Slow information processing/mental speed

DX'd - Other
1

Mental speed refers to how fast you process what you see and hear and how long it takes you to process and respond to the information you are given.

I wonder who else here has a problem with it and if so if you have learnt any techniques to improve it. Apparently information processing get slower as you get older(I am late middle aged) but truth is mine has always been slow.
It 's hard for me to take things in if spoken especially if it involves a set of details/instructions/steps, and I prefer things written down so I can look at it several times and gradually take things in…

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2

I struggle with this horribly, I have issues having conversations and that was a big problem in my relationship, bc I can either do the talking, or listen. I can’t do both.

3

I don’t know. The way I look at it, antipsychotics are called major tranquillisers, so how can you be expected to have zippy mental super powers on a major tranquilliser.

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4

I think repetition helps.

But don’t forget:

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5

i think reading and mental brain booster games helps immensely

and staying sober

even if you’re not reading for pleasure, not reading for knowledge, but reading to get the neurons flowing, that should help

6

There are apps to train it.

7

first time i was in the psych ward (which was for 50 days) they made me go on laptops and play these stupid annoying games but they helped heal your brain apparently…they were stupid and annoying but quite helpful i suppose…

8

I have heard mixed opinions about brain games from scientists ie that some companies really over hype their product . The opinions of patients/service users posting here are more uniformly favourable.
My problem is I struggle with them, and do badly, due to my slow processing speed as they are time limited. This discourages me and put me off. Also putting me off is the fact that to access the full range of games you have to pay a fee.
Difficulty under time pressurised situations is often a sign of what we in the UK call a learning difficulty ( US learning disability).
Bottom line, the games make me seem really stupid which I am not according to the pdocs etc who have met me.

I think motivation and mental fortitude also are negative factors for me. I get easily discouraged and overwhelmed .

I guess I would like games where you can gradually change(shorten) the length of time to compete them as you progress.

9

That’s a fair point. Especially if on a rather high dose(which I am not).

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10

I always felt my brain worked at 100099999 mph on schizophrenia so when antipsychotics slowed it down a bit it was a relaxing change of pace :sunglasses:

11

I also have slow reactions and am generally slow at doing things whether primarily mental or physical.
For example when I get a supermarket delivery I unpack the bags or crate first before going for more bags/ another crate.
The other week I thought I had unpacked quite quickly for the delivery woman to say she was wondering where I had got to. Obviously,in her eyes, having delivered to a number of customers, I was slow…
I know that when it says it should take x to complete a task I often take 1.5or 2 x.

12

Maybe u were quick. Some ppl just like to complain a lot…

13

Meditation helps

14

reading non fiction books