression, came back for a visit. Effexor withdrawal was making it worse, of course. I've now quit Strattera because I cannot afford the $50 co-pay.
I've rambled. Anyways, just wanted to say that there's alot of truth in what you posted.
KDi in Texas
> I believe many of us with "brain fog" have a form of Inattentive ADHD with anxiety and that we "burn out" from being "on" all the time -
> just as anyone would if they were over-concentrating all the time.
>
> I also have expereinced that any kind of SSRI (serotonin reuptake inhibitor) makes mine worse. Paxil, Zoloft, Effexor etc. all work on reuptaking Serotonin - I believe our problem is with too much Serotonin or inadeqaute processing of it and not enough norepinephrine and perhaps dopamine.
>
> I came to this conclusion after trying Effexor and having "brain fog", stopping it, trying Strattera (which only works on norepinephrine reuptake) and having both my anxiety and "brain fog" go away which in turn makes my depression go away because I am no longer "on" all the time with anxiety constantly trying to make myself concentrate.
>
> I recommend trying Strattera standalone and seeing how it works. I'm only on 40 mg p/day and it seems to work fine.... no more anxiety, no more "brain fog", a lot more contentment and peace of mind.
>
> ...Dan
Posted by Jasmine Neroli on November 5, 2003, at 22:46:11
In reply to Re: Brain fog (and other unscientific terms) » LightShifter, posted by KimberlyDi on November 5, 2003, at 7:58:59
That's a really interesting observation. I have GAD and my job requires me to be hyper-alert/observant of behaviour disordered teenagers. That part comes naturally, but requires a lot of "empathic connecting".And I have to really think hard about the clerical/procedural aspects of my job and am always forgetting, so much stuff carried in my head all the time, can't pay attention to it, cuz I'm so concentrated on the kids.Brain fog results, along with anxiety. I'm always on alert.I agree that the anxiety could easily be a result having to try to attend so hard and remember.Sometimes I find myself sitting and not knowing why...but I've never considered myself to be ADD.
I too have found both Celexa and Buspar to make the attention even harder..both of which of course affect Serotonin receptors. Hmmmmmmm food for thought, something to raise with my Pdoc, next visit. Thanks!
Jas
Posted by LightShifter on November 6, 2003, at 14:01:20
In reply to Re: Brain fog (and other unscientific terms), posted by Jasmine Neroli on November 5, 2003, at 22:46:11
I'm glad it provides some insight for you Jasmine. I tend to think ADD tends to be a result of living in high anxiety environemnts and that our dopamine and norepinephrine supply is greatly depleted from such. When we are forced to be on "high alert" most of the time and are highly stressed, why wouldn't our neurotransmitters become depleted?
Many of us ADDers perhaps are simply not as academically interested as most and/or have been raised to doudt our intellectual/academic abilities which also results in high stress which further results in neurotransmitter depletion and "brain fog".
MAybe for some the low serotonin causes the "fog" while for others the norepinephrine/dopamine does. Depending upon our chemistry, we may need different things. Depression comes after we pass through the anxiety stage and are then totally depleted to the point that we "give up", maybe that's when the serotonin depletion occurs - secondary to norepinephrine/dopamine.
I guess keeping the serotonin/norepinephrine/dopamine combo "in balance" is the key and for each one of us, different things are necessary. It seems pretty evident to me though that if norepinephrine/dopamine reuptake inhibitors like RITALIN clear people's "brain fog" by preventing it's depletion, then that's where we should be focusing - not on creating more serotonin - unless of course we are depleted in BOTH.
Blessings, ...Dan> That's a really interesting observation. I have GAD and my job requires me to be hyper-alert/observant of behaviour disordered teenagers. That part comes naturally, but requires a lot of "empathic connecting".And I have to really think hard about the clerical/procedural aspects of my job and am always forgetting, so much stuff carried in my head all the time, can't pay attention to it, cuz I'm so concentrated on the kids.Brain fog results, along with anxiety. I'm always on alert.I agree that the anxiety could easily be a result having to try to attend so hard and remember.Sometimes I find myself sitting and not knowing why...but I've never considered myself to be ADD.
> I too have found both Celexa and Buspar to make the attention even harder..both of which of course affect Serotonin receptors. Hmmmmmmm food for thought, something to raise with my Pdoc, next visit. Thanks!
