Problems with comprehension. Any one else? Pls help

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So i know i have been having issues paying attention and im not sure if this is related to that or not, looking for other’s opinions and experiences.

I have a hard time lately processing and comprehending information when presented, mostly in the form of speech, and it just seems at times to continually get worse each day. I am not able to follow some else if they are giving me verbal instruction or dictation. Reading comprehension has dropped as well though not as significantly as speech. Its extemely frustrating because i used to be able to learn a great deal from a lecture or video and took great pride in my ability to learn quickly and efficiently and be able to read and watch videos and teach myself almost anything. I find myself having a hard time keeping up with conversations asking people to repeat themselves and having to reread things a few times seeming to only grasp a small portion each time. I have higher than average IQ and this cognitive deficit has me frustrated to no end. Does anyone else have the same difficulties? Could this be a result of the meds? Possible progression of the illess? Purely a memory and/or attention problem also as a result of one or both of those? Any similar experiences or knowledge someone can provide is appreciated. I need to find a way to remedy this situation, i feel as though my intellect is slipping away.

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Hey there, [quote=“Reggie, post:1, topic:55397”]
I have higher than average IQ and this cognitive deficit has me frustrated to no end. Does anyone else have the same difficulties? Could this be a result of the meds? Possible progression of the illess? Purely a memory and/or attention problem also as a result of one or both of those? Any similar experiences or knowledge someone can provide is appreciated.
[/quote]

having a higher intellectual ability means you are less likely to have severe cognitive impairments…also means you are more likely to have stronger positive symptoms (voices, weird beliefs, intrusive thoughts, etc). These can distract from learning, even getting sexually aroused, hell, they take attention away from anything.

Also, meds could be it. Antipsychotics sort of dampen attention…in some cases. You’ve got to know something- the meds are super downers. Formally called “major tranquilizers.” I am dependent on recreational, legal stimulants, coffee when I wake up and nicotine throughout the day to focus. They usually work against the meds…the meds often hit parts of the brain they do not need to as well as the parts they do. It gets really complicated really quickly, but that is basically it.

The main thing the meds stop is associated with attention. In fact, ADD/ADHD meds increase it instead of making it stop.

Probably not progression of the illness- if it was that bad, you wouldn’t be this aware- and it doesn’t really do that unless you are over age 50, most of the time.

Also, if you are on an anxiety med, a “benzo”, that will screw up some of that stuff really badly. Alcohol doesnt help either.

I myself have comprehension problems which are insanely powerful, like cannot read one single page when I read 200 the day before, when I dont have my morning coffee and nicotine candy or ecig. I have a nicotine lozenge in my mouth right now, I am trying to quit the ecig. Just for an example…because your problem sounds like mine, and I know what causes mine. It’s stimulant addiction.

What has changed lately?

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As I guess you do not reply the question frequently, the good thoughts come later in your mind, so please practice before the possible asking and you answer it well.

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You may be on to something there! Didnt consider that, in the past (before all the meds) stimulants seemed to increase my powers of comprehension, (legal or not) but that could have just been a misperception.

I also have been taking my benzo more frequently as stress has been high which could also be a factor? I do seem to be “stuck in my head” a lot lately, so attention prob part of it. The part i really dont understand is my writiting has been better than i ever i feel. Better in quality but not in quantity. Go figure!

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I went to get a money order that was already counted out…I re counted it twice and came up with the wrong number…I can’t count money any more…among other things…

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that along with the lack of stimulants (please keep them legal, like coffee and stuff from GNC or whatever) would do the trick.

And yeah man, benzos totally affect overall functioning. They make me do crap like walk into the bathroom at night (after I take my bedtime dose) and forget why I entered the room…that’s a nuance I actually was stumped about myself, I asked my doc. Basically, being on downers upon downers when the brain is used to uppers is probably gonna be the best explanation.

As for the small, high-quality writing…thinking a lot tends to let creativity in the mind…I do that myself, on purpose sometimes, at times I write just whatever I am thinking. It depends on what I am trying to convey with what I am writing. But yeah benzo will make you space out, I mean damn, they make most people nod out.

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Talk to ur pdoc about trying the antidepressant Trintellix previously Brintellix. Its an atypical antidepressant with 5ht1a agonism which is believed to improve cognition. Personally I was completely lost before I got on it but once I did my cognition got much better (90% of what it was pre sz). Antidepressants can improve cognitive dysfunction through multiple mechanisms. Talk to your psychiatrist about adding on trintellix. Dont lose hope there are plenty of options out there.

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I have trouble with this too. Where I work we have to do legislative training a lot of the time.

Although I work with complex legislation everyday, and I understand it and can apply it perfectly fine, I find the training really jars me up.

I have such a difficult time in the classroom following what is being said and really understanding the content.

I’ve been working in this field for over five years and have worked with other legislation previously and never had a problem applying acts to my everyday work. But when I’m in these classrooms, I feel like a dunce next to new starters.

I don’t know if it is the illness or the medication, I just know it bites.

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i dont have an answer but im in the same boat as you

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Have you had a relapse or psychosis recently? I think that for 2 years since my psychosis I have been slowly regaining myself. Mostly I was unable to contribute to conversations that people had and would stand there nearly mute aside from single word answers. I seem to have improved some at least from what my family tells me.

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@Reggie
sound pretty much like my symptoms with the exception that a lot of times for me with conversations I hear only garbled noise and can’t make out what they are saying and then after a while I get parts of it and will sometimes answer right but mostly I am off topic with my answer.

It has gotten worse off meds so now some of my words are mixed up when I speak.

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I am having a hard time with watching TV shows.
I cannot follow with what is going on.
Too many characters - too much dialogue
It gets to be too much.

I basically can follow the News programs.
I am not on meds by the way.

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That’s pretty much me - no tv can’t keep up anyways. Don’t watch the news because to much bad crap on it. No meds because of my doc currently.

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Ur post was very funny! Lol.

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Incidentally @anon84763962 I am a visual learner. When they had me in grade school, they thought I was slow until they started writing on the board and I could “see”. By the way, my heart is connected to my ears. I recognize everyone once I hear their voice.

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I am a very visual person too. I do better if I can see what is being said at the very least in my own head.