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Is it Cognitive decline?


13 years ago 0 195 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
I happened to read an article by mercola about possible cognitive decline from longterm use of meds. The article also claimed meds were not any good, so I will take it with a grain of salt.
 
I said to my wife a few minutes ago that maybe a lot of my mind being in a fog and not being able to focus, etc, was because of all the anxious thoughts in my head. You know: rituals, OCD, fear of panic attacks, fear of work. I spend an awful lot of time thinking of nonsense, but need to get away from that.
 
My therapist, who I saw from about 1995-2004, pretty steadily, is more than 45 minutes from my house and about an hour and 15 minutes from my work. So I emailed her and asked if she knows anyone closer to me that she could recommend. I really think I need to do some work.
 
I am very happy in my life with my marriage, I adore my wife. But am often scared of the silliest things and also have a hard time relaxing lately.
 
I would say I am more cloudy in the head today because I did take 2 halves of diazepam today. One around 7am and the other around noon. Diazepam tends to keep you cloudy, but works so well with calming you when needed.
 
I amazed myself over the last 6 weeks by only needing half (2.5 mg) of one (5mg) for our friday morning meeting at work. But finally caved last week and took a whole one. I did not feel like a defeat at all. This has been a stressful month because of them coming down on us about lack of sales. I don't think it's really that odd for my depression and anxiety to have worsened over the past week. That usually happens with me, but not always.
13 years ago 0 653 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hi Wrestler,
 
You are very insightful! I wouldn't say what you are experiencing is 'cognitive decline'. That sounds pretty serious! It is normal to be more forgetful as we age, even starting as early as in the 40's. What you describe sounds reasonable with regards to taking medication and focusing on larger life issues rather than smaller daily details. If you are quite concerned, check with your doctor.
 
 
Tiana, Health Educator
13 years ago 0 195 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
 I have been having trouble remembering things the last year or so and was wondering if anyone has dealt with this issue. Some people have told me that it might be because I am getting older (44). I have also heard that meds can be a cause, but the most likely reason I think is because of anxiety. Meaning that the anxiety has me so preoccupied (whether from being anxious or just my general condition) that it causes lack of concentration in many areas of thought.
 
By trouble remembering I mean walking into a room and forgetting why, or performing a task and then forgetting a few minutes or even seconds later that I did it. One example is my job. I have to tap baseboards of houses as part of making sure the wood is no infested with termites. I will be going through a room and then forget it if I did a certain part of it. I usually move through a house to the right, and this helps me remember, but often times I can't always do it that way. Another example is, I will be cooking and will know that I need something from a cabinet, but if I get distraced, I then try and remember and have trouble remembering for a second and it causes panic. One time I even ran to my wife because I was so scared and got panicky.
 
I guess a good way to describe it can also be that I feel all cloudy or confused in my thinking. Even when trying to relax, my mind still is working and confusing things.
 
One reason why I cannot outright just blame meds (I am on triavil and valium, when needed) is because I even felt cloudy in the head before I ever took any meds at all. In my teens I would often feel cloudy in the head, easily distracted and have heavy OCD.
 
I hope I explained this enough for you to understand. I look at it this way: If I can explain how I feel and what is bothering me, does this mean I am not having cognitive problems?

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