Head zaps, memory & reading

[Chicken_Wings]

Hi Everyone,

Was wondering if anyone else has issues with their memory, brain zaps and reading when they are feeling anxious?
I feel like I forget how to spell, or forget things I should know. Sometimes I'll be reading and read the sentence wrong, or be reading and have to read it again cause I didn't understand what it said.

I also have sort of light headed, dizzy spells. 
Today for example I am tired, and I feel like I'm not reading well and I have a tense feeling in my head.

These symptoms appear when I'm tired and then they make me anxious and so the symptoms get worse.
I was wondering if this happens to other people too (it would be really reassuring if it did!).

[Doolhof]

Hi Chicken Wings,

I only just read a post very similar to this one and I have already forgotten who wrote it! Yes, I certainly do have similar issues.

Recently I went to visit a girlfriend whom I have seen many times and totally forgot how to get to her house! I had to phone her to ask her where she lived!

I've been known to send someone a couple of birthday cards because I had forgotten I had already sent one.

Filling in forms completely confuses me, so does going to the shops and trying to decide which ice cream to buy, there are too many choices.

Anxiety is not my thing, I suffer from stress and depression. Have you found different strategies and techniques to help with your issues?

When I forget things, I try to tell myself that is okay, it happens and not become more stressed out.

Finding ways to reduce your anxiety may certainly help. Maybe a short break from what you are trying to read might help you concentrate better.

There is plenty of information here on this site about anxiety, you might get some tips on how to help yourself more.

Cheers.

[Mummybee]

Hi CW

YES! is my short answer

I also have limb jerks and muscle twitching. Here is my answer, or the way I understand it anyway.

I don't think we forget how to spell things, or have to start reading again because there is something wrong, I think we do it because our mind is busy concentrating on our anxiety, and our focus is tuned into our body. Especially those of us with Health Anxiety and hypochondria.

When a person with normal levels of anxiety is stressed and their mind is on something else, they forget how to spell a word or they forget where they were going momentarily, they think nothing of it, they know its because they are stressed and busy. When someone who suffers health anxiety experiences these symptoms, or any symptoms actually, we automatically think its because something is wrong... we have tumor, we have MS, we have dementia... WE are too sensitive to everything with our bodies because its driven by fear. And when we are tired or sick these symptoms amplify, just like they would in a "normal" person, but we don't say "oh im so tired I just had to read that sentence three times", we say "Oh god, somethings wrong with my brain"

I hope this helps?

Mummybee

[Bluey_moon]

Yes, yes and yes chicken wings! 

I get all of the above, I mix my letters up writing, I walk into a room and forget what I went in there for. And yes I have to re-read things. Especially when I'm tired!!!! 

[Chicken_Wings]

You've all given me a bit of relief.

I was sure I had something wrong with my brain. Even though I know this happens when I'm tired.
I had a little cry and it was like someone released a valve and I feel a heap better, but still tired and tense.

I think this is maybe one of the worst symptoms for me, because the more you notice it the worse it gets.

[Wirey]

Hi I am new to the forums. I've suffered with stress/anxiety for years & medicated for it. Sunday I suffered a panic attack with combined symptoms that I had not experienced before. I had 2 late nights (I work shift which does'nt help my sleep) a social dinner Friday night and event Saturday (I find mixing with people stressful) and another event Sunday. Half way through Sunday I started talking fast, was out of breath, could not follow simple conversations, had trouble recognising 2 people that I know quite well (could remember who they were) and had trouble filling out a simple form. I did not recognise that I was having a panic attack and thought I was losing my mind. Whilst i hate to think anyone else is suffering this I am a little relieved to see there are other people that have similar memory & confusion issues and that I am not actually crazy. It is hard to find people that actually understand my anxiety and who don't think I am completely stupid. Very grateful to have found these forums

[Zoostar84]

In mid December I went to a xmas party with my mums partners family. I took my girlfriend to meet them. In the car on the way there I was telling her that my mums partner has 3 sons and 2 daughters. I was telling her the names of his children and suddenly I went blank. I couldn't remember his daughters names who I had met more than a dozen times previously and have a xmas gathering every year for the past half dozen years or so. I just explained to my girlfriend that my memory is really bad at the moment. She told me not to worry about it and there names were mentioned during the party which gave me some relief.

Lately I have had difficulty concentrating when I am driving. I mean when I am driving I may miss a turn off or turn off at the last moment when previously I had it in my mind before hopping in my car that I am to stop off somewhere.

Wirey, I do feel stupid at times when I can't think of a certain word or forget how to spell certain words. I have a bachelor degree in science and very proud of what I have achieved, but life can be difficult sometimes.

[Guest_5218]

Hi chicken wings,

Judging from the replys above, this appears to be a pretty common thing.  Which is very reassuring to me too, because it happens to me too.  I can suddenly get a mind blank and not have the slightest idea of what I was doing or about to do.  Or I can be driving somewhere and all of a sudden think "where am I going and why"? I can forget well known names, and how to spell simple words.  And very definitely this happens when I am stressed out and anxious about something.  I do believe that what Mummybee says is probably the case. Where your mind is so locked into whatever it is that is causing your anxiety, that all the minor things just take a back seat, so to speak. There just isnt enough room left for the superfluous things that really dont matter anyway. And I dont think that applies just to health anxiety or hypochondria, as I think this can be the case with any form of anxiety.

Sherie

[MisterM]

Hi Chicken Wing,

Yeah I often have memory issues.
I think of what I am about to do then seconds later I forget.

[Harlo]

Thank you for this post Chicken Wings.
I now know I'm not alone in this.
28 years old and I thought I had dementia...
I feel like I have many more mind blanks than the average person. Forgetting simple things that I would normally know 1 hour earlier.
I've always expected it's all anxiety related... But that little damn voice in the back of my head telling me it could be something bigger.

Thank you.