I’ve been having a week where it feels like my IQ has been randomly lowered by ~20 points or so. This happens to me sometimes, I believe as a result of chronic health stuff (hard to say for sure though), and it’s always really scary when that occurs. Much of my positive self-image relies on seeing myself as the sort of person who is capable of deep thought, and when I find myself suddenly unable to parse a simple paragraph, or reply coherently to a conversation, I just… idk, it’s (ironically enough) hard to put into words just how viscerally freaky it is to suddenly become (comparatively) stupid. Does anyone else here experience anything similar? If so, how do you deal with it?
I try to remind myself that intelligence is not some magical substance that is slipping through my fingers, but rather a simple algorithm that will eventually be understood. The day is coming when we will be able to add more intelligence to a person as easily as we add RAM to a computer. Viewed in that light, it feels less like some infinitely precious gift whose loss is infinitely devestating.
I hadn’t heard of periodontitis causing brain fog; I don’t think I have that, but interesting! I have had Covid, but for much longer than that have had similar symptoms (though it may have gotten worse recently). I do also have POTS (exact cause unknown, but clinically quite measurable symptoms), and am taking a whole bunch of medication for that, so there’s always potential for side effects there....my health life is complicated!
That does sound like nobody is doing to figure it out without knowing much more about your medical state, at which point it might be a better idea to ask a doctor.
Yep! I wasn’t really asking for medical advice, looking more for tips on how to deal with the social/psychological aspect of the experience, which is cause-irrelevant.
I’ve been having a week where it feels like my IQ has been randomly lowered by ~20 points or so. This happens to me sometimes, I believe as a result of chronic health stuff (hard to say for sure though), and it’s always really scary when that occurs. Much of my positive self-image relies on seeing myself as the sort of person who is capable of deep thought, and when I find myself suddenly unable to parse a simple paragraph, or reply coherently to a conversation, I just… idk, it’s (ironically enough) hard to put into words just how viscerally freaky it is to suddenly become (comparatively) stupid. Does anyone else here experience anything similar? If so, how do you deal with it?
I try to remind myself that intelligence is not some magical substance that is slipping through my fingers, but rather a simple algorithm that will eventually be understood. The day is coming when we will be able to add more intelligence to a person as easily as we add RAM to a computer. Viewed in that light, it feels less like some infinitely precious gift whose loss is infinitely devestating.
I’m thinking depression-/insomnia-/periodontitis-caused mind fog, or long Covid.
I hadn’t heard of periodontitis causing brain fog; I don’t think I have that, but interesting! I have had Covid, but for much longer than that have had similar symptoms (though it may have gotten worse recently). I do also have POTS (exact cause unknown, but clinically quite measurable symptoms), and am taking a whole bunch of medication for that, so there’s always potential for side effects there....my health life is complicated!
That does sound like nobody is doing to figure it out without knowing much more about your medical state, at which point it might be a better idea to ask a doctor.
Yep! I wasn’t really asking for medical advice, looking more for tips on how to deal with the social/psychological aspect of the experience, which is cause-irrelevant.