Does anyone else feel like they have decreased mental activity because of schizophrenia? Since taking ill, I have far fewer thoughts, have much less to say, and actually feel like I’m operating at a lower level of consciousness.
Have you experienced any changes like this? Or maybe the opposite?
Yes. Feel more stupid. When relapse is coming, more stupid.
Yah, as in nothing to say mind blank. I USED to be like that state long time ago. It’s correctable. How? A diet with lots of fruits and veggies. They are food for the brain. And it helps to be stable already with treatment plan. There is your answer now go do it.
When I’m in a bad enough episode it becomes very difficult for me to hold onto thoughts…it’s one of the reasons I did so poorly my senior year of high school. I was in a very bad place mentally/emotionally. I couldn’t pay attention to anything because it all just rolled in one ear and out the other.
I didn’t feel dumb for it though. I knew it was because of my issues, and didn’t blame myself for it. I don’t think anyone on here should either.
Interesting note, for research, my tdoc tested my IQ when I started with him -148. And tested me again in the middle of a psychotic episode-92 and in the stages of recovery 125. So I have empirical evidence in some psychotic all journal somewhere that I actually do think slower and am less “bright” than I used to be.
When I was on Haldol I definitely had decreased mental activity, but that was the drug and not the illness. Now, I am on Geodon and Seroquel, and I would say my mental activity is about the same as it was before I got my illness.
They might have given you a different IQ test. Some tests are more skewed than others. On the WAIS test I usually score 127 or so. On the ASVAB I scored 138. I’m a little uncomfortable with the idea that all the mental activity we call intelligence can be reduced to a single number. There was a boxer named Bobby Cyxz who had an IQ of 140. Mohamed Ali had an IQ of 77, but Ali was so much smarter a boxer than Bobby Cyxz. Also, I have to question the wisdom of a man with an IQ of 140 choosing to box.
They were three different tests because he said that he didn’t want to account for a “learning curve” for taking the same test over and over.
Some guy has come out with a theory of “multiple intelligences”. He measures competence over a number of different traits - social, physical, etc. It’s an interesting idea.
I assume your on meds. That’s generally what I expect my meds to do , to slow down my thinking. If I think too fast , I’m in danger of becoming psychotic
I feel the same way. That’s why I don’t usually write big texts. Very poor thinking.
my thinking sucks. But I can program computers somewhat. But algorithms kick my ass
There is always the delusion of ‘the natural self’ when one decreased the dosages of their anti psychotic. They might believe their natural emotions, thoughts are shining through. It’s not the activity necessarily. It’s the clarity we get from the meds. That enables us to use our higher function. Otherwise we may be scrambled in thought. I find when I decrease my med too much it’s my actions that are at risk. Meds effect us both mentally, emotionally. We can discern from both. Once your mind can find what it likes doing, a task for example. Then the mind just gets into a mode where nothing else is distracting it, and one can be in that activity it’s what I heard is called ‘flow states’. That portion of the mind where the mind isn’t worried about how much it is imaginary lacking, but how much it can complete this task, activity or works. Idle hands is the devils workshop, and I tend to believe If I’m not napping just moping about how my mental activity could be better, then I better be doing something about it making it better, increased mental activity.
I was watching a film clip of Ali in an interview with William Buckley. He was smarter than a person with an IQ of 77. A professor at school said that many people who aren’t familiar with such tests don’t try on them. I think Ali must have just dismissed the test.