momentary lack of algebraic insight (“I could solve this in an instant if only I could get rid of that radical”)
for which I’ve had the intuitions since before 11th grade when they began teaching it to us
Sorry to jump from object-level to meta-level here but it seems pretty clear that the problem here is not just about math. Your subjective assessments of how difficult these topics are is inconsistent with how well you report you are doing at them. And you’re attaching emotions of shame and panic (“problem has snowballed”) to observations that should just be objective descriptions of where you are now. Get these issues figured out first (unless you’re in some educational setting with its own deadlines). Math isn’t going anywhere; it will still be there when you’re in a place where doing it won’t cause you distress.
I can see how it would sound to an outside observer now that you point it out, but in my situation at least I have trouble buying into the idea that math isn’t going anywhere. The problem really is urgent; there are loads of fields I want to study that build upon math (and then upon each other), and it just isn’t feasible that I can further postpone deep, lasting learning of basic math concepts any further, until after I’m in the “right mindset” for it. There just isn’t time, and my neuroplasticity won’t get any better with age. It’ll take me at least a decade to reach the level I desire in all these fields. Not to mention that I’ve long since been having trouble with motivation, or else I could have been done with this specific math in about 2011-2012. I’m not doing well at these topics (despite evaluating them as easy) because I spend less than a few hours per month on them.
Sorry to jump from object-level to meta-level here but it seems pretty clear that the problem here is not just about math. Your subjective assessments of how difficult these topics are is inconsistent with how well you report you are doing at them. And you’re attaching emotions of shame and panic (“problem has snowballed”) to observations that should just be objective descriptions of where you are now. Get these issues figured out first (unless you’re in some educational setting with its own deadlines). Math isn’t going anywhere; it will still be there when you’re in a place where doing it won’t cause you distress.
I can see how it would sound to an outside observer now that you point it out, but in my situation at least I have trouble buying into the idea that math isn’t going anywhere. The problem really is urgent; there are loads of fields I want to study that build upon math (and then upon each other), and it just isn’t feasible that I can further postpone deep, lasting learning of basic math concepts any further, until after I’m in the “right mindset” for it. There just isn’t time, and my neuroplasticity won’t get any better with age. It’ll take me at least a decade to reach the level I desire in all these fields. Not to mention that I’ve long since been having trouble with motivation, or else I could have been done with this specific math in about 2011-2012. I’m not doing well at these topics (despite evaluating them as easy) because I spend less than a few hours per month on them.
How old are you? I think the peak is around 30 years of age.
I’m 21. I thought it began to decline after early/mid 20s. It’ll definitely take me longer than that to learn just a few prerequisites thoroughly.