Reduced cognitive function re depression

[pinktulip]

Hi there,

I would like to know if anyone who has ever felt they had reduced cognitive function due to feeling depressed been told to go see a neuropsychologist. I kind of want to know because I think I was given a brush off previously by a Mental Health Unit and they just randomly suggested it... GP wasn't aware of it...

Secondly, how are you meant to raise reduced cognitive function with a psychologist or psychiatrist? Because when I do, it's seen as perfectionism... Maybe that's because I'm still a student. If you are currently in the workforce, do you get taken more seriously re reduced cognitive function?

Because I've been told I can't have antidepressants ever again due to antidepressant induced hypomania.... and I'm in the situation when if I've gone to a psychiatrist and they suggest medication of other class my mother flips out and says I have adverse reactions to everything... And it hasn't helped when no one is definite on diagnosis... Doctor says I'm working on the hypothesis you have bipolar II... Or another doctor: being told you're autistic and that you could try medication (but no mention of bipolar)

[rtfm]

Hey there,

No worries - I didn't feel like you were yelling at me, just that I might have made you feel blamed or unheard - if I did, I'm always willing to hear it and hope you would feel safe to say so.

I strongly identify with a lot of what you say - it's perhaps relevant to say that I'm not without experiences which have some similarities to yours. I'm thirty one, and have had severe treatment resistant depression etc for the last five years (to the point of not being able to work or study regularly or at all through that time, relationships both romantic and platonic breaking down because of my lack of function, many hospital admissions, lots of different kinds of treatment, etc etc). Through my life prior I've had chronic dysthymia with periods of acute illness. Nearly everything I say is from personal experience, and I really do feel for you. I'm not an expert or professional or authority on any of this, and the reason I'm saying what I have is so that if what I have experienced and learned can help you I'd feel like there was a little more value in what generally feels like a bad novel I'd not bother finishing.

I hope that makes sense, and provides a bit of context for where I'm speaking from? I don't know you, and if what has helped me doesn't fit for you that's not just fine but to be at least in part expected.

A few times you've said things that suggest you've felt (feel?) like people are telling you what you feel/think is wrong, such as you feeling like you're foggy and being told that you're actually just a perfectionist... You're obviously intelligent and I think probably have better ability to think and reason even foggy than most people, so I'm inclined to believe that your perception is true. I think you probably also know that poor concentration, perfectionism, adversity, depression etc are all different things (though they can have a causative interaction or commonality), so if you were to say something like 'I feel like I've been hit in the head with a hammer, what do you think?' and I said 'I think you're a perfectionist' it would be like asking 'is it cold outside?' and being told 'I like cardigans more than jumpers' - it's not really an answer to the question, and would be pretty confusing in itself.... What do you think? Does any of that ring true?

t

[rtfm]

Ps: no, there aren't blood tests for concentration, but there are a variety of assessment methods for concentration, arousal (as in how switched on one is both emotionally and neurologically) and similar parameters. They're not as clear cut as 'your iron is low so you are anaemic', but perhaps they would be useful to learn a little more about... I've found them mildly useful, more in terms of understanding the context than the tests themselves (some of which require some specialised equipment).

[rtfm]

Hey there Pinktulip,

Just checking in to see how you're doing?

t

[ecomama]

Dear pinktulip

I think you're spot on about depression reducing cognitive ability! I will ask my psych friend today about that because she has mentioned it before and get back to you with a more defined explanation if I can. Hugs.

Part of my own story sounds A LOT like yours. But as a child I lived in a very dysfunctional family. I was well below average student at school during those years. At 12yo my (awesome) teacher had an IQ test done on me and I hit the ceiling 130+ and it was THEN that action started to correct the crap that was going on ie teacher and school counsellor spoke with my mother a lot.

It didn't change her behaviours. Nothing does lol! I'm no contact anyway now.

I left home at 18yo. Barely made it through my first degree. But by the time I was 24yo I was offered Scholarships by my workplace a number of times. 1500 people applied for 10 positions and I got in. We needed a 90% pass rate - something I had NEVER achieved ever before - but I did.

Depression sucks. Anxiety sucks, it all sucks lol.

The people around you who care for you may not know how to answer so they just give respond with the first thing they can think of.

Btw I have also been called a 'perfectionist' MANY times but not by anyone who knows me well. These people may only be comparing themselves to you and notice your DRIVE, persistence and perseverance - keep it up. It's these qualities that will stand you in good stead in dealing with anything life throws at you.

Hope you can pop back in and let us all know what's going on.

Love EM

[ecomama]

Hi pinktulip

I had a late night call with my psych friend so I hope I remember things correctly!

You can Google your subject and there are Scientific papers on this. A Psychologist who excels in treating patients with trauma and who can tailor a specific set of treatments for you would be good for you, if you can see this person alone.

PTSD can indeed reduce your cognitive abilities. It has to do with the amygdala (our reptilian part of the brain ie the fright, flight, freeze part) being activated and blood or nerve chains being activated and sent to THIS part of the brain in order to protect us. It therefore stops the flows of such to our pre frontal cortex which is our THINKING part of the brain AND our RATIONAL thinking part of the brain.

I've read and responded to your other thread.

I'll be frank:
* I'm MOST concerned about your mother.
* I'm concerned that she is controlling every aspect of your treatments, diagnoses and medications.
* You are an ADULT and can see any therapists alone.
* You need to see your therapists alone because I think when you peel back the layers, it's your mother interfering with every aspect of your life and inhibiting the MH professionals giving you their best treatments that is the problem.
* There is a condition with some parents called Munchausen's by proxy syndrome and even though many don't agree with this as being 'a thing' - it's a thing all right. This could be happening in your life.

You've mentioned a number of times that when you're at home, things get worse for you.
This is a key thing to tell your MH professionals.

I hope you can find a way to live elsewhere and see whom you need to see by yourself.

Best wishes, we're always here to talk to.
EM

[pinktulip]

Well, I can't anyway... I moved all my money to my brother and then my dad put it somewhere... And then I donated the rest to my Uni re COVID-19 re for scholarships for students for something is held each year normally re the area I'm studying... I mean that will make people happy next year.

If you are only talking to health professionals and they smile at things at a condescending manner or they tell you are too distressed for EMDR...

And you feel like you make everyone miserable... what's the point..

I mean in 2018 I had a psychiatrist tell me I was letting myself down re changing to a different dual degree ... You know the psychiatrist didn't know anything about the area I was studying in the first place... And I had gotten advice about it... And he seemed he didn't know how to deal with someone talking about lost friends re hypomania in the past... You would think at least other patients would have had this problem...