I was diagnosed with psychosis 3.5 years ago. I’m on clozapine 225mg and valproic acid(extended release) 400mg.
Ever since my first psychotic episode, I have had problems with understanding what people say to me. Sometimes people repeat the same sentence 3 times and I still don’t get it. It feels like I have problems with processing information. Anybody know what is the technical name for this condition ? Someone told me I may have poor working memory or problems with attention/concentration or maybe poor executive functioning. I’m not sure though.
Someone suggested that drugs which are given for dementia may help with such symptoms such as memantine or donepezil.
Anybody have any thoughts or experience with such situation ?
I have this! I can’t remember days or dates, either. Or names. Or tasks. I can’t focus on people’s words either, not if there’s a single other sound I can hear simultaneously.
If I’m eating at the dinner table, and someone is talking to me, I get distracted by the sound of people chewing. I hear the forks hitting the plate really loudly. I can’t concentrate because the sounds are overwhelming to me.
so now I play video games like 8 ball online pool, chess, tetris, and something called mind games that is like a game for memory and speed. I can now sit through several games of online pool without getting distracted or bored—before I could barely finish one game, I would be so restless and distracted.
It’s not a cure all, but at least I’m practicing sitting still and focusing on something!
PS When I was actively psychotic, and for a period of months after I was better but in recovery, I couldn’t hear people speak to me. I was too scattered mentally. After some months, some of the jarring inability to concentrate went away on its own. I couldn’t read a comic strip, let alone a book back then. Now, my mind is better, but I’m still working on these issues you are talking about.
I much prefer information/instructions written down than spoken to me. It can be hard to retain information when spoken.
I have problems with executive function and slow processing speed.
Clozapine is a strong drugs that can make some troubles on speak and listening.when i was clozapine i couldn t read anything.maybe it has similar problems on you.
I always felt like it was being interpreted as not being interested. But, yes, I know what it’s like when my brain just won’t work. My mental muscle is paralyzed.
Its due to reducing working memory. Its also the main reason for OCD.
If do one activity or think about something mind goes blank for every other thought, urge etc. So if some distraction come then that distraction disrupts the main activity and need to restart, redo and appear like OCD compulsion.
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