I woke up this morning and couldn’t remember going to sleep or eating dinner. Eventually the memories cam back but know I’m terrified I have early onset dementia. Has anyone had worsening cognitive symptoms over the course of their illness without getting dementia? This also coincides with benzo and kratom withdrawal. I wouldn’t think those things would cause the kind of memory problems I’m having.
2 Likes
When I was psychotic I had a very bad memory. It was so bad, that I had delusions that people were poisoning me and damaging my mind. After I came out of psychosis, my memory improved.
No idea what is happening with you, but in some cases, things can improve.
3 Likes
I dunno. I dont think i have dementia and my memory is terrible. Absolutely terrible.
2 Likes
I can remember being in third grade and getting my first baseball glove or being in the cub scouts but I can’t remember anything about last week.
3 Likes
yes. i fear it but probably medication and abusing ones brain life long.
benzo witdrawal found me completely incipacitated.
3 Likes
Thank you for the replies everyone. Putting my mind at ease a little. Does anyone have trouble with speech, like not being able to find the right words? Also missing your exit because you’re not paying attention? Also never remembering where keys and phone ect… are?
3 Likes
Yup ive got all of that. So hard. I havent talked to a dr about it yet though so i cant say its definitely sz related or not.
1 Like
Thank you for replying so much… 
1 Like
My cognition got drastically worse on Lamictal.
My memory is awful.
Dementia runs in my family
1 Like
My short term memory is pretty crappy. I couldnt tell if i was asleep or awake this morning or if i ate breakfast. I tend to forget most things right after someone tells me. So i use my phone as my 2nd brain. It has a better memory than me.
1 Like
I am exactly the same as you. I can’t remember very easy words that used to roll off my tongue. I’ll get up to do something, and I will forget what I was going to do. I’m too young to be nursing home bound. I always have been forgetful, though.
1 Like
Regularly have trouble with all of that. I could be looking for my keys for half an hour then realise there actually in my front pocket
1 Like
I recently would wake up from a nap and have no idea if it was am or pm. This has been going on for several days now but my mind is still in tact.
2 Likes
Are you only on lamictal?
No, I’m also on Risperdal, Depakote and take Klonopin as a PRN
Most likely the sz. I go through phases of very bad memory on top of my normal bad recall. I spoke tocmy gp about dementia testing, she said to ask my pdoc before we go forward.
Pdoc told me that sz has a lot of memory issues. Sza tend to have have phases of good and bad.
2 Likes
Well that checks out with my sza diagnosis. Thanks for the info
1 Like
No problem! It’s scary to go through. Even when you know what is going on.
2 Likes
when i was ill i used to think i had dementia, so i see that thought as a symptom now. I’m sure a pdoc or CPN would pick up on any memory issues they were concerned with
If you’re of a certain age(as I am) prone to being highly anxious, and aware of research showing an increased risk for dementia for those with schizophrenia- that IMO can make you hyper concerned re things that are actually a normal part of getting older.
I’m not immune from such thinking. Whereas age related physical decline can be frustrating it’s nowhere near as scary as the thought of experiencing a marked cognitive decline. Realistically your cognitive performance should be judged in comparison to others within your age group. Has there been a decline in how you are doing cognitively , in comparison to others within your age group? Or has your position remained stable?
1 Like