> Jas
Posted by riddlemethis on December 11, 2003, at 20:41:37
In reply to Brain fog, posted by Sharon on June 28, 1999, at 17:16:13
> I have been chronically depressed for 51/2 years now. I have tried just about every antidepressant on the market and nothing has worked for me except for Parnate. My main problem with most of the AD's i have tried is they all make the brain fog much worse. Things outside of my head simply make no connection. Someone can speak to me, and it's as if they are speaking in Spanish. I simply can not follow the conversation. This is very embaressing, not to mention worrisome especially since I know that I am reasonably intelligent. When taking AD's the world around me seems as if I am in a dream world, and words that I read are simply jumbled letters. I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this while taking medication or not. Thanks for your time. ~Sharon
Hi. I'm really glad I found this group. For the longest time i thought I was the only one. I can't think clearly, never could. I can't reason or solve problems. Sometimes it feels like there's nothing in my head. I get foggy, can't concentrate or remember, lose track of my own thoughts, etc. I get yelled at so much at work it's amazing I haven't been fired. For the longest time I always just thought I was stupid, but only now do I realize that there's really something wrong and it isn't just stupidity. I started taking zoloft a week ago in hopes of ridding myself of the depression and, in that, the brain fog. But, like you said, it just seems to be making things worse. I screw up SO much at work even ont he simplest of tasks. Can this really go on forever?
Anyway, you're not alone.
Posted by Mimi on December 13, 2003, at 17:05:23
In reply to Re: Brain fog, posted by riddlemethis on December 11, 2003, at 20:41:37
Yes, me too. I had seven years in brain fog. The meds definitely contributed to, and sometimes caused, brain fog. I'm extremely sensitive to these psych meds.
My head cleared up two months ago due to the addition of Strattera 25mg/day (no more). I have my full intellect back and I'm not depressed after being in a coma-like state for SEVEN
years!!!Prior to that I had been depressed for several decades.
Mimi
Posted by zeugma on December 13, 2003, at 17:40:15
In reply to Re: Brain fog, posted by Mimi on December 13, 2003, at 17:05:23
> Yes, me too. I had seven years in brain fog. The meds definitely contributed to, and sometimes caused, brain fog. I'm extremely sensitive to these psych meds.
>
> My head cleared up two months ago due to the addition of Strattera 25mg/day (no more). I have my full intellect back and I'm not depressed after being in a coma-like state for SEVEN
> years!!!
>
> Prior to that I had been depressed for several decades.
>
> Mimi
that's great, Mimi. strattera really clears my head out too!z
Posted by riddlemethis on December 13, 2003, at 20:33:45
In reply to Re: Brain fog, posted by Mimi on December 13, 2003, at 17:05:23
That's VERY encouraging!!!! I just started Strattera today. Everyone seems to say that it works really well. Right now I'm holding my breath. lol
Posted by grlzpwr on January 18, 2004, at 0:58:30
In reply to Brain fog, posted by Sharon on June 28, 1999, at 17:16:13
Wow. This website is a find. Someone once had suggested I look into potentially having ADD, since my primary complaint is "brain fog", not depression, although I have been taking "pediatric" levels of anti-depressants for years. The worst time for me is driving, so I don't go more than 15 minutes away from home. Obviously this is becoming limiting to me socially and professionally, so I need to do something. It is worse when I am hungry or overtired. Oh, and I also have sleep apnea. So my big thing right now is to lose weight and hope this all resolves better, but short term I will ask the shrink to try the "Strattera" I hear everyone on the board talk about. It is worth a shot, and since I stopped talking anything else, why not?
Anybody have any other avenues to pursue on this?
I have also heard of stomach yeast growth that may encourge BF, as well as food allergies. At this point, I will try anything....
Me and my sleep doc (neurologist) are at an impasse as far as knowing what else to do, and all he can do is recommend losing weight to help the apnea. I am so darn desperate I am considering bariatric surgery.
Thanks so much for this board Dr. Bob, and all you posters. I feel so darn alone on this, and I think my friends and family think I am a primo drama queen when honestly, it is not safe for me 2 drive...not just in my head.
Posted by LightShifter on January 18, 2004, at 22:27:50
In reply to Re: Brain fog, posted by Mimi on December 13, 2003, at 17:05:23
Note what Mimi says... "25 mg. NO MORE!"..... Most of us don't need anywhere near 40 mg. and if we take that much we get negative side-affects. I recommend starting at 10 mg. and working up a little at a time only if necessary.... I went down to 20mg and and now goign to try reducing to 10 and see what happens. 20 is effective enough for me.
