Posted by Mila S on July 29, 2003, at 18:45:48
In reply to Re: cognitive decline impeding life - Mila, posted by BekkaH on July 29, 2003, at 0:35:07
>How does Strattera affect your speaking ability? >Your writing certainly doesn't seem to be >impaired. Your post is well thought-out, >coherent and expressive.
I don't know if strattera is causing any of the cognitive problems, however, since I stopped anti-depressants, I have not seen much of an improvement in my language skills. I still struggle with word access, and I have trouble holding a decent conversation. I do not think I have any speech impariment. I think it is only with langauge that I have the problem. As far as my post is concerned --yes I write fairly clearly when it comes to simpler thoughts, though it takes some effort. However, I have noticed that I cannot get across more astute or complicated insights anymore. For example, I had wanted to say more in my post, but I refrained because it was taking too long for me to come up with words, and the experience of trying to think yet just hitting a cognitive wall is so energy consuming and frustrating -- (I remember my firends in college who were not very good with languge displaying this sort of frustration when they had to write papers. They would stare at the computer and often could not come up with anything to say. I on the other hand found it easy and could write papers fairly easily. Now I seem to be in the same boat they were in. Only I have the ideas, just not the words).
>
>I am interested to know how Strattera affects >your speech. What dose are you on now? Have you >ever gone through a medication-free period of >weeks or months? If so, how was your speech >during that time?I am taking 60mg a day presently. As I said I do not think i have a speech problem. I have been medication free for 2-3 weeks at a time in the past, however, I did not notice an improvement. Often I was depressed during the time so I was not engaging in life and thought much at the time. If such cognitive 'problems' usually go away after the medication is stopped, then perhaps my problem is not medication induced or not as real as i think it is.
>Have you ever taken amphetamines ... Have you discussed this problem with your psychiatrist? If so, what does he or she say?Yes, amphetemines did not seem to make much of a difference, however, I was taking them along with anti-depressants. My pdoc says it is not unusual that I have been having cognitive difficulties (I also have attention problems). He thinks it is from the depression. He does not seem to think it is as severe as I make it out to be though. I will be pressing the issue again when I see him next.
> I am sure there are many of us here who can >relate to the problems you describe, but I want >to reiterate that the "cognitive decline" you >believe you have is not evident in your post. I >wonder whether your depression is lowering your >self-esteem to such a degree that you are unable >to accurately assess your abilities?Yes, you may be right here. And I do think "cognitive decline" is too strong a phrase. And yes, I think I have a tendency to under-rate myself. However, I am convinced that my language skills have deteriorated as writing and speaking is so much harder then it used to be for me. And my experience of having content in my head but no words or inadequate words to express it is particularly distinct. But I am sure my being self-conscious about this has made it worse especially in conversational situations. The need to memorize phrases and such, and the trouble with writing for school however seems like the result of a genuine problem. Not sure how to prevent things from getting worse out of shear panic and worry over it though. The moment I screw up in conversation, which happens very early on, I become overly self-conscious of the problem and become unrelaxed and unable to focus.
Thanks for your input. I will also talk to my pdoc about my worries about this making things worse for mself.
poster:Mila S
thread:246353
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030728/msgs/246539.html