...Dan/LightShifter
> Yes, me too. I had seven years in brain fog. The meds definitely contributed to, and sometimes caused, brain fog. I'm extremely sensitive to these psych meds.
>
> My head cleared up two months ago due to the addition of Strattera 25mg/day (no more). I have my full intellect back and I'm not depressed after being in a coma-like state for SEVEN
> years!!!
>
> Prior to that I had been depressed for several decades.
>
> Mimi
Posted by lamark on January 20, 2004, at 0:41:47
In reply to Re: Brain fog, posted by LightShifter on January 18, 2004, at 22:27:50
Sometimes I have trouble remembering names, I often lose my train of thought in the middle of a sentence. I often feel very spacey, have an inability to focus and concentrate. It even gets to the point where I feel almost “high” and my surroundings seem to become almost surreal. I also often hear ringing in my ears and feel weak. My words seem to tumble out like dominos, my speech is sometimes slow and I have a difficult time using simple words when I’m talking, however people around me seem to notice nothing. Some days it doesn’t affect me much, but most days it is bad enough to interfere and I’ve noticed it most in the last half a year, ever since I moved. I hear that it is often associated with depression and I don't think that I suffer from that.
I'm 23 years old and I don't know what to do or where to go. I am in desperate need of help, can my doctor give me advice? Would he even know what I was talking about if I referred to “brain fog”? Who should I go to, to diagnose the problem. can anyone help me?! I don't have much money and have to rely on what my health insurance will cover, or what it affordable.
Posted by riddlemethis on January 20, 2004, at 19:43:31
In reply to Re: Brain fog, posted by lamark on January 20, 2004, at 0:41:47
What your describing sounds a lot like symptoms of ADD. I've experienced every single one of those symptoms. The only difference is that, with me, people notice. My boss once asked me if i was high. lol I almost wanted to say yes. At least that would be less humiliating than the fact that I'm just naturally like this. Anyway, depedning on where you live, you can go to a community mental health center. They charge, but not nearly as much.
Posted by LightShifter on January 21, 2004, at 0:03:05
In reply to Re: Brain fog, posted by lamark on January 20, 2004, at 0:41:47
If you aren't suffering from "depression" it sure sounds like you're suffering from anxiety (what I believe is the precursor to depression)...
Anxiety is bound to decrease blood sugar levels from all the stress so making it a point to make sure you eat (or at least drink milk) every couple of hours may help. Protein and vegeies are best because they breakdown slowly. Carbohydrates like sugar, bread or pasta burn up too fast and result in blood sugar level roller coaster riding - up and down with a crash.
I found the norepinephrine reuptake inhibiter Strattera (atomoxetine) to immediately reduce my anxiety levels. IT's used for ADD here in the states but a similiar substance (reboxetine) has been ysed in Europe for years for both anxiety and depression. Strattera also develops a more positive "bias" on things for me which keeps me out of "disaster mode" and relieves a lot of social anxiety... I had tremors for years in social environments which have been greatly reduced by this drug.... But go slow - don't start with the 40mg the doctors normally put people on. I would start with 10mg and work up only if necessary... split the capsules up if you need to. I've heard of too many people overamping and getting off the drug simply because they started too high.
Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI's) only made my brain-fog worse but we are all different and it may work fine for you. IT does seem to be that your issue is anxiety though. Most of us have had it most of out lives and have been conditioned to believe it's "normal"... normal for a dysfunctional stress-filled society perhaps but not for people who want to be mentally healthy.
Blessings, ...Dan
> Sometimes I have trouble remembering names, I often lose my train of thought in the middle of a sentence. I often feel very spacey, have an inability to focus and concentrate. It even gets to the point where I feel almost “high” and my surroundings seem to become almost surreal. I also often hear ringing in my ears and feel weak. My words seem to tumble out like dominos, my speech is sometimes slow and I have a difficult time using simple words when I’m talking, however people around me seem to notice nothing. Some days it doesn’t affect me much, but most days it is bad enough to interfere and I’ve noticed it most in the last half a year, ever since I moved. I hear that it is often associated with depression and I don't think that I suffer from that.
> I'm 23 years old and I don't know what to do or where to go. I am in desperate need of help, can my doctor give me advice? Would he even know what I was talking about if I referred to “brain fog”? Who should I go to, to diagnose the problem. can anyone help me?! I don't have much money and have to rely on what my health insurance will cover, or what it affordable.
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